RUKWA: THE government decision to suspend fishing for three months on Lake Tanganyika has yielded positive results, with reported significant increase in fish yields.
Adam Pesambili, a fisherman from Kasanga-Lusambo village, praised the three-month suspension, stating that it led to increased fish yields.
“After the lifting of the ban, I sold fresh fish worth over 5m/- for the first time in 25 years of fishing,” he testified. “Even before fishing activities officially resumed, larger fish and sardines were already more plentiful.”
Rukwa Regional Commissioner Mr Makongoro Nyerere has also testified positive results, urging fishers and stakeholders in the fisheries sector to cease illegal fishing practices and support the government’s efforts to protect water bodies to maximise benefits from the blue economy.
RC Makongoro Nyerere made this call during a public rally held in Kasanga-Lusambo village, along the shoreline of Lake Tanganyika in Kalambo District, to mark the resumption of fishing activities in the lake.
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The fishing suspension, which began on May 15th this year, lasted for three months and was aimed at protecting and rejuvenating the lake’s fish resources.
Lake Tanganyika, the African Great Lake and the deepest lake in Africa, is also the world’s longest freshwater lake.
“The primary reason for the suspension was the long-term decline in fish stocks in the lake,” Mr Makongoro said.
In 2017, the Global Nature Fund declared Lake Tanganyika as the year’s ‘most threatened’ lake due to overfishing, pollution and climate change.
In the Burundian part of the lake, fish production dropped by 25 per cent from 20,000 tonnes in 1995 to 15,000 tonnes in 2011.
Mr Makongoro’s visit came after the government lifted the fishing ban and he distributed 70 cool boxes to fishers to help preserve their catches. The event was attended by hundreds of local residents.
“Illegal fishing significantly impacts the economy, natural resources and environment, leading to decreased fish production,” Mr Makongoro warned.
He emphasised that combating illegal fishing requires effective oversight from leaders at all levels, from regional to village levels, who will be evaluated based on their management of fisheries resources.
“Illegal fishing can be controlled if all sector participants adhere to national laws, policies and regulations,” he said.
Mr Makongoro noted that the three-month ban allowed fish to breed and grow, which will result in more substantial catches and benefit those who rely on fishing for their livelihood.
He explained that the suspension was a collective decision by Tanzania and its neighbouring countries—Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia—under the Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA) to ensure sustainable management of fishing in the lake and its basin.
With the resumption of fishing activities, Mr Makongoro stressed the need for fishermen to use regulatory fishing gear and methods to preserve fish stocks and allow species to mature before harvesting.
Last week, Livestock and Fisheries Minister Mr Abdallah Ulega officiated the launch of the resumption of fishing activities at the Katonga landing site in Kigoma Ujiji Municipality.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the docket, Dr Edwin Mhede underscored the importance of complying with regulations to avoid undermining the benefits gained from the suspension.
He praised President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her focus on the fisheries sector, noting a significant increase in the ministry’s budget this fiscal year to improve regulatory and environmental conditions.
According to the 2024 census of Lake Tanganyika, there are 32,757 fishers, representing a 10.7 per cent increase from 29,557 in 2022.
Dr Mhede also noted a 3 per cent increase in fishing vessels over the past decades, with 104 landing sites along the lake’s shore.
