serikali ya mapinduzi zanzibar care tanzania and department

survey most of catch records shows that the fishing vessels dugout canoe, mashua and
sailing were mostly used at 56.17%, 26.96% and 16.85% respectively.
(c) Fish production
Data on fish production from Pemba and Zanzibar suggests that fish production has
been declining progressively in the last two decades. There are several factors, which
have contributed to that decline:
(i) Increase of fishing pressure (caused by increased fishing effort)
(ii) Decrease of small pelagics, believed to be the main source of food to
bigger fish
(iii) Habitat degradation due to use of destructive fishing gears and techniques.
It has been reported at Ngezi most fishers in the area fishing commercial fish species.
These include Cowries, Sea cucumber, Crabs, Octopus, Squids, Lobsters and
Shrimps. The fishers depend both external and internal markets. External markets are
in Mombasa where they are sold as semi processed or fresh fish. Internal market is
mainly tourists’ hotel Manta Reef and local people. According to fisheries catch
stastics the record were as follows Msuka 60,922 Kg, Kijijini 18,869 kg, Tondooni
14,535 kg, Mkia Ng’ombe 11,120 kg, Jiwe moja 625 kg, Makangale 4,420 Kg, and
Bandari Kuu 895 Kg. (Source: Ngezi survey, January 2005).
(d) Fishing gears
Fishing gears in Unguja and Pemba reported by the fishermen and Commission for
Natural Resources (CNR-Fisheries, 1997) are gillnets, shark nets, small scale purse
seines, a variety of fishing lines (troll-lines, hand lines, long lines) fish traps, fishing
weirs, spear guns and beach seines. However, some of the fishing gears such as spear
guns and beach seines are illegally used because they are banned in Zanzibar due to
their destructive nature. Fishing traps, weirs and spear guns are made locally. Fishing
lines, mostly nylon monofilaments are imported and available in sufficient quantities
in various shops. There is adequate availability of fishing gears and equipment but
their prices are high compared to the purchasing power of most artisanal fishers
(FAO/Department of Environment Zanzibar, 1999). During the survey most catch
records obtained from hand line, beach seine and spears at 31.11%, 22.22% and
17.77% rate respectively. Other fishing gears contribute about 28.9 %.
(e) Habitat type
Most fishes caught at Ngezi area are mainly from thirteen habitat types. Namely as
Caves, Coastal, Coral reefs, Deep coral reefs, Demersal, Epi-pelagic, Inshore, Muddy,
Pelagic, Seagrass, Shallow reefs, Reefs and Estuary. Demersal species contribute
large amount followed by pelagic and Epi-pelagic at 51.6%, 23.6% and 10.1%
respectively. Other remaining habitat types contribute 14.7%.
(f) Fishing grounds
The fishing ground is the area where fish are caught by using various fishing gears. In
the Ngezi fishing grounds are described in various forms, these are Coastal, Shallow
waters, and Sand bottom, Coral reefs, Deep sea and Mangroves. In general most fish
catch are obtained from four main fishing grounds, these are Coastal and Deep seas
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