2.2BN/- SET TO SUPPORT FISHERMEN

Deputy minister for Livestock Development, Kaika Telele

By Felix Andrew, Dar es Salaam

The government has set aside 2.2bn/- as subsidy to fishermen for 2014/15 which will enable them to purchase modern fishing equipment, the parliament was told yesterday.

This was said by the deputy minister for Livestock Development, Kaika Telele when responding to a supplementary question raised by Ignas Malocha (Kwela, CCM).

The MP had wanted to know steps taken by the government to support fishermen.

He also wanted to know why wouldn’t the government compensate people who were killed or injured by crocodiles in Rukwa River.

Responding, the deputy minister said the government has already dished out 400m/- which will be used to purchase fishing boats and nets.

He said up to now, the ministry has received and worked on 51 applications from groups of fishermen seeking for support.

Explaining the subsidy, he said the fishermen have to contribute 40 percent, while the government contributes 60 percent.

Telele said up to moment the ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has not received the list of people who were killed or injured by crocodiles at River Rukwa.

“I urge all people who were affected by the crocodiles to adhere to wildlife preservation regulations of 2011 which will enable them to be compensated,” he said.

According to regulation no 6 of the Government Notice no 146/2011, the ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism pays  a consolation of between 10,000/- and 1m/- to people who are killed, injured or had their crops destroyed by wild animals.

Meanwhile, experts have been calling on the government to invest heavily on the marine sector since it has a great potential.

A recent research by marine authorities has established that the country has the potential of registering a profit of at least USD 50million (roughly 82.4bn/-) annually if the government effectively invest in the fishing industry.

Tanzania has a huge number of tuna fish in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Indian Ocean which could bring in billions of shillings in a year.

The country is currently failing to utilise opportunities available in the fisheries sector, noting that to benefit from tuna fish; it needs to improve management and policy that govern the sector so as to curb tax evasions.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN