The Governance of Tanzania’s Marine Fisheries

The report evaluates Tanzania's marine fisheries governance, highlighting a disconnect between progressive national policies and actual implementation. It identifies critical gaps in research capacity, institutional coordination between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, and the challenges of managing an open-access artisanal sector. A detailed case study of the Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP) explores the tensions between conservation goals and the livelihoods of local communities, while questioning the degree of genuine community participation in the park's establishment.

• Tanzania's marine fisheries are split between territorial waters, which are primarily artisanal, and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) dominated by commercial fishing. The artisanal sector is an open-access system where over 90% of fishers operate, but it remains largely uncontrolled due to government focus on lake fisheries.
• There is a significant lack of scientific data and research capacity to manage fish stocks sustainably. The last boat-based stock assessment was conducted in 1983, and much of the current research is short-term, student-led, or dependent on external donor funding, which may compromise the independence of the national research agenda.
• Fisheries management is fragmented because the sector is not considered a union matter, leading mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar to manage their fisheries separately. This lack of coordination results in inefficiencies regarding licence revenues and the management of both inshore and offshore fisheries.
• Despite policies promoting co-management and stakeholder inclusion, power remains heavily concentrated within the government. The 2003 Fisheries Act vests overwhelming responsibility and final decision-making power in the director of fisheries, contradicting goals of devolving power to communities.
• The Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP) is internationally viewed as a model of co-management, but critics argue its establishment was a top-down process. Local community voices were reportedly not sought until 1991, and the initial workshops may have been for information dissemination rather than genuine consultation.
• The MIMP's zoning policy—including core, specified use, and general use zones—has created conflicts by denying or reducing local residents' access to traditional fishing grounds, which are essential for the livelihoods of approximately 80% of the island's population.
• Women play a critical but under-recognised role in the fisheries value chain, particularly in post-harvest activities, processing, and marketing. In areas like Kilindoni Bay, they act as essential links between fishers and consumers, yet their roles are often ignored in fisheries projects.
• The industrial sector in the EEZ has faced sustainability failures, evidenced by the collapse of the shrimp industry in early 2008 and a two-year moratorium on prawn fishing due to economic unviability and declining catches.

APA

January, M., & Ngowi, H. P. (2010). The Governance of Tanzania’s Marine Fisheries. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Research-Report-5.pdf

Chicago

January, Mariam, and Honest Prosper Ngowi. The Governance of Tanzania’s Marine Fisheries. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2010. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Research-Report-5.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=January |first1=Mariam |last2=Ngowi |first2=Honest Prosper |title=The Governance of Tanzania’s Marine Fisheries |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=February 2010 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Research-Report-5.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{january2010governance, author = {January, Mariam and Ngowi, Honest Prosper}, title = {{The Governance of Tanzania’s Marine Fisheries}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2010}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Research-Report-5.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }