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Survey of fishing effort and catch on Lakes Edward and Albert, and modern fish landing sites completed

GEF-AfDB/NELSAP/NBI LEAF II Project

By IW:LEARN

July 14^th, 2020

The Lakes Edward and Albert Integrated Fisheries and Water Resources Management Project (LEAF II) which covers the tran-boundary lakes Edward and Albert between DR Congo and Uganda, completed the first-ever comprehensive surveys on the fishing effort and fish catch on both lakes. The Project has also completed the construction of five fish landing sites on both lakes.

These two activities are funded through a grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NELSAP/NBI), and a grant and loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to DR Congo and Uganda respectively. Both activities aim to promote cooperation on the international waters through joint project implementation and shared benefits, and reduce border conflicts.

Survey of fishing effort and catch on Lakes Edward and Albert conducted

A fisheries frame survey was earlier conducted in 2018, which assessed the fishing effort (of number of fishers, fishing vessels and gears, and site ancillary facilities) at all fish landing sites on both lakes (i.e. 201 on Lake Albert and 28 on Lake Edward). A fish catch assessment survey was subsequently conducted in July 2019 at 56 landing sites on both lakes (29 in DRC and 27 in Uganda).

Mr. Godfrey Sengendo, the Regional Coordinator for the LEAF II project says:

“NBI-NELSAP spearheaded this exercise to generate reliable scientific information on the fishing effort, fish catch and the level of fishing pressure that both lakes can support, and to inform effective management of their fisheries resources.”

Lake Albert annual total quantity of fish caught was 376,617.6 tons which generated revenue of USD 278,513.50 at beach value. Photo by NELSAP.

“The surveys have provided the D.R Congo government with essential references to shape preparation of fisheries projects on the two lakes and will also serve as basis for the sustainable development of the D.R Congo fishing sector in general,”

says Dr. Sylvain Tusanga, the National Director of Fisheries Resources in the D.R Congo.

Five modern fish landing sites constructed in D.R Congo & Uganda

In order to boost the fisheries benefits, five modern fish landing sites were constructed at Mahagi and Vitshumbi in D.R Congo, and at Rwenshama, Mahyoro, and Dei in Uganda. The 5 landing sites will serve 14,528 fishers daily and improve the processing of 6,840 tons of fish annually in both countries.

Survey of fishing effort and catch on Lakes Edward and Albert, and modern fish landing sites completed

Each site consists of a fish landing and processing facility, potable water supply, sanitation facility, hygienic sun drying facilities, modern fish smoking kilns, an administration block, secure fencing and access roads. Construction of another four landing sites is nearing completion at Tchomia and Kyavinyonge in D.R Congo, and Kitebere and Mbegu in Uganda. The landing sites aim to significantly reduce the high post-harvest losses of fish, which according to recent LEAF II research were up to 25% of all catches, improve fish prices through better fish handling and processing.

The Resident District Commissioner of Rukungiri District Mr. Dan Kaguta inspecting the fish landing and processing section of Rwenshama Landing Site on Lake Edward in Uganda on 18.02.2020. Photo by NELSAP.

“The most important part of this facility is the fish handling, the smoking areas and the Fisheries Officer’s office, because with these, the sanitation, cleanliness and quality of fish from Rwenshama will improve and this will lead to better prices,” said Mr. Dan Kaguta, the Resident District Commissioner of Rukungiri District in Uganda. He was speaking on 18th February 2020 during the handing over of the completed Rwenshama Landing site to the Local Government. He added:

“We have been thinking of the global market, packaging and adding value to the fish, which we couldn’t do because we didn’t have proper fish handling facilities, but now we will pursue it.”

A section of the fish smoking kilns at the Rwenshama Landing Site in Uganda

Fisheries Officer’s Office and Administration Bock at Rwenshama Landing Site in Uganda

Solar water pump to supply borehole water for hygienic cleaning and processing of fish

Key findings and lessons

The Lake Albert annual total catch of 376,617.6 tons (89.1% in Uganda and 10.9% in DRC) generated revenue of USD 278,513.50 at beach value. The Lake Edward annual total catch of 32,092.8 tons (91.4% in DRC, and 8.6% in Uganda) generated revenue of USD 62,702.7. A total of 201 landing sites (107 in Uganda and 94 in DRC) were recorded on Lake Albert, 15,285 fishing vessels, and 48,084 fishers. There was a 49% increase in landing sites on the Uganda side from 2007 to 2017, an 82% increase in fishers from 15,354 to 27,944. On Lake Edward there were 28 landing sites (23 in DRC and 5 in Uganda), 3,535 fishing vessels and 20,475 fishers.

The economic importance of large sized species, particularly Nile perch, far supersedes that of the dominant small pelagics; E. bredoi and B. nurse (sardines) on Uganda portion of Lake Albert. There is thus need for urgent protection of large fish species from illegal practices such as use of undersize and prohibited fishing gears. In general, improvement in fish handling, processing and value addition of all fish catch will greatly contribute to improved incomes and livelihoods.

The increasing fishing effort (in landing sites, vessels and gears) underscores the need for strengthening lake surveillance and enforcement. The increase in fish catch is partly due to improved enforcement of fisheries regulations on the Ugandan side of the lakes.

For more information on the LEAF II Project, please contact the Project Coordinator, Godfrey Sengendo (gsengendo@nilebasin.org). In addition, please access the project on the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program website and the dedicated project page on iwlearn.net.