Aquaculture: Prospects and Challenges in Tanzania

Abstract

Tanzania with its long coastline and endowed with large inland fresh water bodies   such as lakes (Victoria, Tanganyika, Nyasa, Rukwa, manmade Nyumba ya Mungu) and rivers (Ruvu, Rufiji, Ruaha, Wami, Pangani) has an enormous potential for aquaculture production. The world fisheries resources are declining on a global basis while both the demand and the cost of utilization are on the increase. Aquaculture, an opportunity based upon science and Technology, has the potential to supplement the demands based on natural resources in the face of ever increasing world population. Although aquaculture is less developed in Tanzania, average production stands at 1400 kgs/ ha/ yr on average pond size of 15 0-500m². Thus aquaculture has an enormous potential in Tanzania. This paper gives some highlights on the prospects and challenges of aquaculture production in Tanzania