Illegal gill-nets threaten sardine recovery in Lake Tanganyika

KIGOMA: THE reopening of Lake Tanganyika in mid-August brought a much-needed boost to sardine yields, but the recovery of the fish population remains delicate.

While catches have increased, local fishermen are growing increasingly concerned about the persistent use of illegal gill-nets.

They argue that these nets are undermining the lake’s ecosystem and hindering its full recovery. Gill-nets, which entangle fish by their gills, are notorious for their destructive impact on marine life.

These nets often catch non-target species and disrupt the lake’s delicate ecological balance.

Despite various efforts to curb their use, illegal gill-nets continue to be a significant issue in Lake Tanganyika, threatening the long-term sustainability of the sardine fishery.

Local fishermen assert that the use of gill-nets not only depletes the sardine population but also harms other valuable species such as pelagic and perch.

They call for more stringent enforcement and the promotion of sustainable fishing practices to ensure the lake’s recovery and protect the livelihoods of local communities.

A fish processor at Katanga landing site, Zena Masoud, voices the frustration felt by many.

“Tatizo ni uvuvi wa makira,” she says, using the Swahili term for the problem illegal gill-nets, locally known as makira or ‘free maya’ among French-speaking fishing communities in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

She notes that while sardine yields have improved since the reopening, they have not met expectations and blames the use of illegal gillnets.

The Chairman of the Kibirizi Fishing Group, Paul Samwel, acknowledges that sardine yields have increased since the fishing ban in Lake Tanganyika was lifted in mid-August, but they have not yet reached pre-ban levels.

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He points out that although the use of illegal gill-nets has declined due to government intervention and awareness campaigns, the problem persists.

“Use of makira nets has decreased significantly in Kibirizi,” he says. “The government conducts regular patrols to address illegal fishing and encourages us to report violations.”

A fish seller at Muyobozi fish landing site, Sialeo Kapela, shares her disappointment. “The sardine yields were substantial but only for a short period. We expected a larger and more sustained increase,” she says.

Another fish entrepreneur and member of the Beach Management Unit at Muyobozi landing site, Zinduna Iddi Kagoma, observes that the increase in sardine yields was short-lived.

“The surge in yields was brief and we’re not sure why the decline has occurred,” she explains.

Similarly, a fishing vessel owner and processor at Muyobozi, Kessy Hamis Amani acknowledges the improvement but notes it has fallen short of expectations.

“While the increase is noticeable, it isn’t as significant as we had hoped,” he says.

The Principal Fisheries Officer Zonal Incharge for Lake Tanganyika, Agnely Lishala, told the Daily News that gillnets are allowed for fisheries in Lake Tanganyika, but only if they comply with the specifications outlined in the 2003 Fisheries Act and its subsequent amendments.

Gill-nets that violate these regulations, such as those with excessive mesh size or improper paneling, are considered illegal, he said.

Section 58A of the 2020 Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations specifically prohibits gill-nets with paneling exceeding 144 meshes or measuring less than 3 inches in height, as well as those with less than 4 ply or more than 6 ply.

The use of these illegal nets poses a significant threat to the lake’s fish populations.

Mr Lishala said despite ongoing efforts to combat their use, these illegal nets continue to be smuggled into the country in large quantities.

He said there has been an influx of illegal nets with specifications that exceed the limits set by the 2003 Fisheries Act and its subsequent amendments.

“For example, some fishermen have been caught using gill-nets measuring 2.5 inches in height, 2 ply and more than 600 meshes, which are all in direct violation of the established regulations,” he said.

He said Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) officers also have also been impounding the illegal nets.