Tanzania forms task force to stamp out blast fishing

Tanzania has formed a task force to stamp out blast fishing along the Indian Ocean Coastline, a senior official said Monday.

"As the government, our goal is to stamp out blast or dynamite fishing by this year. The team is to start its work very soon from now," said William Ole Nasha, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in Tanzania's capital Dodoma.

He directed local authorities along the Indian Ocean coast to take legal measures against fishermen who are involved in blast fishing.

He, however, said that apart from the task force and other initiatives in place, Beach Management Units should continue working on a number of issues including blast fishing.

Ole Nasha suggested the need for local authorities to continue educating communities on the negative impact of blast fishing.

"Blast fishing destroys the fish habitats underwater where fishes reproduce and that has had a big impact, especially on us who use ring nets to fish," he said, adding that blast fishing reduced fish stock and other marine resources.

In the process, the underwater coral systems, home to countless marine species, are reduced to rubble. Damaged coral reefs also lead to an instant decline in fish species diversity and quantity, and in the long-term the ecosystem is unlikely to recover.

Some species of fish are now extinct due to blast fishing in Tanzania. People are now forced to buy Tilapia and Nile Perch from freshwater lakes such as Lake Victoria.

Prawns have disappeared in some areas. Coral reefs have been destroyed and tourists who come for snorkelling are scared, according to Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development officials. Endit