According to the sources the cancellation of the fishing licences does not mean the end of the business but the bots owner are directed to apply afresh for new licences. The step has been taken to protect the country’s fisheries resources from plunder. Livestock Development and Fisheries minister John Magufuli said the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) would patrol the Exclusive Economic Fishing Zone (EEZ). To make the measure more effective the ministry and the navy will launch a joint operation to net all the illegal vessels and use force if necessary to rein in illegal fish harvesting and trawling, says Magufuli.
TPDF’s Brigadier-General S. Omary urged all stake holders to work together so that the mission could be accomplished. Magufuli opined that the government has decided to cancel licences held by 69 registered foreign fishing vessels operating in the Indian Ocean as part of efforts to control unregulated fishing in Tanzanian waters and increase revenue in the form of licence fees.
This step would act decisively against illegal fishing that was reportedly costing the country some Sh100 billion in lost revenues annually. Magufuli explained that the government would be undertaking more of this kind steps to enhance the fisheries sector that was listed by Finance Minister Mustafa Mkulo as a priority area for government revenue collection.
According to Magufuli neither the government nor the citizens are benefiting from fishing industry in the country its better we leave these fishes in water. He cautioned if the situation did not change, there would come a time when Tanzanian would neither see nor be able to buy fish.
