Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Ambassador Dr Bashiru Ally Kakurwa, has urged stakeholders in the fisheries sector to work closely with the government through open dialogue to safeguard fisheries resources and curb illegal fishing practices.
Dr Bashiru made the call on December 23, 2025, while addressing fisheries stakeholders at Kakukuru landing site in Ukerewe District, Mwanza Region, stressing that sustainable management of fisheries resources requires cooperation, shared responsibility and consensus rather than confrontation.
He said enforcement approaches in the sector would prioritise dialogue and mutual understanding, departing from past practices that relied heavily on punitive measures such as burning fishing nets or using rigid inspection methods that often fuelled tension between authorities and fishermen.
“I heard someone from the Beach Management Unit saying nets should be burned quickly. But when you burn them, what do you gain? Do you get fish from burning nets?” Dr Bashiru asked, calling for a rethink of enforcement strategies that balance livelihoods with conservation.
The minister warned that failure to properly protect fisheries resources could trigger conflicts among different fishing groups, including dagaa fishermen against fish fishermen and Nile perch fishermen against cage fish farmers, with responsibility eventually falling on government leaders and officials.
He noted that such conflicts can be avoided if all stakeholders agree to sit together, discuss challenges openly and implement practical solutions that promote sustainability while protecting incomes for fishing communities.
Speaking on behalf of fishermen, Mr Frank Mwijarobi said efforts to end illegal fishing must begin within fishing communities themselves, given the limited capacity of enforcement authorities compared to the scale of the problem.
“The real solution is for us fishermen to reject illegal fishing practices ourselves. It cannot be left to leaders or a few groups,” he said, noting that in some wards there is only one fisheries officer with a single patrol boat facing hundreds of illegal fishermen.
“Worse still, the officer lives among them and depends on the same community for daily life. How can effective enforcement work under such conditions?” he asked.
Mr Mwijarobi added that community ownership of fisheries resources is critical to ending destructive practices, warning that without fishermen’s commitment, enforcement efforts will continue to face serious challenges.
Earlier, during a visit to Maliwanda Ward in Bunda District, Mara Region, where he met livestock keepers, Dr Bashiru described agriculture, livestock and fisheries as the backbone of the national economy and the foundation of food security.
He urged livestock keepers to adopt productive and sustainable practices, assuring them that the government would continue improving the operating environment through better access to services, inputs and markets.
Dr Bashiru’s tour continues on December 24, 2025, in Mwanza Region, where he is expected to visit a fish feed processing factory and hold discussions with small-scale fishermen.
He said such field visits help the government better understand the realities faced by fishing and livestock communities, ensuring that policies and regulations remain practical, fair and supportive of sustainable livelihoods.