Aquatic food systems play important role in Tanzania providing direct and indirect employment to over 6 million people, contributing 1.7% of GDP and 30% of animal protein intake. In 2025, combined fish production from both capture fisheries and aquaculture was about 510,000 metric tons falling short to meet is current demand estimated at 715,606.5 metric tons. Aquaculture contributing 8.5% is poised to play a greater role to support aquatic food systems given the dwindling fish catch from capture fisheries and the abundance aquatic resources both marine and inland. There is policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks to guide and govern the aquaculture industry including the National Fisheries Policy of 2015, The National Blue Economy Policy, Fisheries Sector Master Plan (2021/22–2036/37) and National Aquaculture Development Strategy (2018 – 2025), Fisheries Act of 2003, Fisheries (Aquaculture) Regulations of 2024 and other legislations related to Water, Land, Environment, Animal Feeds and Animal Diseases.
Aquaculture has shown growth for the past ten years with farmed species including tilapia, African catfish, seaweed, marine shrimps, sea cucumber and half pearls. Further growth requires Strengthening institutional capacity to deliver technical and advisory services to increase adoption of better management practices, increasing access to key inputs by supporting private sector investment, increasing access to finance support investment in commercial aquaculture, strengthening cold chain facilities, value addition and market linkages and enhancing education and skills development, generation of knowledge, technologies and innovation as well as their effective sharing to value chain actors.
Government of Tanzania is undertaking several initiatives to address issues identified including establishment of scheme of service for aquaculture officers to strengthen extension services, establishing online portal to simplify application of permits, strengthening capacity of aquaculture development centres and establishment of fish farming field schools to enhance adoption of good aquaculture practices; exemption of value added tax and import duty on selected aquaculture inputs and equipment; establishing aquaculture youth incubators to enhance skills; undertaking zonation for cage fish farming in large water bodies and giving interest free soft loans to stimulate investment in commercial aquaculture. The Government is committed to transform aquaculture into a resilient and vibrant industry to make Tanzania a continental leader in aquaculture.