TANZANIA FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE

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Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) is a parastatal organization established in 1980 to cater for fisheries research in the country. The Institute comprises five centers: Mwanza and Soti on Lake Victoria, Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika, Kyela on Lake Nyasa (Malawi) and Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean. The last is also the Institute's headquarters.

Historical Background

TAFIRI centers have different backgrounds. Mwanza Center was a station of the former East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization (EAFFRO) of the defunct East African Community.

Kigoma and Kyela Centers were started in 1973 and 1978 respectively by the Ministry of Tourism, Natural Resources, and the Environment with the aim of assessing the fishery on their lakes. For the first five years Kigoma Center was run in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization.

The three centers were then run wholly by the Ministry of Tourism, Natural Resources and Environment under the Fisheries Division until 1980 when it was felt that these centers could more efficiently be run as a parastatal institution. So TAFIRI was started with a fourth center in Dar es Salaam which became its headquarters. However, the Institute never operated independently until the Board of Directors was named in May, and the Director General appointed in August 1983.

Objectives

• To promote, conduct and coordinated fisheries research within Tanzania.
• To improve and protect the fishing industry through developing and promoting better methods and techniques of fishing, fish farming, processing of fish and fish products.
• To investigate fish diseases so as to develop ways of controlling or preventing their occurrence.
• To document and disseminate research findings for use by the Government, public institutions or persons engaged in the fishing industry in the country.
• To advise the Government, public institutions and persons or bodies engaged in the fishing industry in Tanzania on the practical applications of findings of research done by or on behalf of the Institute.
• To promote and provide facilities for instruction and training of local fisheries research and management personel in cooperation with the Government or any persons within or outside Tanzania.
• To assume responsibility for the control and management of the business and affairs of any center which may be established or vested in the Institute.
• To do anything or enter into any transaction which, in the opinion of the Board, is necessary or desirable for the purposes of the better performance of the functions of the Institute.
  
  

The Governing Body

The Institute is governed by the Board of Directors. The chairperson of the Board is appointed by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania and holds a term of three years. The Board includes the Director General, currently Prof. P.O.J. Bwathondi, also appointed by the President, and other members not exceeding 15, appointed by the Minister for Tourism, Natural Resources and the Environment. The Secretary to the Board is nominated by the members from the employees of the Institute.

Research and Publication Committee

The Board elects from its members a Research and Publications Committee comprising a chairperson and five members. The Secretary to the Board acts as the secretary to this committee. The committee approves research proposals for funding and papers written by TAFIRI scientists for publication.

Organization

The Director General is the chief executive of the Institute. Under him fall the Center Directors and the Directors of Research, Finance, and Administration of the Institute's headquarters. The Director of Research heads the Fisheries Research, Fisheries Technical Services, and Documentation Sections. The Director of Finance and Administration heads the Finance, Manpower Development and Administration, and Supplies and Stores Sections.

Staff

TAFIRI has over 150 employees but only about 24 of them are scientists. More than half of the scientists are fresh graduates. Many posts are still vacant. So staff requirements and training are the main concerns of the Institute at present.

Funds

TAFIRI receives most of its funds as subvention from the government. However, it generates some of its funds through sale of fish, house rent, and boat-hiring charges. External donors are also a potential source.

Areas of Research Priority

Research priority areas cover the following topics:

• Fishery statistics and fish stock assessment
• Fish biology, taxonomy, and the fishery of commercially important species
• Socioeconomic, fish processing and marketing studies
• Hydrobiology and water pollution
• Gear technology
• Aquaculture
  

Present research activities are directed to important fish species, that is Nile perch, lates Niloticus, in Lake Victoria, boulengerochromis and lates in Lake Tanganyika, opsaridium in Lake Nyasa and oreochromis and other tilapia in our man-made lakes.

Facilities

Existing facilities are those inherited from the predecessor establishments. Kigoma Center has a laboratory for fishery biology, hydroacoustic equipment for stock assessment, extraction sets and chemicals for pollution monitoring, a research boat and a guest house which can accommodate visiting scientists. Mwanza Center has a laboratory and research boat. Kyela has laboratory space. There are also small libraries at Kigoma, Mwanza and Dar es Salaam with a few journals and FAO publications.

Collaboration

For better performance of its functions the Institute maintains a system of collaboration, consultation, and cooperation with the following:

• The Tanzania National Scientific Research Council (TNSRC)
• The Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organizaition (TIRDO)
• The Tanzania Fisheries Corporation (TAFICO)
• Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH)
• Any other person or body of persons established by or under any written law and having functions related to the above mentioned bodies.
  
  

Center Locations

The Institute's headquarters is housed at Kunduchi near Kunduchi Fisheries Training Institute. Contact: Prof. P.O.J. Bwathondi, Director General, Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, P.O.Box 9750 ,Dar es Salaam, Tanzania., Tel: 0812782016 (Mobitel) ,Telegram: TAFIRI DSM

Mwanza Center is situated at Nyegezi near the Freshwater Fisheries Training Institute. Contact: The Director, Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, Mwanza Fisheries Research Center, P.O.Box 475, Mwanza, Tanzania. Tel: 42398 Telegram: TAFIRI MWAZA

Kigoma Center is next to the District Natural Resources Office, a few meters from the electricity power station. Contact: The Director, Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, Kigoma Fisheries Research Center, PO Box 90, Kigoma, Tanzania. Tel: 2068,2345 Telegram: TAFIRI KIGOMA

Kyela Center is adjacent to the Kyela District Offices. It faces the National Bank of Commerce, Kyela Branch. Contact: The Director, Tanzania Fisheries Research Insitute, Kyela Fisheries Research Center, PO Box 98, Kyela, Tanzania. Tel: 36 Telegram: TAFIRI KYELA

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