21/07/14
Tanzania’s bustling fish market supports livelihoods
Thousands of people pass through the gates of Kivukoni market, the largest fish market in Dar es Salaam.
Anita Makri
Fishermen bring their catch to shore. More than 500 species of fish are used for food in the country.
Anita Makri
Landing sites need better facilities for receiving and handling fish. Poor infrastructure means more post-catch losses.
Anita Makri
The market is divided into zones. This one is for cleaning and descaling. Due to the shortage of fresh water, fish are often washed with polluted sea water.
Anita Makri
The day’s catch is sold in a separate zone. Tanzania’s fisheries sector helps to reduce poverty by improving income and food security.
Anita Makri
Demand is high: fish makes up almost 30 per cent of the animal protein consumed in the country.
Anita Makri
Anita Makri
Women cook for the fishermen. The livelihood of thousands of people is linked to the market.
Anita Makri
The fisheries sector employs about two million people in Tanzania, including boat builders and people who mend nets.
Anita Makri
The demand for fish is met by traditional equipment, methods and tools, but also environmentally harmful practices such as dragnets and dynamite fishing.
Anita Makri
Monitoring data is poor and the government struggles to keep tabs on fish stocks or improve knowledge about managing fisheries more effectively.
Anita Makri
By: Anita Makri
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Fishing provides jobs and a vital source of animal protein in the fast-growing city of Dar es Salaam, home to more than three million people. But demand for fish outstrips supply, fishermen still tend to use traditional methods and tools, and there are concerns over harmful practices such as the use of dynamite, which destroys coral reefs and breeding grounds. There is inadequate infrastructure to properly handle the day’s catch, as well as limited information on markets and services. And the country’s efforts to promote sustainable fisheries come up against a lack of research, funding and the data needed to monitor the fishing industry.
The photographs in this gallery, taken by the author in the vibrant Kivukoni fish market, reflect concerns over resources and facilities. They show the city’s appetite for fish and the men and women who depend on it for their livelihoods.