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Report: Leaders frustrate efforts against illegal fishing
Interference by politicians and government officials is said to hinder efforts to combat illegal fishing in Tanga Region.
This was revealed here recently in a report of the Tanga-based northeastern zone fisheries patrol unit.
It quoted the head of the unit, Mr Hyasint Donald Wariro, as saying interference from politicians and senior Government officials in Pangani and Tanga districts forced them to abandon patrols to apprehend illegal fishermen along the Tanga coast.
According to the report, Tanga and Pangani district commissioners ordered the unit to stop conducting the patrols temporarily to avoid disturbing voters during the recent civic elections.
This is not the first time the patrol unit leader has complained about interference by politicians and government leaders effectively frustrating the exercise to net illegal fishermen.
He mentioned politicians involved in frustrating their efforts as including members of parliament and councillors.
”Location and village chairpersons are not interested in curbing the
practice because the illegal operations always start from their areas,” he said.
He also mentioned the Judiciary as playing part in frustrating efforts in the exercise.
Mr Wariro said there have been cases of lost case files before or soon after witnesses had given evidence in courts.
He also mentioned leakages of details of operations before embarking on them as other factors frustrating their operations.
A total of 13 illegal fishermen have been fined Sh1.1 million and ordered to get licenses after pleading guilty to illegal fishing this month. In addition, two boats were impounded in the operation.
Meanwhile, a suspect, one Mr Mustapha Wadhari, and his two accomplices escaped arrest on October 6 this year when their boat was seized during the operation. In addition, the police impounded two other boats.