Rowing IYAFA 2022 in the United Republic of Tanzania

Tanzania is a coastal state located in the Eastern part of Africa endowed with large water bodies and favorable agro-climatic condition supporting both capture fishery and fish farming sub-sectors. Much of the fishing, over 98%, is conducted by small-scale fishermen and women who land about 470,000 tons of fish annually. The fish farming industry is still at an initial stage of business development curve, producing between 20,000 tons to 30,000 tons per annum. Fishing and fish farming activities are predominantly small-scale. The most recent fisheries frame survey (URT 2020) indicates that the country has over 200,000 people employed in primary fishing in Mainland Tanzania. It is further estimated that about 4 million people are in the allied nodes of the value chain including boat building, net making, fish handling, processing, distribution and trade. Needless to say, the fisheries and fish farming industry is one of the most important sub-sectors in the country when it comes to food fish supply, income generation and in providing employment opportunities to the growing human population. It is for this reason that the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA) is being celebrated in a very BIG WAY in United Republic of Tanzania. 

Members of the NTT with the gadgets sent from FAO-HQ

Indeed, the IYAFA has come at the right time; just immediately after the Government of Tanzania has endorsed the National Plan of Action (NPoA) on implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines (SSF Guidelines) in the context of food security and poverty alleviation. That means the fire is kept burning towards ensuring visibility of small-scale fishers and fish farmers both men and women in the country.

The government in collaboration with fishers’ community and other stakeholders have begun putting the noble objectives of IYAFA into practical effect. A national awareness raising workshop has been organized, an inclusive National Steering Committee (NSC) has been constituted, and preparation for launching at national level is in full gear.

• The national awareness raising Workshop

The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries in collaboration with stakeholders organized a two days national awareness raising workshop regarding implementation of NPoA on SSF Guidelines and the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA) 2022. The workshop was held in the town of Morogoro from 3^rd to 4^th February 2022. It wasattended by 115 participants representing the Ministry, Local Government Authorities (LGAs), CSOs, NGOs, research and academic institutions, fishers, women fish processors and traders. Retired fisheries practitioners and operators were also invited to share their experience and frames of reference. The focus was placed on the following agenda:

• Creating awareness to stakeholders on SSF Guidelines and the NPoA for SSF Guidelines implementation;
• Create awareness on the new Project to implement the NPOA for SSF;
• Create awareness on the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022), that constitutes important milestone for promoting good practices demonstrated by the Sub-programme; and
• Conduct the planning meeting for the National Steering Committee for celebrating  IYAFA 2022.

The two days national Workshop had a series of presentations, group works and plenary discussions. The Introduction to SSF Guidelines took the participants down the road from its development to the implementation in Tanzania, that led to the development of NPoA which is being implemented at the moment. The Status of implementation of NPoA was thus shared to inform the stakeholders on the past present and future plans.  Presentation on TAWFA was done by its Secretary General, who acknowledged the fact that formation of the National network of women in small scale fisheries is an outcome of the SSF implementation process and a significant step towards empowering women in the small-scale fisheries in the country.

The ongoing project “Reduce poverty and improved food security and nutrition through more gender equitable and climate resilient small-scale fisheries livelihoods and food systems” was also presented. It was informed that, the project to bring transformative change on the contribution of fish and small-scale fisheries –specifically in the post-harvest sector and women actors – to livelihoods and food security and nutrition with capacity building and promotion of best practices, including climate smart solutions and technologies.

This was followed by a presentation on the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture #IYAFA2022. The participants were then organized into four groups to discuss issues that will be used in developing plan of activities for celebrating the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture - IYAFA 2022 in Tanzania.

With regard to the project on; Reducing poverty and improved food security and nutrition through more gender equitable and climate resilient small-scale fisheries livelihoods and food systems, workshop participants were made to understand that, it is intended to empower small-scale fishers’ communities with a view to contribute to more sustainable and climate resilient livelihoods and food systems. It is built in a sub-programme that is designed as a continuation of activities funded by Norway, under an extension of the project GCP/GLO/645/NOR “Enhancing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and sustainable livelihoods through better policies, strategies and initiatives’’.

• National Steering Committee (NSC)

The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has constituted a strong team of 24 fisheries and fish farming practitioners of all walks from across the country; fishers, fish handlers, traders, central and local government officials, NGOs, academician, researchers, trainers, change agents, and more importantly representatives of Tanzania Women Fish workers Association (TAWFA). The most significant thing, in this context, for the first time in the history of the fisheries division we have a national committee, which is dominated by women (75%). Indeed, the three NSC meetings that have taken place have experienced robust discussion with clear zeal of serious people in business!  

• Action Plan for IYAFA 2022 celebration

The National Steering Committee (NSC) has prepared an Action Plan which outlines activities that are going to be implemented. It includes constituencies building, panel discussion on salient issues raised by stakeholders, promotional programs, sharing of success stories in small-scale fisheries and fish farming, awarding individuals and institutions with outstanding contribution to development of SSF and fish farming in the country, facilitating edutainment programs for fishers. The hallmark would be staged in November 2022 during the World Fisheries Day celebrations. The government of Tanzania and NSC in particular, is very grateful for moral, technical and material support from FAO which continues to build our capacity to meet challenges facing us in fulfilling our ambitious objective; to transform the small-scale fisheries and fish farming industry in our country for improved food security and poverty eradication as codified in the SSF Guidelines. IYAFA OYEE!!

To know more see FAO in Tanzania