Blue economy: Fisheries contribution to Zanzibar economy up 6.3 percent

Dar es Salaam. The contribution of the fisheries subsector to the economy of Zanzibar has significantly grown in the last three years, from 4.5 percent to 6.3 percent.

The Blue Economy and Fisheries Principal Secretary, Aboud Jumbe, made the revelation during the Mwananchi Thought Leadership Forum (MTLF) taking place for the first time in Zanzibar on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.

The forum was held to mark President Hussein Ali Mwinyi’s three years in office with the theme: Spotlight On 3 Years of Dr Mwinyi: Achievements, Opportunities & Challenges.

Mr Jumbe was speaking during the Blue Economy and Fisheries subtheme, focusing on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, marine conservation efforts, and economic growth through maritime activities in Zanzibar.

He said the fisheries subsector contributed 4.5 percent to the Isles economy at the time Dr Mwinyi was assuming office, but the contribution has significantly increased to 6.3 percent after three years.

“The fisheries sector had one project at the time the eighth government was coming into power. But now the Blue Economy and Fisheries Ministry has 17 projects executed by different institutions and foreign countries,” he said.

“Production of fish was 38,107 107 tonnes in 2020 worth Sh205.4 billion, but 2022 data shows that production has increased to 61,794 tonnes worth Sh391.37 billion,” he added.

Mr Jumbe added that production of sardines stood at not more than 3,500 tonnes worth Sh12.3 billion in 2020, but the amount has increased to 10,695 tonnes worth Sh39.1 billion.

He said despite the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, Zanzibar was producing 8,775 tonnes of seaweed worth Sh5.38 billion, but production has increased to 12,594 worth Sh10.05 billion.

Furthermore, he said crab production had dropped to 29 tonnes worth Sh145.5 million, but production has increased to 175 tonnes worth Sh882 million after three years of Dr Mwinyi’s leadership, noting that in the first six months of 2023 alone, 176 tonnes have been produced.

“The production of sea cucumber had also dropped to six tonnes worth Sh28 million, but after three years and the implementation of Covid-19 programmes, sea cucumber production has exceeded 20 tonnes worth Sh339 million. We expect to reach 45 tonnes to rival Madagascar after completing the implementation of the Covid-19 initiatives,” he said.

According to him, production of octopus has been going concurrently with environmental conservation, and in collaboration with the Union Government, 5,600 tonnes of octopus, mostly from Zanzibar, have been produced.

Regarding the empowerment of fishermen and farmers, he said 4,000 fishermen and 20,000 seaweed farmers have been reached in both Unguja and Pemba.