Save Small-Scale Fisheries: Global Action Needed
- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — Tanzanian fishing communities are facing increasing hardship as global leaders discuss the state of marine resources.
- The crisis was underscored at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, where the FAO presented its Review of the State of World Marine Fishery Resources.
- According to the FAO, less than half of the fish stocks in the Eastern Central Atlantic are fished sustainably.
Tanzanian Fishers Face Uncertain Future Amid Global Fishery Crisis
Updated June 12, 2025
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — Tanzanian fishing communities are facing increasing hardship as global leaders
discuss the state of marine resources. Weary fishers at Magogoni fish market haul in meager catches,
highlighting the struggle to survive amid declining fish stocks.
The crisis was underscored at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, where the FAO presented
its Review of the State of World Marine Fishery Resources. The report paints a grim picture of overexploited
oceans, threatening the livelihoods of communities dependent on fishing.
According to the FAO, less than half of the fish stocks in the Eastern Central Atlantic are fished sustainably.
Climate change,weak governance,and insufficient data exacerbate the problem.
Daudi Kileo, a tanzanian fisher, spoke of the daily struggle to make ends meet. Despite working hard,catches
are dwindling,leaving families with little to eat. Many operate informally, lacking licenses or resources for
sustainable practices.
Professor Manuel Barange, Director of the FAO Fisheries Division, emphasized the need for deep, structural
change to ensure the ocean can feed the world sustainably. The FAO’s Blue Conversion initiative aims to
improve monitoring, promote ethical fishing, and combat illegal fishing.
Though, Yahya Mgawe, a researcher at the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, noted the challenges in
implementing these changes in Tanzania. Limited resources, patchy data, and weak enforcement hinder progress.
Marine ecologist Nancy Iraba highlighted the shifting patterns in fish populations, with some species
disappearing and fish getting smaller. She stressed that Tanzanian fishers are paying the price for ocean
depletion.
“We don’t get enough catch these days, but we keep working hard,” Kileo said, highlighting the daily
struggle.
What’s next
The FAO is pushing for innovation and investment in youth participation to transform fisheries. Director-General
Qu Dongyu urged countries to include small-scale fishers in decision-making processes. However,notable
financial investment is needed to achieve sustainable fisheries transformation.