Rebuilding Lake Victoria, Tanzania’s plan for sustainable fisheries

TANZANIA: FISH is an important source of animal protein, particularly for most of Tanzania rural communities.

However, increased fishing efforts and excessive use of inappropriate fishing gears and methods, has led to overexploitation of fish stocks in many natural water bodies and resulted in dwindling fish supply.

Moreover, with a declining and stagnating catch from capture fisheries, amplified by expanding population and an increasing proportion of fish being exported as a source of national income has led to overexploitation by harvesting both brooders and juveniles that could replenish the stock for resilience.

Fisheries industry plays a crucial role in ensuring food security, employment, providing income to rural communities in the Lake Victoria zone and Nile Perch fillets for forex trade.

Lake Victoria supports more than 30,000,000 individuals in East Africa riparian countries of which about 200,000 individuals in the Tanzanian side, are directly employed in the fishery sector with an annual yield of about 1,000,000 tones.

The fishery activities in Lake Victoria contribute about 70 percent of the national GDP, 30 percent of foreign exchange through marketing Nile Perch Fillets in the European Union (EU), revenue, jobs in fishing, processing, trade and input and food supplies and nutrition by 2.5 percent in Tanzania, 2.8 percent in Uganda and 0.5 percent in Kenya.

Indirectly supported livelihoods in fisheries related activities in Tanzania exceed 4,500,000 people, where Tanzania occupies 51 percent of the Lake Victoria portion, Uganda 43 percent and Kenya only 6 percent.

Given such a relatively bigger share of Lake Victoria, Tanzania has proportional advantage to benefit from the Lake and its fishery products.

Moreover, the government is continuing with strategic plans to ensure that fish continue to breed and are available in its lakes and in special areas designated for fish farming.

As part of these government plans, the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries recently launched a fish breeding project in Mwanza city, which cost 224 m/- This special project aims to improve fish breeding grounds in Lake Victoria.

The launch took place in the Lake Victoria area located at Luchelele Ward in Mwanza city and it was officiated by the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr. Edwin Mhede.

Dr Mhede told reporters that the aim of launching the project is to increase fish production, improve fishermen’s incomes, enhance nutrition, and promote the blue economy in the country.

He elaborated that the project is part of a 10-year plan (2022–2037) to develop and improve the fisheries sector by enhancing fish breeding grounds in order to increase income, improve nutrition for fishermen, and strengthen the national economy through fish products.

“This project goes hand in hand with the introduction of 10,000 fish fingerlings into Lake Victoria to boost production and ensure fish breed and grow in safe environments,” said Dr. Mhede.

He stated that the earmarked areas have been marked with 34 buoys to show that it is not a fishing zone but an industrial area for fish breeding, emphasizing that illegal fishing in those areas will not be permitted.

Dr. Mhede said the multimillion- project, which includes the release of 10,000 fingerlings into Lake Victoria, is part of a medium- and long-term strategy to ensure the sustainability of the lake and its satellite lakes as productive fishery sources.

He said the aim of the project is to improve the fisheries sector by enhancing fish breeding grounds in order to increase income, improve nutrition for fishermen, and strengthen the national economy through fish products.

He noted that the marking of breeding areas is part of a comprehensive 10-year plan (2022–2037) aimed at boosting the fishing sector’s productivity and supporting the growth of Tanzania’s blue economy.

He said the project is expected to significantly enhance fish production in the near future and emphasized the importance of identifying and protecting fish breeding and nursery zones, which should remain off-limits to fishing activities.

“Fish reproduce, but once the fingerlings are born; they need to grow in calm waters. Exposure to strong currents reduces their chances of survival,” he explained.

He said the breeding process involves both male and female fish, with an ideal ratio of 75 percent females to 25 percent males, an approach widely used globally in controlled environments to ensure that fish reach maturity for consumption or commercial use.

He said the project was prompted by the identification of specific areas within the lake that naturally support fish breeding and growth.

He said the funds have facilitated the initial installation of 34 buoys, though over 100 sites in Lake Victoria have been identified through a participatory process as suitable for fish habitat development.

Before launching the project, he said the government was engaging stakeholders in the fisheries value chain, including local resource protection groups, security committees and local authorities, to ensure long-term sustainability of the project.

“This is the first time in history that fish breeding and nursery zones in Lake Victoria have been officially marked,” he said, adding.

“These areas are like fish factories and must be protected.”

He said according to the 2009 fisheries regulations and subsequent amendments, fish breeding grounds must be clearly identified and marked to prevent illegal fishing.

He said the sixth-phase government has begun implementing the project in Misungwi and Nyamagana districts as a starting point.

Director of Fisheries in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Professor Mohamed Sheikh called on local protection groups to safeguard the newly designated breeding areas.

He warned that fishing in those zones could lead to the extinction of breeding stock and fisheries regulations prohibit the capture of Nile perch under 85 centimeters in length and fingerlings smaller than 50 centimeters.

“We have introduced stiff penalties for anyone caught fishing undersized Nile perch or fingerlings,” he stressed.

The goal, he said, is to allow breeding fish to mature and fingerlings to grow and reproduce, ensuring a continuous fish supply from Lake Victoria.

As part of the project, he said the government has installed 32 high-quality buoys designed by experts from the University of Dar es Salaam that are made to last over 80 years, the buoys are coated with corrosion-resistant cathode materials with a lifespan of three to five years.

“If properly maintained, these buoys can last more than 80 years, ensuring sustained protection of fish breeding grounds,” Said Dr Mhede.

On the current state of fish production, he said Tanzania requires around 1.2 million tons of fish annually, but current national output stands at less than 500,000 tones.

To address the deficit, he said the government plans to release 10 million fingerlings into Lake Victoria over the next two years.

He said the strategy aims to reduce the national fish deficit by 700,000 tonnes, boost exports, and increase the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

“Additionally, we want to increase fish consumption among Tanzanians. The recommended annual consumption per person is 22 kilograms, but currently, it stands at just 7.9 kilograms,” Dr. Mhede added.

Nyamagana District Commissioner, Ms. Amina Makiragi, commended the government for launching the project in Misungwi and Mwanza, calling it a valuable asset for national economic development.

The Chairman of Shadiya neighbood at Luchelele ward Mr Anthony James praised the government for bringing the project to their area and for installing buoys to mark breeding and nursery zones in Lake Victoria