Fisheries Act, 2003 (No. 22 of 2003).

An Act to regulate fishing and the fishing industry, and aquaculture development in the Republic of Tanzania. The Act consists of 59 sections divided into 10 Parts: Preliminary provisions (I); Administration (II); Development of the fishing industry (III); Aqua cultural development (IV); Management and control of the fishing industry (V); Fish quality, management and standards (VI); Financial provisions (VII); Enforcement (VIII); Offences and penalties (IX); General provisions (X). A Director shall be appointed and responsible for all matters related to the management of fisheries. The Director shall appoint vessel registration and licensing officers, enforcement officers and fish inspectors. The Director shall promote, encourage and support all initiatives leading to the development and sustainable use of the fish stock and aquatic resources through measures outlined in section 9. No person shall move or cause movement of eggs, fingerling, seed, genetically modified species, etc. from one water body to another without a permit. If any fish or fish products are infected by any epidemic disease the Director may require the destruction of all fish or fish products. The Minister may impose licenses for fishing, gathering of aquatic products, methods of fishing and limitations of size, age, etc. of fish, control on the import of fish, etc. (sect. 17). No foreign vessel shall be licensed to fish in the territorial waters. Section 22 prohibits certain fishing activities and the use of specified gear without a licence. Section 23 concerns the conservation of fisheries resources. The Minister shall impose conditions for quality management by prescribing specifications for fish processing establishments, monitoring quality management programes and application of HACCP, issuing sanitary certificates before placing the products on the market, etc. (sect. 24). The Director shall prescribe standards for hygiene and quality and ensure that they are applied throughout the fishing industry. A Fisheries Development Fund shall be established (sect. 29) and the purpose of the fund is outlined in section 30. Section 41 and following concern legal proceedings and jurisdiction. Regulation making powers of the Minster are defined in section 57.