Tanzania’s fisheries sector contribution to gross domestic product reached a record 2.20% in 2025, up 0.50 percentage points from 1.70% in 2018, according to data recently released by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.
Sector Growth and GDP Contribution
The sector’s growth rate rebounded to 6.30% in 2025, from 1.40% in 2024 and among the strongest annual expansions recorded since 2018.
The value of fish products produced rose to TZS 4.56 trillion in 2025, up 4.59% from TZS 4.36 trillion in 2024 and up 157.63% from TZS 1.77 trillion in 2018.
Production and Consumption
Fish production from natural water bodies eased to 519,454 tonnes in 2025, down 0.64% from the record 522,788 tonnes recorded in 2024.
Per capita fish consumption rose to 10.20 kilograms per year in 2025, up 30.77% from 7.80 kilograms in 2024, the highest level recorded since 2018.
The number of registered fish landing sites held steady at 1,176 in 2025, unchanged from 2024 but down 13.27% from 1,356 in 2018.
Exports
Total fish product exports fell to 45,053 tonnes in 2025, down 24.59% from 59,746 tonnes in 2024, with export value declining 14.15% to TZS 649 billion from TZS 756 billion.
Exports of Nile perch (Sangara) fell to 14,754 tonnes in 2025, down 34.39% from 22,488 tonnes in 2024, the lowest volume recorded since 2018.
Fish product exports from Lake Victoria fell to 31,935 tonnes in 2025, down 11.09% from 35,919 tonnes in 2024, though still 22.83% above the 25,999-tonne low recorded in 2023.
Exports from Lake Tanganyika rose to 581 tonnes in 2025, up 37.35% from 423 tonnes in 2024, within the wide annual range the lake has recorded since 2018.
Exports from the Indian Ocean fell to 3,646 tonnes in 2025, down 62.71% from a peak of 9,777 tonnes in 2024, the highest annual volume recorded since 2018.
Exports of live ornamental fish rose to a record 259,876 tonnes in 2025, up 49.89% from 173,377 tonnes in 2024 and up 306.20% since 2018.
Exports of dried fish maw (Mabondo), a high-value Nile perch by-product, fell to 396 tonnes in 2025, down 6.38% from 423 tonnes in 2024.
Imports
Fish imports surged to 10,359 tonnes in 2025, up 172,550% from just six tonnes in 2024, the largest annual volume recorded since 2018.
Employment and Fishing Fleet
The total number of fishers rose to 205,559 in 2025, up 1.93% from 201,661 in 2024, the highest level recorded since 2018.
Fisher numbers on Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika held steady in 2025, at 102,779 and 32,757 respectively, both unchanged from 2024.
Fisher numbers on the Indian Ocean coast and Lake Nyasa also remained unchanged in 2025, at 53,035 and 5,550 respectively, as they have since 2018.
The total number of fishing vessels rose to 60,886 in 2025, up 2.73% from 59,266 in 2024, the highest level recorded since 2018.
The fishing fleet on Lake Victoria was virtually unchanged at 31,075 vessels in 2025, while the fleet on Lake Tanganyika held steady at 12,409.
The fleet on the Indian Ocean coast remained at 9,242 vessels in 2025, while the fleet on inland lakes and dams rose 21.71% to 60,886 from 50,024 in 2024.
Catch by Water Body
Nile perch catches from Lake Victoria eased to 91,331 tonnes in 2025, down 1.44% from 92,665 tonnes in 2024, remaining below the 93,036-tonne peak recorded in 2020.
Catches from Lake Tanganyika fell to 85,180 tonnes in 2025, down 4.48% from 89,173 tonnes in 2024, well below the 104,179-tonne peak recorded in 2020.
Catches from Lake Nyasa rose to 9,531 tonnes in 2025, up 24.04% from 7,684 tonnes in 2024, though still below the 16,155 tonnes recorded in 2018.
Catches from the Indian Ocean rose to a series-high 72,555 tonnes in 2025, up 20.33% from 60,297 tonnes in 2024 and up 36.30% from 53,231 tonnes in 2018.
Catches from small water bodies, including minor lakes and dams, fell to 1,888 tonnes in 2025, down 8.62% from 2,066 tonnes in 2024.
Tanzania’s Fisheries Sector Master Plan
The government’s Fisheries Sector Master Plan, covering 2021/22 to 2036/37 and launched in 2022, targets raising the sector’s contribution to GDP to 10% per annum, increasing overall fisheries production by at least 35%, and raising the volume of fish and fishery products processed and exported by 30%.
The plan also aims to establish investment funds and financing mechanisms to support small-scale fishers and small-holder aquaculture enterprises, and to increase fish production from the Exclusive Economic Zone, Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and minor water bodies for domestic and export markets.
Further objectives include strengthening ecosystem-based fisheries co-management across all water bodies, increasing infrastructure investment for handling, processing, storage and marketing to cut post-harvest losses, and improving fish biodiversity conservation, marketing and extension services.
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