• Tanzania begins a five-year World Bank–backed fisheries modernization plan
• The $117 million program targets 17 coastal districts with infrastructure upgrades
• Over 300 seaweed and marine farming groups are expected to benefit

Tanzania has officially launched a project aimed at modernizing artisanal fishing and aquaculture, according to local outlet Daily News. The initiative, called Tanzania Scaling-Up Sustainable Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture Management (TASFAM), is being developed in partnership with the World Bank.

Costing $117 million, the project will run from 2025 to 2030 and will target 17 coastal districts. Planned activities include the construction of modern markets and processing units, the expansion of aquaculture activities such as seaweed and sea cucumber farming, the provision of improved fishing equipment for communities, and the purchase of a marine research vessel to strengthen monitoring and sustainable resource management.

Agnes Meena, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, said that more than 300 groups of seaweed and marine organism farmers are expected to benefit directly. She added that the TASFAM project aims to empower small-scale fishers, coastal communities, and local entrepreneurs to improve their livelihoods and support a sustainable future. By strengthening sustainable fisheries management and modern aquaculture practices, the project is intended to help coastal communities thrive while contributing to Tanzania’s blue economy.

The program represents a significant boost for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, whose potential remains largely underused. The ministry estimates that Tanzania’s maximum sustainable yield across inland and marine waters exceeds 4,050,000 tons per year. In comparison, FAO data shows that the country’s total fish catch reached only 604,791 tons in 2023, with around 20% coming from aquaculture.

Authorities cite several persistent constraints that limit the sector’s potential, including shortages of processing and cold storage infrastructure, insufficient investment in aquaculture, weak regulation, and fragmented markets. The impact of the TASFAM project on these challenges will depend on how effectively it is implemented.

Stéphanas Assocle