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President Kikwete warns against illegal fishing
2008-07-23 10:08:08
By Lydia Shekigenda, Tanga
President Jakaya Kikwete has expressed concern over illegal fishing which, he said, is the main cause of fish shortage in both the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria.
Addressing a gathering at Chongoleani village in Tanga Region yesterday, Kikwete said if people continued with illegal fishing, there would be a serious shortage of fish in the future.
``Currently there is shortage of fish in the Indian Ocean and if people continue using these illegal methods, fish availability will be worse in the future,``he warned.
The president said: ``People are complaining about shortage of fish, but you have to blame yourselves for using illegal methods. This practice has negatively impacted marine resources``.
Kikwete urged people to establish fish farms as an alternative to overcome fish shortage in the country.
The president made the appeal shortly after inaugurating the Kigomeni fish farm project run by a group of people in Tanga.
``I am pleased with this project. I urge other people to establish the same kind of projects because they will be beneficial in their future life,`` he said.
He gave the example of China where similar projects had been successfully carried out and now supplied enough fish to the capital, Beijing.
President Kikwete said Lake Victoria faced the same problem.
He urged people to take positive measures to overcome these problems as any delay would allow neighbouring countries to snatch the international fish market that Tanzania has been supplying.
Kigomeni fish farm project secretary Omar Kombo told President Kikwete that the project aimed at overcoming fish shortage in coastal areas.
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