Natural Resources

According to FAOs’ recent report on Fisheries and Aquaculture in Tanzania, Aquaculture has a vast but as yet untapped potential. It is also understood that the industry is dominated by freshwater fish farming in which small-scale farmers practice both extensive and semi-intensive fish farming.

Small fish ponds of an average size of 10 m x 15 m (150 m2) are integrated with other agricultural activities such as gardening and animal and bird production on small pieces of land.

However, Tanzania government together with local fisheries institutions, NGOs, and Multinational Organizations estimated to have a total of 14 100 freshwater fishponds scattered across the mainland. Geographical landscapes and various scales of water bodies are scattily distributed in through out the country.

It is also added in the FAO report that, factors such as availability of water, suitable land for fish farming, awareness and motivation within the community on the economic potential in fish farming is the key to revive the Aquaculture in Tanzania.