Mbonea Israel

MWANZA - Tanzania Fish Processors (TFP), has embarked on a one-year pilot project for sustainable fishing on Tanzania's side of Lake Victoria.

The project that started in May this year, would educate the fishermen and fish collectors as well as fish suppliers to ensure sustainable harvesting of fish for commercial value, particularly the Nile perch which is threatened.

"We insist the fishermen should adopt legal means of fishing that would ensure sustainable fishing for the benefits of present and future generations without degrading the ecosystem of the lake," said the TFP General Manager, Mr. Ganeshan Vedagiri in an interview in Mwanza recently.

Mr. Vedagiri noted that the firm was committed to the Nile Perch eco-labeling project, utilizing human and other resources to achieve the objective and ensuring that fish dealers were regularly sensitized on internal control system (ICS) of the project and its standards. Fishing gear are important components of fisheries management because they determine the size of fish to be caught.

Use of legal gear ensures harvesting of legally allowable sizes of fish and hence sustenance of the sector.

Mr. Vedagiri said TFP also seeks to improve the social, health and economic conditions of the people in the project area by putting in place infrastructure and releasing community aids to them. This, he said, will see TFP building dispensaries and nursery schools in the fishing communities, particularly on the islands so that the people can easily access medical service and children getting education to reduce the level of ignorance among fishing communities.

The project will also educate communities on prevention of HIV/AIDS.

It covers 21 fish landing sites at Kijiweni, Lyakanyasi and Kome Mchangani in Sengerema District and some beaches in Ukerewe and Chato Districts including areas in the Lake Zone that covers Mara, Mwanza and Kagera regions.