TAFIRI Works With Universities, Research Institutions To Accelerate Key Fisheries Research
The fishing industry has vast potential to contribute to the Government of Tanzania’s ambition to transform the country’s economy into a middle-income and semi-industrialised economy by 2050.
The fisheries sector is among the areas with significant potential to contribute to this ambition.
Despite the steady growth recorded in the sector in recent years, Tanzania’s fisheries industry needs increased investment in research, innovation and technology, which are vital prerequisites for unlocking the sector’s economic potential.
For instance, Tanzania’s Vision 2050 targets an increase in the fisheries sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the tune of at least 9. 8 per cent by 2050, from the currently 2.2 percent.
To achieve this, the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) is required to play a strategic role in generating knowledge, providing reliable data and developing technologies capable of transforming the fisheries and marine resources sector.
The Director General of TAFIRI, Dr Ismael Kimirei, told Zanzibar News that research institutions such as TAFIRI have an important responsibility to support the transformation of the fisheries sector through research, innovation and modern technology.
He said TAFIRI is now implementing a series of strategies to strengthen research aimed at understanding the country’s aquatic resources and ensuring their sustainable utilisation.
According to him, the research is focused on increasing productivity, improving incomes among fisheries stakeholders and strengthening the sector’s contribution to the national economy, while supporting the development of Tanzania’s Blue Economy.
“The research, among other things, seeks to support the identification of high-potential fishing and production areas, promote cage aquaculture technologies and provide scientific information needed to improve the competitiveness and commercialisation of the sector,” he said.
He said experts at TAFIRI have introduced a cloud-connected system designed to help marine fishers identify areas with high concentrations of fish.
“Previously, marine fishers relied on visible signs, such as large concentrations of fish at sea, to identify potential fishing grounds. However, the traditional approach was often unreliable and did not always guarantee successful catches,” he observed.
He said the state-owned fisheries research institute was also conducting comprehensive assessments of fish stocks and other aquatic organisms, evaluating fish breeding grounds and developing improved aquaculture technologies.
“These research efforts are also useful in promoting value addition and processing of fisheries products, enabling Tanzania to move beyond the production and sale of raw fish and instead develop a stronger fisheries value chain,” he said.
Tanzania is endowed with extensive marine and coastal areas, lakes, rivers and other aquatic ecosystems that support biodiversity and the livelihoods of millions of people.
The challenge is therefore to increase the economic benefits derived from these resources without compromising their long-term sustainability.
“TAFIRI’s research can contribute to this balance by generating scientific evidence on aquatic ecosystems, fish stocks, breeding grounds and the impacts of environmental and climatic changes,” Dr Kimirei said.
TAFIRI works with universities, research institutions, development organisations and international partners, including the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), University of Dodoma (UDOM), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, and Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST).