Dar es Salaam. Tanzania government has declared to have eliminated blast fishing in its coastal waters, marking a major milestone in the country’s fight against illegal fishing.
The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries announced that dynamite and bomb fishing incidents, which averaged between 20 and 24 cases per day in 2023, have now dropped to zero.
The disclosure was made during a regional forum on illegal fishing in East Africa, organised by the Jahazi Project.
Speaking at the event, the ministry’s assistant director of fisheries, Dr Baraka Sekadende, attributed the achievement to modern tracking technologies, stricter enforcement and improved inter-agency coordination.
“Blast fishing has devastating effects on marine ecosystems. It kills fish indiscriminately, including immature ones. We are committed to ending all forms of illegal fishing,” she said.
Dr Sekadende added that while illegal fishing in deep-sea areas still occurs, its prevalence has declined, supported by government measures such as the creation of special marine zones and the deployment of advanced monitoring systems.
Tanzania is estimated to lose between $42 million and $85 million annually due to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. In response, the government launched the Blue Economy Policy in 2024 to strengthen oversight, increase investment in sustainable fishing and recover lost revenues.
For his part, the acting manager for fisheries research and development at the Deep Sea Fishing Authority (DSFA), Dr Mathew Silas, acknowledged that illegal fishing in deeper waters remains a challenge despite progress.
“We have introduced technologies such as drones and satellites to monitor vessels, their catch and their methods. Several ships have been arrested in recent years, and offenders jailed. While progress has been made, the problem is not yet fully resolved. We will continue to innovate, as illegal fishers also adapt their tactics,” he said.
Dr Silas stressed the need for greater regional cooperation, expanded technological investment and awareness campaigns to promote responsible fishing.
Jahazi Project spokesperson Michael Mallya said the forum was designed to bring stakeholders together to chart long-term strategies against illegal fishing.
“Despite government efforts, illegal fishing persists, as highlighted by FAO statistics. Discussions like these are crucial for devising new approaches to tackle the issue effectively,” he said.
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