MORE BAD NEWS FROM TANZANIA AS FULL SCALE OF DYNAMITE FISHING BECOMES CLEAR
(Posted 19th November 2014)
When founding father Mwalimu Julius Nyerere described the principle socio-economic structure of a neighbouring country as a ‘Man eats Man Society’ he did probably not expect that in his very own country Tanzania a ‘Man eats Nature Society’ would eventually emerge.
There are numerous examples of hare brained schemes in place, many promoted by none other than the country’s current president Jakaya Kikwete – whom on this occasion I wish a speedy and full recovery from a medical condition which necessitated an operation at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital last week – which are bound to impact heavily on Tanzania’s environment and are going to make many big dents in the country’s assertion that conservation remains at the heart of its domestic policies.
Examples aplenty were given here in the past, ranging from proposed Serengeti Highway to the planned deep water port in Mwambani near Tanga, set right in the centre of the Coelacanth Marine National Park where those prehistoric fish can be found, one of the few places in the world.
In between is the soda ash extraction plant project in the mud flats of Lake Natron, the only breeding site in East Africa for the flamingo colonies, the taking off the list of the Eastern Arc Mountains which were to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site – again on instruction by President Kikwete who bowed to mining and logging interests it seems – the Uranium mining in the Selous and the proposed hydroelectric dam and power plant at Stiegler’s Gorge, right in the heart of the main tourism zone of the world’s largest game reserve.
A recent trend off the shoreline however has become equally alarming as dynamite fishing has spread its ugly wings along the coast, in the process decimating often immature fish and damaging the reefs which are of key importance in preventing erosion along the beaches.
Latest reports indicate that several serious injuries were reported of dynamite fishers in the area around Tanga and at least one of them died, a stark reminder of the dangers, not only to the marine environment but also the individual involved in the criminal behavious, as this form of fishing has been outlawed and banned but is hardly ever enforced.
A Kiswahili blog published in Tanzania in some graphic detail, pictures of the injuries included, describes the various incidents and readers can access the full blog articles by clicking on http://www.freemedia.co.tz/daima/wavuvi-haramu-walipukiwa-na-baruti-tanga/
AllAfrica had in the past also given this malpractice exposure, with the latest of their articles accessible via http://allafrica.com/stories/201408310038.html?aa_source=acrdn-f0.
Tourism sources have in the past repeatedly warned of the impact of continued dynamiting the reef environment as it wrecks marine tourism, like exploring the reefs by glass bottom boats, by snorkelling and diving along sections of the Tanzanian reefs thought to be spectacular, but authorities have, as in many other cases, turned a blind eye to the appeals, preferring to ignore the problem, indicative that the malpractice has godfathers in the background who, like with ivory poaching and land grabbing, have clear financial interests in keeping this going.
One of Tanzania’s leading dailies, The Citizen, in an article back in April sheds more light on the scale of the problem when the author, one Lucas Liganga writes: ‘In January 2012, the Tanga Tourism Network Association (Tatona) wrote a letter to Tanga Regional Commissioner Chiku Galawa, entitled: Daily rampant dynamite fishing along the Tanga coast. In its letter the association expressed concern over the situation that it said was now getting totally out of control, ‘and every day destroys the very base of not only our business, but also the livelihood of millions of poor Tanzanians’.
In addition, this is now even seriously tarnishing the international image and reputation of Tanzania, in the tourism industry and in the conservation world, said the letter seen by The Citizen. The use of explosives for fishing is not known in the neighbouring countries of Kenya and Mozambique that also have long coast lines. For example, it is known, that in Kenya, the possession, trade and use of explosives is treated as a treasonable offence that attracts the highest penalties.
The letter said coral reefs are among the most precious marine resources in Tanzania that provide both, livelihoods for a large section of coastal people (about 23 per cent of the total population), and a source of income for the local and export-oriented fishing industry, as well as the rapidly growing marine tourism industry. As a result of dynamite fishing, many coral reefs of Tanga (and of the country as a whole) are already seriously degraded. With numerous blasts occurring daily on reefs all along the Tanga coast already over decades, the cumulative effect has been devastating, said the letter.
A survey conducted in Tanga Region in the 1990s showed that 10 per cent of coral reefs were damaged beyond recovery, while 70 per cent had significant damage but could recover if protected. ‘These figures must be much worse now. Once blasted to rubble, corals take decades, even centuries to grow back, and some reefs will never make it again as a result of continued blasting’ said the letter. Ms Galawa acknowledged receipt of the Tatona letter in an interview with The Citizen in her office, saying lack of resources was the main reason derailing efforts aimed at curbing dynamite fishing. ‘We don’t have resources. A patrol boat needs not less than 200 litres of fuel for it to patrol at least one third of the region’s coastal area’ she said.Ms Galawa added that fighting dynamite fishing was a collective responsibility, adding however, that there was political will in the fight against the malpractice. ‘Plans are afoot to convene a meeting of all coastal regional commissioners and other relevant authorities such as the police, Tanzania Revenue Authority and fisheries department to brainstorm on how to go forward’ she said. Investigations by this newspaper have found that of the several hundred tunas that they kill using dynamite, the fishers are only able to collect a few pieces before they sink to the bottom. As a result of only a few days of blasting, the surviving tuna schools move away from Tanga. It has been further revealed that not only do the dynamite fishers succeed in killing several hundred tuna that are wasted, but they also succeed in ensuring that other fishers, who use legitimate fishing methods and who depend on the tunas to increase their income actually
get nothing. It is the poor artisanal fishers, who depend on handlines, basket traps and nets for their daily food and some extra cash, who are punished for using legal fishing methods, as their catches are now seriously diminishing all along the coast, as a result of the criminal activities of some few unscrupulous people, their supporters and ‘sponsors’ both in business and local government.
Stakeholders see the main reason for this shocking reality is a serious lack of law enforcement by the respective authorities at all levels, in particular also by the courts of law, where dynamiters are often acquitted or given fines that are far below the legal minimum, and released after a few days, only to continue blasting, and also threaten those law-abiding citizens who co-operate with law enforcement organs.
In Tanga Region, this situation has not always been like this. For example, between 1994-2004, the Tanga Coastal Zone Conservation and Development Programme has, with help of the navy, reduced blast fishing for several years. However, after the simultaneous withdrawal of the navy around 2004, dynamite fishing quickly resurfaced to pre-project levels. Our investigations have found that one of the brave fisheries officers suffered a vicious acid attack in April 2011 that cost him an eye and one patrol boat was burned at Kigombe, making it clear that the dynamiters have now become a force in Tanga that can openly challenge the government. Stakeholders believe that with clear political will from the highest authorities in the country, from national to regional levels, dynamiting could be stopped even in the short-term. They say the dynamiters are individuals who are generally known to the communities and to local government.
Speaking in terms of solutions, a foreign investor based in Kilwa District, Lindi Region, said: ‘We need full government commitment. I should actually become a political campaign issue’. He added: ‘We always complain there is no money to solve the problem, but that is not the real issue. We forget that you can start small, instead we always want to have huge boats, huge budget otherwise we can’t move’. He says it would be enough to be serious and arrest a few people, for real, and condemn them to 20 years in jail, and dynamite fishing would stop.
‘I have seen with my own eyes dynamite fishermen blasting in front of State House in Dar es Salaam and nothing happened. I have also seen tourists taking pictures with a camera in front of State House and getting arrested. So this is total lack of commitment and priorities’.
A short term intervention of the navy would clear the seas of these thieves of the sea, then a constant use of intelligence with spot mission will completely eliminate the problem, he says. ‘But we need somebody to care about it within the government. We need a pool of serious magistrates to work on wildlife crime in general, from poaching to dynamiting’ he said. He added: ‘People who are prepared and understand the seriousness of such crimes and who are not taking bribes. Do it small but efficient and things will start to change." He said dynamite is not only extremely detrimental for the environment and for the tourism industry, but a huge danger to national security. With so much explosive being so easily available and with zero control, the danger for the gas platform is huge. Anyone could easily blast the whole thing up very easily and put the country to its knees. How is it possible that nobody cares in the government?’ he wondered. He said a former Kilwa District commissioner had told him that he (the DC) saw with his own eyes a fisherman throwing dynamite over the gas pipe lines from Songo Songo Island to Dar es Salaam.
Bad news no doubt and yet another threat to Tanzania’s environment and reputation, but as in all other previous cases described here – earning me the name of ‘Enemy of Tanzania’ by regime sycophants – there seems no political will to stem the tide as the proverbial ‘Laissez faire’ seems to have taken hold across the present day government. Watch this space for breaking and regular conservation news from across the East African region.
