Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Bashiru Ally Kakurwa, has launched a National Guideline for the Co-management of Fisheries Resources through Beach Management Units (BMUs), a move aimed at strengthening the protection of fisheries resources that play a key role in supporting livelihoods, economic growth and food security in Tanzania.
Dr Kakurwa launched the guideline on March 25, 2026, while closing a two-day High-Level Conference on the Future of Sustainable and Participatory Fisheries Resource Management and the Blue Economy held in Dodoma.
The minister urged experts, leaders and stakeholders in the fisheries sector to adopt more collaborative approaches in addressing illegal fishing, which continues to threaten the sustainability of fisheries resources.
Drawing from his recent visit to the Lake Zone, Dr Kakurwa said he witnessed cases where some fishers had modified legal fishing nets to carry out illegal fishing practices, making enforcement alone insufficient to tackle the problem.
He stressed that sustainable management of fisheries resources requires the active involvement of communities and stakeholders rather than relying solely on law enforcement.
“We cannot control illegal fishing only through police enforcement. People continue to invent new methods to bypass regulations. The most effective way to succeed is through participatory approaches and continuous education so that this guideline becomes a working tool, not just a document,” he said.
Resident Director of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Tanzania, Lucy Magembe, said the organisation has been collaborating with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to strengthen the role of fishing communities in protecting fisheries resources through Beach Management Units.
She explained that the partnership focuses on promoting sustainable fishing practices and supporting the development of the blue economy.
According to Ms Magembe, the organisation has been providing scientific support and training on responsible fishing while working with communities to curb illegal fishing and ensure sustainable fisheries.
“We have been supporting communities with scientific knowledge and training on responsible fishing while working together to reduce illegal fishing so that fisheries resources can be sustained for future generations,” she said.
Earlier, the Deputy Permanent Secretary responsible for fisheries in the ministry, Mohamed Sheikh, said protecting fisheries resources is a shared responsibility involving government institutions, fishing communities and other stakeholders.
He noted that about 700 Beach Management Units across the country are currently working closely with communities to manage and safeguard fisheries resources.
The government expects the new guideline to strengthen community participation in fisheries management and improve coordination among stakeholders, helping to curb illegal fishing while ensuring that fisheries continue to contribute to economic development and food security.
