The government is training fishers in boat and engine maintenance as part of efforts to improve safety at sea and protect investments in modern fishing equipment provided through a soft-loan scheme.
The four-day training, conducted by the Fisheries Education and Training Agency (FETA) in Kilwa district, brought together 17 fishers and three district fisheries officers from Lindi Municipal Council, Mtama and Kilwa.
Held from October 15 to 18, 2026, at Kilwa Masoko Folk Development College (FDC), the training was funded by the Tanzania Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Project (TASFAM).
It focused on equipping fishers who have benefited from government-supported loans for modern fishing boats with the technical knowledge needed to maintain and repair their boats and engines.
The initiative highlights the importance of technical skills in ensuring that public investment in fishing equipment translates into more reliable fishing operations, improved safety and better economic opportunities for beneficiaries.
Without proper maintenance, boats and engines can develop faults that disrupt fishing trips, increase repair costs and expose fishers to risks at sea. Equipping beneficiaries with maintenance skills can help reduce such challenges and extend the working life of the equipment.
Closing the training on behalf of the Kilwa District Executive Director, Acting Director Shija Lusendamila Lyella urged the graduates to apply the knowledge acquired to improve their fishing activities.
He also called on them to share their skills with other fishers who did not attend the training, enabling more people in their communities to benefit from the programme.
Participants thanked the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries for facilitating the training through FETA and TASFAM, saying it had improved their understanding of boat and engine maintenance.
They said the knowledge would help them maintain their equipment, conduct fishing activities more safely and improve efficiency in carrying out their daily work.
The training is part of broader efforts to strengthen the capacity of people working in the fisheries sector. However, its long-term impact will depend on whether beneficiaries can consistently apply the skills acquired and maintain their equipment as required.
For fishers benefiting from government-supported financing, keeping boats and engines in good working condition is essential to making productive use of the equipment and sustaining their fishing businesses.
The programme also seeks to strengthen knowledge-sharing among fishers, allowing practical maintenance skills to reach beyond the initial group of trainees and contribute to safer and more efficient fishing activities in Lindi Region.