By Isabella Njeri
Tanzania, a major octopus producer in the Indian Ocean, is working on a strategic plan to introduce sustainable management and harvesting practices for its octopus fishery in collaboration with the local communities and other associates.
The country has seen an increase of 2,918 tonnes between 1990 and 2023 which is as a result of the ongoing conservation efforts and research initiatives led by the Tanzania Fisheries Institute and the Zanzibar Fisheries and Marine Resources Research Institute.
In partnership with the Nature Conservancy (TNC), the government will leverage the FishPath approach, a modern online tool designed to create strategies tailored for harvesting fisheries and simplifying stock assessment and management measures, besides guiding stakeholders and partners towards sustainable solutions.
In Tanzania, octopus harvesting is typically done using traditional, small-scale methods such as spears, rods, and iron sticks in exposed reefs during low tide or in deeper waters. Although, traditional, their sustainability, can be compromised without effective management strategies put in place.
In spite of these efforts, limitations such as illegal fishing, postharvest losses, and limited fisheries information persists, inhibiting the ability of the fishery to meet increasing demand and self-management. The government is collaborating with TNC and local stakeholders, in the developing of an updated octopus fishery management plan.
Speaking at a recent workshop in Dar-es-Salaam to initiate the development of the plan, Tanzania’s Director of the Fisheries Development Department, Prof. Mohammed Sheikh highlighted the economic, nutritional, and ecological importance of conserving octopus, underscoring its role in providing food locally and internationally, sustaining livelihoods, and serving as a sign of a healthy ecosystem.
Dr. Tuyeni Mwampamba, TNC’s Director of Science in the Africa Region, expressed interest in collaborating with Tanzania to promote sustainable octopus fisheries using the FishPath approach. This partnership aims to benefit Tanzania and other Western Indian Ocean countries facing data and capacity challenges, inhibiting the development of science-based management plans that are adaptable to climate change challenges.
