Processors Blamed for Falling Fish Stocks
07 July 2008TANZANIA - Tanzanian politicians have accused the fish processing industry of depleting fish stocks in Lake Victoria.
Nyamagana MP and Home Affairs minister Lawrence Masha told a rally in Mwanza City at the weekend that the processors had promoted over-fishing in the lake by operating their plants non-stop, reports in teh Citizen newspaper say.
The continual processing does not allow enugh time for the fish to multiply.
The comments from the home affairs minister come as the three East African states that border the lake are drawing up plans for fishing seasons to allow the fish stocks to increase.
The Citizen says that local communities have already started to feel the pinch of overfishing with smaller catches on most days, while traders have taken advantage of the situation to increase the price of fish.
TheFishSite News Desk
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