Tanzanian authorities create special zone to protect marine resources

DAR ES SALAAM, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities on Tuesday announced the creation of a special zone aimed at protecting marine resources and fighting illegal fishing in the Indian Ocean.

"Illegal fishing and haphazard harvest of marine resources have been in place in the Indian Ocean since time immemorial and this has to end now," said Tanzanian Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Luhaga Mpina, when announcing the formation of the special zone in the southern coastal fishing town of Kilwa.

Speaking to fishermen in Kilwa district, Lindi region, Mpina said the launch of the special zone for the protection of marine resources was not aimed at harassing fishers.

"Our resolve is to ensure that our natural resources are not abused," said the minister.

He said the government was in the process of overhauling the Fisheries Act of 2003 in order to improve the management of fisheries in the east African nation.

Mohamed Kimbwembe, a fisherman from Somanga in Kilwa district, praised President Magufuli's administration for fighting illegal fishing with full force.

"Illegal fishing was endangering our marine resources, some of which started to face extinction," observed Kimbwembe.

On Monday, East African Community member countries sharing Lake Victoria signed an agreement aimed at conducting joint illegal fishing crackdown in Lake Victoria.

The agreement was signed in Tanzania's northern tourist city of Arusha by ministers responsible for fisheries from Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

A joint statement issued by the ministers said the joint crackdown in Africa's largest lake was to protect and sustain resources found in the lake.