Tanzania govt emphasizes on local fisheries, bans fish imports from China, Vietnam

Tanzania is looking forward to enhancing its local fisheries by banning fish imports mainly from China and Vietnam.

The Tanzanian government has announced a plan to review the Fisheries Act and regulations governing the sector to pave the way for a total ban on fish imports, especially from China and Vietnam. The country's Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Luhaga Mpina confirmed regulations will be put in place to safeguard local fisheries.

"We are looking to protect Tanzania's marine resources through proper arrangements for commercial fishing, to make it beneficial to those in the business," Luhaga Mpina opined.

Tanzania produces around 336,821 tonnes of fish every year, but the country is having a local demand of about 731,000 tonnes. Most of the local fishing takes place in the Indian Ocean, Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa. The country imports about 24,000 tonnes of fish per month worth Tsh56 billion (USD 25 million), mostly from China, Vietnam and other states around the Indian Ocean.

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