By Lake Zone Watch Writer
MUSOMA Rural legislator Prof Sospeter Muhongo has urged government to conduct in-depth reseach on missing fish species in the country’s Great Lakes of Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa.
Contributing to the budget estimates of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries for 2023/2024 in Dodoma yesterday, the academic said the three major lakes have huge economic potential to the country’s development if well utilised.
“We need to undertake research of how our country can benefit from the untapped potential fishing industry, particularly the missing fish species,” he said.
Prof Muhongo, a former energy minister and academic at the University of Dar es Salaam, said Lake Victoria is estimated to have more than 500 fish species, while lakes Nyasa and Tanganyika have more than 800 and 300 fish species respectively.
It is reported that only three fish species are exploited in the twin lakes.
Prof Muhongo said Tanzania could record massive income through block fish farming reported to be doing well globally. Annual harvests from block fish farming are estimated around 180 metric tonnes.
Prof Muhongo predicted an economic boom through well-utilised opportunities in the block fish farming industry and challenged the government to provide loans to local investors to enable them establish fish prosessing plants.
Tanzania, he said, could equally record impressive performance in the industry in Lake Victoriareported to possess 49 percent ownership compared to other riparian states of Uganda — with 45 percent – and Kenya with only six percent.
The major difference between the three East African countries is that Kenya and Uganda have many fish processing factories compared to Tanzania.
In the words of Prof Muhongo, the fisheries and livestock sectors could equally compete in contributing to the national income apart from mining, agriculture, tourism, and natural gas if investment in such sector is taken seriously.
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