Three African Countries Among Top Fishing Economies Globally

VENTURES AFRICA – Three African countries have been listed among the World’s top ten fishing economies, indicating the growing role fish farming plays as a vital source of Economic opportunities, livelihood and nutrition for these countries.

“Uganda is ranked sixth on the list, Tanzania eighth and Nigeria ninth on the category of World’s top inland water capture,” according to data from the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

These countries account for the most fishes captured in inland waters – lakes and rivers – though these countries still combine modern and traditional methods in the past decades.

The FAO warns that these countries would face a sharp decrease in production if sustainable fishing practices are not adopted. Ecological balance of the lake and river ecosystems must also be maintained.

Available data shows that fish captured by two of these countries have increased compared to the last decades as demand jumped both locally and internationally. However the fish stocks are not being managed in a way that it should replenish.

Uganda recorded a 6.8 percent decline in the total captured tonnes of fish in 2011 from 437,415 tonnes of in 2011 to 407,638 tonnes in 2012.

Tanzania captured 290,963 tonnes of fish in 2011 and 314,945 tonnes in 2012 which shows 8.2 percent increase from what was captured in 2011.

In 2011, Nigeria captured 301,281 tonnes of Fish and in 2012 312,009 tonnes of Fish which is 3.6 percent growth in the number of fish captured in the years under review.

Efficient fish management practice should be cultivated to avert any possible decline in projected fish production. A downturn in production could deny the Countries a healthy source of nutrition and sustainable foreign exchange for their economies.