TANGA Regional Commissioner Dr Batilda Burian has urged marine economy stakeholders and coastal communities to take proactive measures to prevent oil spills, citing significant environmental and economic risks they pose to marine life and ecosystems.

Opening a workshop here on Wednesday about the National Plan for Preparedness and Response to Oil Spills in Oceans and Lakes, Dr Burian stressed that even small spills—as little as six gallons—can devastate marine environment. 

Technical reports from Tanzania Shipping Agency Corporation (TASAC) confirm that even minimal spills disrupt ecosystems, endanger aquatic life, and damage natural habitats in oceans and lakes.

Dr Burian emphasized the need for comprehensive training of stakeholders involved in protecting marine and freshwater environments. She noted that equipping them with the right skills would help safeguard vital marine resources, including fish and seaweed, which are crucial to the region’s economic growth. 

She also announced plans to convene a meeting with industry stakeholders to discuss effective management and coordination of equipment provided by Marine Park for oil spill prevention.

Leticia Mutaki, TASAC Director of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection, shared that the training programme invited stakeholders from both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar to participate in a practical exercise on oil spill response along the Indian Ocean shores. The initiative aims to raise awareness at the district level and strengthen disaster preparedness.

“We work to safeguard our marine resources, which are abundant and critical for sustainable economic growth,” she said, adding that TASAC is committed to ensuring all vessels operating in Tanzanian waters meet strict safety standards to reduce environmental risks.

Mutaki also highlighted TASAC’s efforts to build a local response team ready to handle potential oil spills. She referenced the EACOP project, which transports oil from Hoima, Uganda, to Tanga, and reiterated the agency’s commitment to minimizing environmental impact.

Zanzibar Port Authority (ZPA) representative Abubakar Ally praised TASAC’s ongoing training programmes and stressed the importance of such initiatives in promoting sustainable ocean conservation and protecting marine resources.