Tanzania's fishing industry is expanding rapidly around Lake Victoria, driven by government support programmes and growing demand for fish as dietary preferences shift and the population grows. The Fisheries Education and Training Agency (FETA) Nyegezi Campus said the country's population has increased from approximately nine million people in the 1960s to more than 60 million, creating greater demand for food including fish. According to FETA, cage fish farming is becoming increasingly popular because of its potential to provide reliable harvests, improve household incomes and respond to that rising demand.
Government interventions are backing the sector's expansion through multiple financing schemes targeting young people. A total of 200 billion shillings was allocated nationwide for youth empowerment programmes, with 9 billion shillings made available to young people in the Lake Zone through the Build a Better Tomorrow (BBT) programme. In Mwanza, 80 beneficiaries entered farming activities in March and are expecting their first harvest in November, collectively operating 80 fish cages stocked with at least 11,280 fingerlings each, with projected production of 240 tonnes. During the first phase of government-backed youth economic empowerment programmes, 917 fishing-related projects worth 5.89 billion shillings received support across the country, including eight projects in Mwanza City Council that benefited from 74 million shillings. The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries said it was processing 6,875 applications under a second phase, including 79 from Mwanza City Council.
FETA has significantly increased fingerling production to meet growing demand from cage fish operators. The campus increased its monthly production capacity from 70,000 to two million fingerlings, though demand continues to exceed available supplies. FETA director Jimmy Masumbuko said the institution was working towards increasing production to at least 10 million fingerlings monthly in the coming days. A fingerling should ideally weigh at least 0.8 grammes and cost about 150 shillings, but shortages have pushed purchasing prices to approximately 250 shillings, increasing the initial investment required by farmers.
Despite government support, the sector faces significant challenges that threaten sustainability, particularly for small-scale operators. Shortages and high costs of fish feeds represent a major constraint, with most farmers depending on imported products that are expensive and sometimes unavailable. When commercial feeds became unavailable, some farmers resorted to collecting whatever edible materials they could find to feed their fish temporarily, practices that can stunt fish growth and result in lower-quality harvests. The cost of constructing cages also presents an obstacle, as materials such as nets and High-Density Polyethylene pipes are imported. Mwanza Regional Senior Fishing Officer Titus Kilo noted that while many beneficiaries of government support were making progress, some had experienced difficulties, particularly because of negligence in managing their projects.
The market outlook remains encouraging, with demand for fish in the region not yet fully satisfied, according to FETA. Cage fish farming may also contribute to natural replenishment of fish stocks, as the areas beneath cages could provide relatively safe breeding grounds where fishing is prohibited. Naturally occurring fish beneath the cages could also benefit from feeds supplied to farmed fish, potentially supporting their growth and breeding. Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Ng'wasi Kamani said the government was extending loans to individuals and groups involved in fishing and fish trading, explaining that these groups played important roles across the fishing value chain in collecting, transporting and selling fish.
For Tanzania's savers, borrowers, business owners and investors, the expansion of cage fish farming creates employment and income opportunities, but small-scale producers face rising input costs that limit their ability to compete with larger investors. Sustaining growth will depend on addressing the cost and availability of essential inputs, improving access to quality fingerlings and strengthening management of supported projects, according to stakeholders in the sector.