Aquaculture – Tanzania & Uganda’s fishing production increases
Uganda and Tanzania have each reported increased fish production over the last three years. This is said to be due to improved enforcement of targeted fisheries and aquaculture regulations, tougher measures to curb illegal fishing, as well as efforts to address challenges caused by poor quality fish seed and aquafeeds.
Fishing Exports: New rates
To boost exportation, Minister Mpina stated that there will be a reduction in some export fees and charges on fish and fish products.
- To export a kilo of sardines from Kigoma, charges were reduced from $1.5 to $0.5. At the same time, charges on exports from the sea and Lake Nyasa to international markets went down from $1 to $0.16 per kilo.
- The license fee for transporting fish and fish products by small-size companies was reduced to $250 from $100.
- Big corporate entities will pay only $500 instead of $1,500 for a license to export fish and fish products.
- For some fish species, corporate entities will pay only $1,000 for an export license, instead of $2700 as in the past.
Lake Victoria
Uganda and Tanzania share a border alongside Lake Victoria, the third-largest by area in the world and a large source of production in the countries’ fisheries. Uganda’s Finance minister Matia Kasaija and his Tanzanian counterpart Philip Mpango outlined in their respective 2020/21 national budget speeches, the performance of the fishing industry in their countries, with Uganda reporting a 43% surge in production to 561,000 metric tons (MT) between 2017 and 2019. “Fish catches have grown from 391,000 metric tons to 561,000 metric tons between 2017 and 2019, largely as a result of the strict enforcement of fisheries regulations and addressing challenges of poor-quality fingerlings and limited access to feeds,” Kasaija said. . [Source]
Uganda: Aquaculture
Uganda, with nearly 20 percent of its surface area under water due to the large lakes in the country, has implemented several regulations in the past five years meant to shore up the performance of the fisheries and aquaculture sector – including the gradual introduction of newer technology in fisheries management. [,Source]
Tanzania: Aquaculture
In Tanzania, Mpango said fish production in the country grew by nearly 16 percent to 448,467 MT by the first quarter of 2020 as the government reported achievements in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, including improvement in the management of the fisheries resources. “The government has continued to promote investment in aquaculture and has increased the fish farmers from 18,843 to 26,474 in 2020,” Mpango said. [,Source]
Tanzania’s fish exports rose by a goodly 82 percent in the past four years – thanks to a rise in production volumes, and the decision to scrap some nuisance taxes associated with the fisheries sub-sector. “We revisited the extant laws and regulations, and created new ones, aimed at boosting production, stimulating local and international markets and cutting operational costs,” he said. (Fisheries and Livestock Development minister Luhaga Mpina) The government has also reformed the Fisheries Act (No 22 of 2003) with the aim of separating fishing activities from water species issues. Minister Mpina added that the government has reduced some export fees and charges on fish and fish products to boost their exportation. [,Source]
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