Aquaculture

Tanzania has ideal climate condition for fish farming and the demand for fish is higher. Wild catch is decreasingly unable to meet the rising demand as natural water bodies are overfished.

Aquaculture production in Tanzania is characterized by numerous small earthen ponds over the countries. The freshwater aquaculture dominates the subsector with 26,445earthen ponds, 408cages (346 Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika (9) and 53in charcoal dams)and one recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). The most culture fish are Nile tilapia followed by African catfish. The current tilapia and catfish production stands at 16,288MT per annum2. Aquaculture production is currently at only 2% of total production, with the potential to increase cage fishing, domestic hatcheries, and in-grower pond scheme.( Livestock and Fisheries Commodity Value Chain Brief.5).

Lake Victoria is highly suitable for aquaculture while not yet being used to its fullcapacity. Research on carrying capacity is patchy, but most experts predict that the Lake has reached only a fraction of its maximum capacity in terms of aquaculture production (Inception Study Aquaculture Sector Tanzania).

Blue Victoria is working on improving value chain in aquaculture and creating enabling environment for aquaculture in Tanzania.