|
Marine scientists: Dynamite fishing at alarming level
2008-09-24 09:29:04
By Guardian Reporter, Zanzibar
Marine scientists have described the level of dynamite fishing as alarming and the main factor in coral reefs destruction in coastal areas in the country.
The scientists, from the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) of the University of Dar es Salaam, said this at a press briefing on the ongoing 10-year Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management (CRTR) programme here yesterday.
They said an increase in dynamite fishing, especially in Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mafia island, was serious and had affected the coral reefs ecosystem.
The experts attributed the increase in the malpractice to poverty facing a large number of fishermen, calling for the situation to be addressed before it got out of hand.
In a research conducted in a number of coastal areas in Tanzania, the experts said, they had noted that fishermen had been too slow to discard the malpractice despite efforts made by several organs to raise awareness on the importance of coral reefs in the country.
``We have been trying to go around and educate fishermen on the importance of coral reefs but the problem still persists,`` said Dr Christopher Mhando, who was flanked by the institute`s director, Professor Alfons Dubi and Dr Desiderius Masalu.
He said unless concrete measures were taken by the authorities in the respective areas to arrest the situation, the future of coral reefs in the country was bleak, warning that even fish stocks would drop drastically.
The marine expert insisted that their role centred on policy formation, utilisation, conservation and management of costal and marine resources.
``The task of containing dynamite fishing is left in the hands of respective government authorities,`` he said, warning that the problem should not be taken lightly.
Earlier, Professor Dubi said his institute, the focus of coral reef research in eastern Africa, was picked as one of only four Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity for Management Centres of Excellence in the world.
Other centres are Meso-America (Puerto Morleso, Mexico), South-East Asia (Bolinao, Philippines) with the third centre based in Australia, he explained.
The centres of excellence provide technical support and act as an important bridge in communicating research results to management and policy communities and consulting with stakeholders such as organisations of fishers, coastal managers and local government.
The ten-year project is estimated to cost USD 250 million and is being sponsored by the Global Environment Fund and the Development Facility of the World Bank.
|
