With yields estimated at 40 to 50 kg/hectare/year, the lake's estimated potential yield is 21,000 to 30,000 tons/year with 9,700 to 13,000 of this total coming from the part belonging to Zaire. According to official statistics, the 1988 catch level for the Zairian part of the lake was approximately 12,000 tons.
These figures usually represent fish marketed and do not include fish traded or eaten by the fishermen themselves. It is estimated that at least 1,000 tons of fish are consumed by the fishermen.
We can therefore conclude that fishery resources on Zaire's side of the lake are already overexploited.
It can however be said that, with the exception of some local overfishing due to poorly distributed fishing effort, most fish catches are composed of adult-sized fish.
This may be explained by Uganda's low level of production: The most recent statistics cite Ugandan catches at about 6,000 tons although the potential of the Ugandan side is estimated at 15,000 tons. It might be that Zairian production statistics include lake fish imported from Uganda.
It is nonetheless important to devise a policy of prudent resource exploitation and to begin to adopt certain management measures: beach seines should progressively be eliminated by setting a deadline now for their future prohibition so that fishermen do not replace them as they wear out.
Now, before the expected increase in Uganda production which will make joint management imperative, everything should be done to prepare for joint planning of fishery development on both sides of the lake.
The measures recommended are the same as those proposed for Lake Idi Amin:
institution of regular bilateral meetings;
creation of a permanent Committee for the coordination of measures to be undertaken for the lake fisheries;
adoption of the same method for collecting statistics and sharing data;
execution of a scientific research program on resource potential. This bilateral project is fundamentally important for Lake Mobutu.
The existing difference between minimum potential (21,000 tons) and the maximum (30,000 tons) is considerable. Consequently, as the lake's yield increases it will become increasingly important to possess reliable statistics. This study of Lake Mobutu's potential is therefore thought to be of even greater importance than the one for Lake Idi Amin.
management measures and limitation of fishing effort;
establishment of joint regulations; and
free access to all of Lake Mobutu waters.
The existence of a convention assuring free access to the waters of Lake Idi Amin should facilitate reaching a similar agreement for Lake Mobutu. According to available information, the two lakes fisheries are exploited in a similar way but in Zaire, the coastal resources are fully exploited whereas in Uganda catches are well below potential.
In order to achieve joint management, conditions for similar, parallel development must exist in both nation's fisheries. It is therefore suggested that the pilot project to reactivate semi-industrial fishing at the regional level be established. A fact finding mission covering both sides of the lake should be organised by project RAF/87/099.
Of the fifteen industrial fishing companies operating purse seines in 1960, only one is still active today. Other enterprises on the lake usually operate only a few canoes, buying the rest of the fish they sell from small-scale fishermen. They are now primarily involved in processing and marketing.
Under these conditions, virtually the entire catch is produced by fishermen with canoes and other small craft, using traditional fishing techniques which represent a much smaller investment than that required for industrial fishing (large mesh nets). Operating is near shore zones, close to villages and market centres, resulting in the following:
certain coastal zones being under-exploited;
more distant zones (particularly the large deep basin at the center of the lake), are unexploited; and
large-size species are seldom caught.
The best development strategy for Lake Mobutu is revealed by this analysis. It is necessary to distribute fishing effort better throughout the lake, using selective gears with mesh sizes suitable for the larges species found in the deep water whose resources are not exploited by small-scale fishermen.
For this reason we suggest that semi-industrial fishing be re-launched, using “baleinières” towing 6 to 10 boats.
The advantages of this technique are:
it is a technique formerly used, successfully, by Greek companies;
the gear used would be gill nets and long lines: techniques well-known to small-scale fishermen;
the large mesh gill net is a selective gear able to target species little fished to date;
fishing activities will take place far out on the lake in zones which are not exploited at present; and
use of this technique will reduce fishing costs (e.g. fuel).
Plans have therefore been made for a pilot project to test the profitability of this technique. If the results are positive, more units may be added. This number should be limited so as not to offset the profitability of small-scale fishing. The regional study of potential (project document No 3) should be able to establish the appropriate number of semi-industrial units.
While awaiting the results of the study, the number of “baleinières” should be set at no more than ten, as large Lates should be considered a “fragile” resource.
The deterioration, over the past 15 years, of the only access roads from Kasenyi to Bunia and from Mahagi Port to Mahagi has almost totally isolated Lake Mobutu. Road conditions appear to be the most serious constraint to the development of these fisheries. If fish could be transported to market fresh, its market value as well as its nutritional value would be much higher and the fishermen's work would be lessened. Repairing the road from Kasenyi to Bunia should therefore receive top priority in fishery development. The Zairian authorities must find a solution to this problem as well as international donors who are informed of their needs and willing to assist. Because of road conditions, fresh fish marketing is negligible and production of frozen fish has dropped from 50% to 10%.
Most of the fish is salted/dried; the remainder is smoked. Much of the salted/dried fish we saw was poorly prepared. Fish are piled in storage overnight and then simply spread on drying racks or directly on the ground and then rarely turned.
The product is not completely dried and may even be slightly fermented. Once packed it cannot stay fresh for a long time.
The problem in processing smoked fish is that the wood needed has been indiscriminately cut, making it scarce and very expensive. Better methods should be introduced in order to save fuel and improve quality.
Given the length of time it will take to repair the roads; improving the quality of processed fish is extremely important to the lake fisheries.
Several attempts to provide extension services for the fishermen of Lake Mobutu have been made, the more recent involving the “Coopération Française” project which ended in 1989.
This project main goal was to provide the fishermen with equipment. It imported supplies which were then distributed by five pre-cooperative groups called “propêche”.
During the three years it existed, the project imported French equipment of good quality. French nets were much more expensive than nets imported from Asia, even with a substantial subsidy from another cooperative agency. Despite the difference in quality, fishermen preferred to use Asian nets to minimize their investment in equipment which is frequently stolen.
In 1987, nets sold by the project amounted to only 1.5% of the total market for nets on Lake Mobutu. We can conclude from this experience that there is adequate and effective private sector distribution of equipment on Lake Mobutu. The project should be re-oriented, and the 5 “propêche” groups should be re-established, as well.
The semi-industrial fishing pilot project provides a good opportunity for re-establishing the “propêche” groups, as “baleinière” fishing is a collective activity. If the pilot project proves successful, the new units can be used by the 5 “propêche” which will in this way become producing cooperatives. The project will provide technical support and supervise the extension services to be provided by DAFECN agents.
Fishermen must be taught what a cooperative is and how it functions. During our visit we received the impression that most of them had no idea how a cooperatives works and had joined only to take advantage of extension services. Large ovens appropriate for use by the cooperative will be installed in “propêche” villages.
Women who play an important role in processing, should be involved in the “propêche” groups.
Funding: The regional project for hydrobiological research on lake potential should be annexed to the Lake Mobutu Project, which will serve as its logistical base.
DAFECN has 4 officers, three junior officers and 2 agents working at Lake Mobutu. The officer and junior officers are responsible for monitoring and enforcing regulations. The agents are involved in data collection, and extension services for fishermen only.
In order to carry out the study of potential better (Appendix 3) the number of agents should be doubled: they are currently unable to cover all landing points.
DAFECN personnel do not have the equipment they need for their work.
Agents should receive training in extension services, statistics and processing at the FAO Project in Kinkolé.
The Project's role at Lake Mobutu can be defined as follows:
providing agents with training in extension services, statistics and processing and also in how to form and operate cooperatives; and
collaborating with the technologist of the pilot project proposed for Lake Mobutu in perfecting fishing techniques as well as in research and experimentation with techniques to improve processing.
The mission's recommendations concerning the Lake Mobutu fisheries are the following:
rebuild the road between Bunia and Kasenyi to open access to the lake fisheries;
strengthen bilateral cooperation by reaching an agreement on free exploitation of the lake, carrying out a joint study of fishery resources, instigating periodic meetings as well as a permanent committee and, in general, by adopting joint fishery management measures;
establish development projects in both parts of the lake in order to achieve technical homogeneity on both sides which will facilitate realization of management agreement;
reactivate deep-water semi-industrial fishing, using “baleinières” to increase production and strengthen fishermen's associations;
improve the quality of processed fish to increase the value of local production;
launch production of smoked Lates at the small scale level using better ovens and test the possibility of semi-industrial production;
involve women in the “propêche” groups;
reorient the Lake Mobutu Fishery Project within the project to be retained;
increase the number of DAFECN agents and provide them with adequate equipment; and
give agents training in the nature of cooperative operations, statistics and processing at the Kinkolé Center.
The draft of a project document on “Re-activating Semi-industrial Fishing”, intended to implement the preceding recommendations is found in Appendix 2.
The draft of a project document on the regional study of fishery resources on lakes Idi Amin and Mobutu Sese Seko is found in Appendix 3.
