The government has set aside TZS 9.5 billion in the 2025/26 budget to facilitate the provision of concessional loans for modern fishing vessels and equipment, in a move aimed at transforming the fisheries sector and improving livelihoods.
The funding will support the acquisition of 100 modern fishing boats, 76 auxiliary vessels, and related gear, targeting fishermen and aquaculture practitioners across the country.
Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Ng’wasi Kamani, disclosed this in Parliament in Dodoma on April 20, 2026, while responding to a question from Nyasa MP John John Nchimbi, who sought clarity on the timeline for issuing affordable fibre fishing boats to fishermen in his constituency.
Kamani said the loan scheme will be extended to communities along the Indian Ocean coastline, as well as those surrounding major and minor lakes, rivers and dams.
He noted that about 2,100 people are expected to directly benefit from the initiative, which is designed to increase fish production, create employment opportunities and raise incomes.
He added that the programme takes a broader approach by integrating fisheries with other income-generating activities.
These include cage fish farming, provision of fishing gear, poultry and livestock keeping such as pigs, goats and sheep. It also covers investment in cold chain infrastructure, fish processing particularly dagaa and seaweed farming across fishing communities nationwide.
According to Kamani, the initiative aligns with the government’s wider agenda of economic empowerment, particularly for young people, as part of commitments made by Samia Suluhu Hassan to expand access to capital for small, medium and emerging enterprises.
The programme is expected to accelerate modernization in the fisheries sector, improve productivity and strengthen the resilience of coastal and inland communities that depend on fishing and related activities for their livelihoods.
