How satellite tech will boost fish catches

The Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (Tafiri) has unveiled a satellite-based technology that identifies potential fishing areas (PFAs) to help small fishermen move from hunting to target fishing.

The unveiling of the new technology comes after a ten-year study that Tafiri conducted using fisheries and satellite-delivered data from 2015 to 2020 recorded in 21 districts. The research validated the usefulness of the satellite technology in assisting fishers in accessing productive fishing areas (PFAs).

The new technology means that fishermen will no longer hunt. The technology can assist fishermen in planning when and where to fish, but it can also predict areas with an assurance of high catches.

“Currently, small fishermen fish by hunting because they are not sure where to find plentiful catches. As a result, they don’t get enough fish, they waste time, and the fuel in the boats runs out,” said Tafiri Director Dr Ismael Kimerei.

Official statistics show that the fishing sector contributed 1.8 percent to the national GDP in 2022 and is growing by 2.5 percent. In addition, the fishing industry provides direct employment to 197,763 fishermen and 34,057 aquatic breeders, and approximately 4.5 million Tanzanians have engaged in various activities related to fishing in the value chain.

“The technology is going to revolutionise the lives of small fishermen who depend on fish to run their daily lives. What they need now is to download the application on their smartphones that will give them all the information about the types of fish groups and where they are found at what time,” Dr Kimerei said at the celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the fishing and aquaculture research institute.

He further noted that the technology has already been tested and has shown success by more than 90 percent. It will be officially launched on Thursday by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Doto Biteko.

Detailing the institute’s success, he said that for more than 40 years, Tafiri has conducted studies aimed at promoting the fishing industry, including knowing the types of fish in the ocean and their habitats.

This has reduced interactions with other users of the ocean and adding new technology that will enable them to continue collecting more statistics about that sector.

Speaking at the official launch of the 40th anniversary celebrations, the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Mr Abdullah Ulega, said he was happy to see the technology being used in the country as it is going to bring about changes in the fishing industry as well as go in line with the Building A Better Tomorrow (BBT) initiative.

“I have been asked several times by MPs as to when Tanzania will develop technology to help small fishermen overcome the challenge of hunting fish and move to target fishing. The correct answers have been found today. What fishermen need is to use the applications to increase their catches,” he said.

He added that small fishermen who go fishing spend a lot of time searching around, and as a result, their boats run out of fuel without catching fish. The advent of technology will solve the challenges on a large scale. Mr Ulega gave instructions to the ministry’s permanent secretary to increase funds for the project so that, in a short period of time, it could spread to many areas in the country, as well as expand them to fresh water instead of ending up in the ocean.

“This institution has done great things in researching various areas in the fishing industry, which is relied on by many citizens, so we are delighted to see the productivity of fishermen,” he insisted.