Impact Story
Effective eel management for people and nature in Tanzania
BIOEELS-TZ promotes sustainable fisheries and habitat protection through environmental monitoring and capacity building
Human activities such as uncontrolled fishing, pollution, and urban development are causing a decline in Tanzania’s eel populations. The management of eels in Tanzania is challenging due to limited information on catch rates, catch composition, and species diversity. Effective fisheries management requires addressing both fish stocks and human needs. The BIOEELS-TZ project aims to understand the socio-ecological dynamics of eel biodiversity and related artisanal fisheries in coastal, estuarine and riverine areas of Tanzania. By taking an interdisciplinary approach and involving various stakeholder groups, BIOEELS-TZ aims to bridge knowledge gaps, understand the impacts of economic activities on migratory eels, and raise awareness about Tanzania’s lesser-known natural resources.
What unique issue is bioeels-tz addressing?
In East Africa, particularly in Tanzania and neighbouring countries, eel species have never been the focus of fisheries science, resulting in a noticeable lack of knowledge regarding the identification, distribution, and the environmental dynamics. However, migratory species are important components of the tropical fish fauna and outstanding indicators for habitat integrity and environmental quality. Beside the biological aspects, the human dimension of resource management needs to be considered. Sustainable management generally requires a political and administrative framework, which aims at balancing the different stakeholder interests, while at the same time ensuring the preservation of habitat requirements of the resource.
BIOEELS-TZ endeavours to assess the biodiversity of migratory eels of Tanzania, reconstruct their dynamics of abundance and catch trends, determine their habitat needs, evaluate cultural and socio-economic factors affecting utilisation and to promote sustainability through knowledge transfer and capacity building.
BIOEELS-TZ formed strong partnerships
What has been achieved so far?
BIOEELS-TZ has
- taken 334 samples for genetic analysis from 70 species, 59 genera, 40 families and analysed 94 samples for contaminant analyses to be processed at the Thünen-Institute of Fisheries Ecology.
- documented the presence of three freshwater eel species (Anguilla bicolor, A. bengalensis and A. marmorata) in Tanzania and defined a distinct zonation of the species along the rivers.
- conducted 84 interviews in 15 villages in four districts of Tanga and Pwani and organised community workshops and focus group discussions to raise awareness of the local communities for environmental and fisheries issues and to detect trends in the fishery trade.
- documented fishery yields by taking catch records for the frequency of 10 days per month with a minimum number of 5 boats per sampling day, thus involving and educating local fishers.
What else has bioeels-tz achieved?
Furthermore, BIOEELS-TZ has
- trained enumerators in the fishing communities on the mobile application eCAS for the documentation of fishery catches under supervision of TAFIRI.
- produced a study (not yet published) to review information on existing governance frameworks and sustainability in control of fisheries resources, trained local scientists, enumerators, and one technician, organised a stakeholder workshop and developed a policy brief.
- presented its findings at the African Network on Fish Technology and Safety (ANFTS) FAO meeting in Zanzibar, highlighting the socio-economic characteristics of the eel value chain and its implications for fishery sustainability in Rufiji River, Tanzania.
In what way has bioeels-tz helped closing the knowledge gap on eels in Tanzania?
The project contributes to an integrated water resource management in a region of increasing anthropogenic pressure. A first deeper study (not yet published) on the biological characteristics of migratory freshwater eels in the two most important coastal rivers in Tanzania showed that they are not only important aquatic resources but also key indicator species for habitat quality and ecosystem integrity.
Community workshops with stakeholders, policymakers, and authorities focused on biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries, enhancing multidisciplinary competences to inform the future management of the Rufiji and Pangani rivers. Public outreach included a science-art communication workshop, which demonstrated innovative approaches to sharing scientific knowledge and fostering engagement.
The project built capacity by training junior researchers and students in fieldwork, species identification, and genetic barcoding, while educating enumerators on using the eCAS mobile app, leading to better fisheries documentation.
What are long-term benefits for the community through BIOEELS-TZ?
The project partners successfully gathered new information on species diversity and fisheries in Tanzania’s two major coastal river ecosystems, where previous data was scarce or non-existent. BIOEELS-TZ confirmed the presence of three freshwater eel species in Tanzanian waters for the first time, and documented their habitat use and utilization by artisanal fishers.
Equally important were the insights into the socio-cultural and economic significance of riverine fishing in villages and communities along the rivers, including the value chain of eel processing and trade. The project’s final stakeholder workshop was crucial, bringing together scientists, NGOs, and local and national decision-makers.
Habitat loss and ecosystem fragmentation pose significant threats to eel migration and biodiversity. The findings from BIOEELS-TZ can help protect eel populations and their habitats while considering the socio-economic challenges of poverty reduction.
