A routine weather phenomenon has lately disturbed the fishing ecosystem in the commercial capital of Dar es Salaam, as a breadth of consumers had to go without regular serving on their plates.

The shortage was rather acute with extended area experiencing prolonged strong sea winds preventing fishermen from going out to sea without special facilities, even putting life at risk to go out on a dingy fishing boat. Not much was being heard on how far there was brisk trade in hiring motorized boats from Zanzibar, or indeed how far they were noticeable on this side of the sea for the past week or so. It was an eye opener on fishing sector weaknesses, first.

 The shortage shaking the sector as touched off rising prices owing to increased pressure on traders, with wholesale and retail fish traders complaining that the shortage has dented their businesses and regular incomes. Prices had in many areas doubled or tripled, placed traders on an easy note on how far the market could absorb higher prices – and indeed how long this situation may last, as weather forecasts aren’t detailed enough to cover wind gusts and their duration across the season, as different from merely speaking about the next day’s weather and expect that fishers and traders can indeed tailor their activities on the basis of the skimpy evening forecast.

 The idea that fairly strong winds that weren’t quite noticeable in the city other than those who conduct activities at the shoreline were enough to deny the city the supply of fish for several days, despite that some fishers could still do their work in isolated spots or by being especially brave, is an indicator of the poor technological standing. Even by local comparisons the fishing industry in the city is fairly traditional as Zanzibar has made efforts under the blue economy policy to distribute motorboats on a loan basis. Not much has been said of the success of that scheme, how far the trade is more profitable or the product is cheaper, and who is happier…

 That is why in hearing how the commercial capital of a country with 60, people and upwards of 6m in the commercial city alone has difficulties getting fish on the table because of mildly strong winds which didn’t make it for any front pages of newspapers for damage or other threats was a sort of dilemma. It is a situation where those keen about literature say one doesn’t know whether to laugh or to cry about the situation, as seeking to improve it in the way things are done now can be problematic. If motorboats are ‘distributed’ and a score of operators get large amounts of fish and reduce the price, many in the sector will be ruined. If that does not happen, a large mass of people will be chasing fish in dingy boats, sell at prices they can get, and the poorer consumers find the sardine on the street corner eating joint somewhat spoiled for lack of cold room storage.