12.1 Cameroons
Planning Methodology
The planning and development of fisheries forms an integral part of the Five Year Economic, Social and Cultural Development Plan.
The plan is prepared through a democratic process characterized by a wide consultative process involving the main aspects of national life. It is a collective work which brings together the preoccupations of the economically active population and reflects the aspirations of the people of the Cameroons over the next five years. It takes account of specific regional problems and in effect depends upon a dualistic approach, both national and regional. Its ultimate objective is progressively to improve the quality of life of the people.
The preparation of the plan is carried out and coordinated through the Ministry of Planning and Land Use with the technical assistance of the Planning Directorate (which is responsible for the actual drafting).
The Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, and more specifically the Directorate of Fisheries, is responsible for the preparation of Fisheries projects and for writing them into the plan. But this directorate does not work alone. It involves in its work a group of representatives from many disciplines, from both the public and private sectors. This group analyses the financial accounts, strategic proposals, the definition of specific objectives to be attained by each project, the choice of projects to be carried out according to their priority and the terms of reference for their implementation.
The plan is drawn up at the district, departmental and provincial levels according to the existing administrative structure, assisted by coordinating bodies, which are the development committees permanently responsible for the diagnosis of problems affecting fisheries development in their area and for proposing solutions to them. At the time of the drafting of the Five Year Plan the provincial development committees became provincial planning commissions.
The fisheries development plan is thus an assembly of projects in the fisheries sector more or less closely related, having as their objective the development of fisheries. A project is planned venture, a managed unit specifying among other things, the beneficiaries, the tasks to accomplish, the duration of activity and the costs.
Each project is prepared on the basis of a memorandum sheet on which are stated the most important elements of the project: the location of the project, its title, the list of related projects, the purposes, a summary description of the project, the date of implementation, resources available, technical features, financing arrangements, the expected impact of the project, obstacles which could delay or hold up the realisation of the project and the essential conditions.
Implementation, Coordination and Follow-up
The implementation of a project takes into account the following factors:
marketing arrangements, if necessary
As soon as these factors have been reconciled a project leader is designated and the project is implemented.
The follow-up of a project is always carried out at the local level, every three months at the provincial level and every six months at the national level. The follow-up at the provincial and national levels is effected by means of a report called the ‘project control report’ which shows progress: commitment of human and financial resources indicating quality, quantity and source; a summary description of activities and/or the financial accounts; principal problems and suggestions for improvements in the execution of the project. An annual report is presented to the Government.
Problems associated with implementation
The main problems problems associated with the implementation of the plan are as follows:
absence of follow up
Because of these constraints the achievement level of the Fifth Five Year Plan will be 35 percent to 40 percent of that planned.
Recommended Solutions
It is recommended that, so far as concerns the lack of financing and the absence of detailed studies on certain projects, every project, (unless itself of a study) must be the subject of a detailed study. Financial means must also be identified and acquired before the project is written into the plan. If these requirements are not met the plan becomes a list of things to be done with an imaginary indication of approximate costs.
With regard to the personnel problems, the Government introduced a training programme in fisheries three years ago.
The problem of follow-up depends on the will of those involved but also on the problems already cited and would be eased by solution of the financial and manpower problems.
Management
Fisheries management in the Cameroons depends on the
1) existing regulations which take into account: the limitation of fishing effort, restrictions concerning fishing gear, the time and place of fishing etc, taking into account the inter-action between biological and technical factors in each fishery, notably in inland fisheries. Given that we only have a limited knowledge of the structure and composition of the ecosystems (a fishery being an ecosystem) and of their reaction to natural and man-made stresses, these measures are for the most part ‘piece-meal’.
2) Other management techniques, or more precisely development techniques, such as environmental measures (resettlement, creation of nursery areas and reserve areas, the practice of aquaculutre, etc.) which form part of the National Fisheries Plan.
12.2 Sierra Leone
In order that the development of this (small-scale) subsector of the fisheries should be well balanced, the integrated development approach is being given careful consideration. The role of training for fisheries personnel, including our immediate manpower requirements is high on government's priority list.
The fishing industry can play an important role in the economic growth of the state of Sierra Leone which has ample marine resources within easy reach. Fish catches could be substantially increased through small improvements in technology, resulting in cheap animal protein for domestic consumption and some for export. However, development of the fishing industry has for long been given very low priority, due possibly to the low educational standing or the individualistic nature of fishermen.
Efforts are being made to develop an independent national fishing capability and an effective monitoring and surveillance system for deterring illegal fishing in our territorial waters.
12.3 Zimbabwe
The principal methods by which the Government is attempting to enhance the status of fish stocks in public water bodies is by continued research and by the imposition of regulations designed to enhance recruitment in the stock by reducing the fishing mortality of fecund individuals and juveniles.
(a) Research activities
The principal aim of the research work at the various fisheries research institutes in the country is to obtain data on the population dynamics of commercial species that will enable formulation of management strategies designed to have an economically viable industry on a sustainable resource.
(b) Fishing regulations are improved in the following ways:-
by limitation of fishing gear that is used. The multispecies nature of the fish stocks makes it difficult to determine the proper minimum mesh size of the gear. For the kapenta the minimum mesh size is 10mm and it is 10cm for the inshore fish.
by closed areas. This is National parks land, rivers and river mouths. This is primarily to enhance recruitment. Moyo (in prep.) shows that the fecundity of cichlids Tilapia rendalli, Oreochromis mortimeri and Serznochromis codringtoni in fished areas is much lower than that in unfished areas. These may be early signs of stock depletion in the inshore fishery.
by limitations on the number of fishermen. Currently, the exact number of fishermen for optimum production and profitable gains is not know. As a result the aim has been to keep the number of fishermen at low levels until their impact on the current fishery is manifest. But it does seem that for the Kariba inshore fishery the number of fishermen may be high. this conclusions is drawn form the agitation which the fishermen are making for more fishing grounds and the alarming degree of poaching. This points to decreased C.P.U.E. (catch per unit of effort).
Major constraints to fisheries development in Zimbabwe are:
(i) Lack of co-ordination between Zimbabwe and Zambia
As outlined above, Kariba is a large lake and has an important fishery, but the lake is shared between Zambia and Zimbabwe. There is no co-ordination on research activities in the lake between the two countries. Management strategies on the Zimbabwean side are based on research on the Zimbabwe side, the results of which are extrapolated to cover the whole lake. There is a danger in that fishing levels recommended on the Zimbabwean side may be based on data that ignored fishing pressures on the Zambian side.
There is a likelihood that SADDC aquaculture projects may create a drive to more co-ordination, but political expedience often takes precedence.
(ii) Lack of co-ordination at national level
There is a need for a single fisheries authority under one ministry responsible for research extension and training country wide. At the moment, several authorities have interest in fish culture and fisheries development and these are not co-ordinated. This results in duplication of efforts and unnecessary costs. Furthermore extension staff under the Ministry of Agriculture are pre-occupied with other farming activities; they do not specialise in fisheries productivity.
Aquaculture has generally been taken as a sideline by farmers and not as a full time business. The causes are; lack of technology, high capital outlay and low profits. Currently, fish culture is less profitable than other farming activities. Problems in this field have been accentuated by closed contact between Rhodesia and the outside world. So that for a long time modern technology and information elsewhere have not been available.
There are no properly trained personnel at advisory level. There is also much need for a fisheries policy that will incorporate and encourage participation of communal farmers who stand to gain more.
(iii) Manpower training and availability
Although the national fisheries policy has been outlined and the intentions are good, this is hampered by lack of co-ordination between the various bodies with interest in fisheries, as outlined above. A central authority with a full responsibility for fisheries development is essential to execute the national fisheries policy. Currently there are no fisheries training colleges or institutions in Zimbabwe. Although the university offers courses with some aspects of fish biology, these are general and depend on the availability of staff.
The shortage of trained staff is critical, and this has led to understaffing the research stations.
Before independence, there was a large turnover of staff at various fisheries institutes in the country. Research programmes were often interrupted and it was particularly difficult to work in the field on Kariba, which is a border station.
The lack of foreign currency prohibits recruitment of fisheries specialists from outside the country. Expatriate and specialist advice to both government and private enterprise is necessary to equip farmers and others with aquacultural technology much developed in Asia and Europe.
(iv) Expanding populations and low literacy
The population of the inshore fishermen in Lake Kariba is expansive with a high dependency ration. This is undesirable. An increasing population of fishermen on a limited resource leads to a decline in C.P.U.E. (catch per unit of effort), with decreasing economic benefits on each fisherman.
In Kariba it does seem this is taking place because there is increasing agitation for fishing rights in protected areas.
This is compounded by low literacy. It has been said that it is not easy for the artisanal fishermen to appreciate the implications of trading off long term ecological advantages against short term economic benefits. To them it is important to get as much profit immediately as possible regardless of the possibilities of decreasing profits with time, a situation typical where resources are common property. This lead to violations of fishing regulations and poaching in restricted areas is rampant and on the increase.
The Government is now taking urgent measures to correct the situation. But this will take time and meanwhile the researchers and planners must contend with the problems the illiteracy creates. Restrictive measures on the fishery are viewed with hostility and suspicion. The ecological necessity for these measures is not appreciated.
Another dimension to the problem is the political pressure put on the planners to accommodate more Tonga as fishermen particularly as they are becoming more interested in fishing to offset economic hardships.
The seriousness of poaching is appreciated at government level and this has led to the amendment of the Parks and Wildlife Act to impose a heavier penalty on the poachers.
(v) Enforcing laws and regulations
There are various degrees of poaching in the various lakes in Zimbabwe, but poaching in Kariba has reached serious proportions.
It requires a lot of men, money and time continually to patrol the big lake and to take the poachers to court. These resources are not available at the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute. What is needed is a strong anti-poaching unit with the sole responsibility for policing the lake.
Although there is an anti-poaching unit in Wildlife areas, this unit is often over-stretched.
The poachers are not scared of court action because the small fines they often have to pay are easily recovered from continued poaching.
In conclusion, it may be said that there is awareness at government level of the need to develop the fishery in Zimbabwe and raise its status to an important revenue earner but there is lack of impetus. The causes are largely historical, particularly that the Rhodesian border was closed to the outside world: information and technology could not flow in.
Because the infrastructure is available as outlined, this can easily be corrected. The creation of a central fisheries authority with the responsibility of fisheries development, is the force needed to re-organise and give a drive for fisheries development in the country. It is important to realise that developing the fishery is important and should receive as much priority as agriculture.
12.4 Mozambique
Since 1981, a development strategy for small-scale fisheries has been clarified. It envolves the artisanal and semi-industrial fishery operating as an articulated whole, possessing at its axis the new type of enterprise that has been created since that date - “the small-scale fishing complex”.
Whereas artisanal fishing is a traditional activity in Mozambique. envolving at least 50 thousand fishermen working in centres of varying importance along the coast and in inland waters, the semi-industrial fishery uses more developed methods of production. It was only introduced during the last years of the colonial times by small private shipowners, who worked from the more important urban centres. Soon after independence, there were less than one hundred boats (from 14 to 25 metres long), most of them abandoned by their owners.
The concept of the small scale fishery development, as an interaction between the semi-industrial and artisanal fishery, based on the “Combinados Pequeiros”, was initiated by a new State department, called “Unidade de Diraccao de Pesca de Pequena Escala” (UDPPE).
The “Combinados Pesqueiros” have as their aim, the development of the semi-industrial fishery and, simultaneously, the increasing support of the artisanal fishery within the peripheral zone of influence of each centre. They have their own fleet and work with more developed means and resources than can be achieved by the artisanal fishermen alone. Their activity comprises catching, processing, storing, transport and collection of fish caught.
At the same time they sell fishing equipment and materials and other items and serve the artisanal fishermen through the introduction of new production methods, technologies, and management and organization. As a result of these activities, they buy the surplus fish transporting it to the districts surrounding the urban centres.
Ideally the infrastructure and equipment for a “Combinado Pesqueiros” should include the following:-
houses
The location of “Combinados Pesqueiros” is based on the following criteria, taken separately or in a combined way:
existence of available infrastructures
The enlargement of the activities for supporting the development of the artisanal fishery within the area of influence of “Combinados Pesqueiros” is made through transport facilities and the establishment of peripheral support and trading posts.
Their infrastructures are progressively developed. The beginning of this activity requires only houses and stores made from local material and a drying field. Some equipment can be installed progressively, such as a generator, water pump and a small workshop. Their final installation can comprise the fitting of cold stores, and the building of houses and dormitories, stores, administrative offices, etc. As its maximum development, a support and trading post will be an infrastructure that can further develop until it becomes a new “Combinado Pesqueiro”.
The transport boats are also conceived as mobile support and trading posts, assuring the transportation of surplus fish and the supply of fishing materials and tools, consumer goods, fuel oil, ice, etc, to artisanal fishermen.
Having in view the above considerations it is possible to define the following general objectives that guide the development of the small scale fishery:
Replacing imports through production and use of the surpluses coming from the activities of the “Combinados Pesqueiros”.
Improvement on the supply, distribution and trading of fish caught, mainly at a local level. The surpluses from each locality are sequentially distributed to the district itself, to neighbouring districts and to the provincial urban centres.
Integration of the artisanal fishermen into the national economy by surpassing the narrow scope of the subsistence economy and the implementation of exchange within the framework of the wider trading economy.
Improvement of the technical level and of the productivity of artisanal fishermen, as a result of support given (services, trading, training and extension).
Improvement of the technical level and general productivity of small-scale fisheries through the use of more developed means (boats, fishing methods) as well as the construction of land infrastructure (workshops, cooling warehouses, ice factories, processing plants, etc).
Better quality of life and working conditions for the fishermen and subsequent improvement in efficiency as a result of the socio-economic intervention.
Since its beginning the strategy of development of the small-scale fishery has given special attention to the two main inland water masses of Mozambique: Niassa Lake and Cabora Bassa Lagoon. The aim is to supply the populations living in the areas where they are situated. In both water bodies research work began before 1980, involving the fields of fishery biology, fish catching technology and lymnology. Besides the research work and resource evaluation, a survey of local fishing activities has been carried out.
In summary, it can be said that the Cabora Bassa Lagoon possesses an annual potential estimated at 5 000 tons. There are 500 fishermen and 350 artisanal boats. The main resource - the sardine - is not captured by the artisanal fishermen.
In the Mozambican part of Lake Niassa there are about 3 000 fishermen and more than 1 000 artisanal boats. The estimated potential is similar to the one of Cabora Bassa.
In 1981, the “Combinado Pesqueiro” of Metangula at Lake Niassa was created. This presently has two Posts (Ngo and Melulucas). In 1983, the “Combinados Pesqueiro” of Chicoa was created at Cabora Bassa Lagoon, with functioning outposts in Chipalapala and Mucangazi.
Both “Combinados” play a very important role for the evolution of fishing activities in their areas. Small motor boats have been introduced, the traditional fishing gears in Lake Niassa have been improved and distributed more widely, a sailboat fishery has been started and in Chicoa sardine fishing through light attraction has been introduced. Research boats are functioning in both places.
12.5 Ghana
The following are some of the main strategies adopted with particular reference to inland fisheries:
Inland fisheries development is being virgorously pursued through policy of integrating fish farm development with irrigation development. The Irrigation Development Authority (I.D.A.) which is also a government organisation has been instructed to develop about 5% of its available land for aquaculture within all its project areas.
Fish hatcheries will be developed in each region to provide enough fingerlings for supply to backyard and commercial farmers.
The Fisheries Department is to work on the formulation of appropriate fish feed from locally available ingredients to support aquaculture programmes.
Vast areas available along the coastal lagoon areas are to be developed for commercial aquaculture. Species which naturally occur in the lagoon areas which may be cultured on commercial scale include Mugil spp; Penaeus duorarum, T. zillii, T. galilea, Callinestes latimanus. Other local species suitable for culture in the lagoon areas are T. nilotica, Chrysichthys spp.
In support of the above strategies there has been an intensification of extension services to rural communities to do manual construction of fish ponds and to encourage artificial feeding and pond fertilization. Pilot fish farms are to be set up in fresh water and coastal lagoon areas.
Pond and cage culture systems are to be introduced to rural communities.
A programme is to be followed for the improvement of fish stocks in existing dams and reservoirs through intensive artificial recruitments and identification of potential areas suitable for pond construction.
Even though government has mounted much publicity and education particularly to get people interested in engaging in fish production through commercial aquaculture it has not yet achieved the desired results due to a number of constraints, chiefly the following:
Commercial aquaculture requires heavy initial financial investment and this being a new concept in Ghana the financial institutions do not easily make funds available to potential farmers. This has been responsible for the slow progress in the field. However a gradual improvement is taking place with rural banks now trying to finance fish farm projects.
There is a general scarcity of heavy equipment required for pond development. The few that are available are too expensive to acquire, hire or operate and this has therefore discouraged many potential fish farmers.
There is general lack of available trained middle level personnel to carry out extension education.
A training programme has been mounted and with technical assistance from some friendly countries, a number of middle level personnel are now undergoing training in those countries.
In view of the lack of local funds, negotiations are going on the get FAO and other agencies to assist in developing the inland fisheries with special emphasis on fresh water and brackish water culture on a commercial scale.
12.6 Nigeria
The major problems encountered during planning and implementation of fishery projects in Nigeria include, among others, the following:-
The inadequacy of financial resources to support the artisanal fisheries in order to increase subsistence fishing and fish farming.
There are inadequate aquacultural personnel to man the acquacultural projects extension services.
Lack of good quality fish seeds and feeds to meet the demand of the industry.
Inadequate supply of fishing inputs and spare parts and this hinders fish production to a large extent.
In planning and designing Nigeria's 5th National Development Plan (1985 –1990) measures have been recommended to Government to overcome the identified constraints militating against inland fisheries production. Conspicuous among these measures are the following:
Emphasis is to be laid on training at various levels to enhance the production of adequate and appropriate fisheries personnel.
The introduction of fish farm small holdings against various large hectarage holdings which do not attract wide-spread participation.
The establishment of fish-feed mills at strategic points in the country in order to promote culture fishery.
Efforts are also recommended to reactivate all the old boat yards and dormant fishing-net companies for the production of modern fishing boats as well as fishing nets, gears, etc.
The system of agricultural loans is to be overhauled in order to remove the impediment whereby small-scale farmers, including fishermen, are prevented from obtaining loan facilities because of high demand of collaterals. The new system, therefore, will allow the rural poor fishing communities to benefit from the acquisition of loans to help in fish production.
During the 5th National Development Plan, the necessary fishing inputs will be readily made available to fishermen.
The most important redress in favour of a higher rate agricultural production, including fish production, henceforth, will be to encourage production of agricultural items by private farmers. The Government institutions like the River Basin Rural Development Authorities will only prepare the farms, supply the inputs and all other infrastructural facilities.
From the past efforts and the vigorous implementation of the proposed fishery programmes, it is hoped that inland fisheries will play a dominant role in the national target of self sufficiency in fish production in Nigeria before the end of the 5th National Development Plan.
12.7 The Gambia
As an example of a problem and a solution in the implementation of development programmes, the following scheme may be cited:
A Fisheries Revolving Loan Fund was established as a component of an EEC aid package to the Gambia for the development of the artisanal fishing sector. To ensure that Government's aim for increased fish production and local consumption and foreign exchange earnings are realised, the fund was established to assist in improving the sizes of the fishing canoes, the purchase and use of improved fishing gears and related equipments, and the motorisation of fishing canoes. Despite its noble intentions, the implementation of this programme proved ill conceived. As directed by Government, the fund was jointly administered by the Fisheries Department and the Gambia Commercial and Development Bank.
The Fisheries Department's role is to carry out a technical assessment of the loan requirements and when satisfied that the loan request is justified aproval is then granted and the application form forwarded to the Bank for financing. The Bank is charged with the responsibility of recovering the loan repayments. However, the conditions attached to the loan make it practically impossible for the majority of the Gambian artisanal fishermen to benefit from the loan fund. It has been found out that of a total number of 200 disbursed loans, only 21 fishermen operating from the lower and upper river strata have benefited from the fund. The conditions are:
a 20% downpayment (of the loan being requested for) must be deposited by the applicant before being given the loan.
the applicant must have two people with accounts at the Bank to act as his guarantors in case of default.
It appears that the Planners gave little or no consideration/thought to the fact that the majority of Gambian artisanal fishermen reside in areas where banks or banking institutions have never been heard of. Apart from the banking institutions in the Greater Banjul area (city and environs) there are only two bank branches in the entire inland sector (one of which is located in a town where fishing activity is virtually non-existent). For the majority of fishermen desirous of loans, the prospects of having guarantors are rather slim. It was also found out that nearly all Gambian artisanal fishermen come from illiterate communities where the accumulation of assets (cattle, sheep, goats, etc) is much more understood than the accumulation of cash (savings).
After repeated appeals and justifications for a need to review the conditions, the authorities agreed to remove the downpayment but insisted that the guarantors must remain. However, the problems still remain in that the majority of artisanal fishermen cannot benefit from the fund (inability to obtain guarantors); and the problem of defaults persists.
However, in 1982, the Government of Japan extended an aid package of fishing related equipments to the Government of The Gambia. Components of the aid package included four fishing vessels; an ice making plant; fifty units of outboard motors and spare parts and various types of fishing gears. The outboard motors and spares plus the fishing gears were given to the fisheries Department to disburse (as soft term loans) to artisanal fishermen. Conscious of the problems being encountered in the implementation of the EEC loan fund, the Department devised a new strategy as follows:
applicants had to show evidence of Gambian citizenship
prior to the granting of a loan the village chief or elder of the loan applicant was approached by officials of the Fisheries Department to inform him that one of his subjects (the applicant) will be given a loan. The condition was that, in case of default, other subjects in his areas will be denied future loans.
In essence, the loan recipient was being closely monitored by his own villagers to ensure that he not only works full time but that his loan is repaid on time.
This proved very effective as over 85% of the loans disbursed were repaid. The successful implementation of this strategy is now being seriously considered by the authorities to form the future basis for all loan applications, approvals and disbursements.
12.8 Uganda
One of the necessary stages for proper planning of fishery management programmes is to examine the aggregate direct and indirect applications of the acquatic system.
Fish and their various life-history stages within the system feed at several different trophic levels and fish yield is a function of the whole lake. There is, therefore, the need to recognize the ecosystem approach by the limnologist, fishery biologist, fishery manager, fisherman, industrialist, etc. The task of intergrating fish yield, research work, ecosystem dynamics, management policies structures along trinational jurisdictions, etc., at the planning stage is the current challenge for Lake Victoria planners.
Management options should be conceived in the context of alternative management objectives. The objectives of the Lake Victoria system may be synthesised from the aspirations for rapid economic development, industrialization, urbanization along the lake shore, poverty, demographic pressure, food and employment demand, etc.
Positive reaction is needed from the riparian states to rebuild the shared fishery from the effects of over-fishing, Nile perch, the insidious effects of urbanization and other forms of environmental degradation. This requires the development and co-ordination of continuing research programmes which would evolve effective measures for implementation in order to improve the fishery by a relentless pursuit of shared responsibility.
This calls for the integration of research and management planning for ellucidating the resilience of specific portions of the ecosystem to stresses and pressures of fishery exploitation and other modes of resource utilization. Sound natural resources strategy leads to their rational utilization, objective development and effective management measures.
Fishery management activities should protect or enhance the economic, social and biological characteristics of the resource. Good management regimes should involve the manipulation of the industry to achieve both public and biological goals of optimizing the net benefits to society.
Management planning should anticipate the ecological consequences of alternative goals and sieve out those that meet basic human needs without betraying the integrity of the biogenic capacity. Good planning should look ahead in the choice of management strategy to establish specific and comprehensive management criteria. Such criteria should be synthesized from past experience and the aggregate requirements for utilizing the aquatic system.
For Lake Victoria, without both regional and country research cooperation, effective development and management strategy would be difficult to achieve. There is the urgency to stimulate and integrate closer cooperation in stock assessment, formulation and implementation of management policies, accurate (uniform) collection, compilation and analysis of statistical and biological data necessary for continuing monitoring of the state of the shared resource.
12.9 Zambia
Hitherto, the planning of fisheries development programmes has been done once every five years during the overall national planning exercise.
In the preparatory stages, the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Development (MAWD) which embraces fisheries forms a Committee that also consists of inter-related activities to fisheries viz-a-viz financial institutions, industry, the university, etc. The Department of Fisheries presents to this Committee the overall plans for fisheries development. This provisional plan is prepared with basic background information obtained from the field. The Committee appraised and later approves such plans. After this stage, the whole package is then submitted to the national planning body called “National Commission for Development Planning.”
The Department of Fisheries also sits as a member of those sectors that have relevance to its activities like - Water Affairs, Crop Production, Energy, Credit Organisations, etc.
At the grass-roots level, the District Councils provide proposals pertinent for development. These are submitted to Provincial Planning Committees. At any of these stages, the Department gets involved and the overall departmental plans are only formulated after the Provincial Planning Councial approvals.
Even though the strategies for implementing the fisheries policies and objectives were clearly stated the following problems have continued to hinder their smooth implementation. Paramount among the problems were the following:-
Lack of adequate and trained manpower to carry-out the programmes. Such a problem has continued to be compounded by a limited establishment.
Inadequate financial resources as exercised through budgetary controls have continued to hinder positive implementation of development projects.
To a certain extent, external aid (pre-planned and implemented by donor agencies) unless properly co-ordinated can often result in duplication of efforts, or can take upon itself priority areas of activity in the country better suited to local bodies.
Lack of harmonisation of development, management and exchange of information for riparian states has been identified as an area where planning is undermined by political boundaries.
Realising the important role of planning from the grass-roots level, the Zambian Department of Fisheries propagated the formation of local Committees with the following composition:
Prominent citizens e.g. businessmen. The above constituted about 50% of the membership, with the remaining percentage being filled in by the local fishermen representatives, elected by the fishing community itself
The roles of such a Committee were:
assist in the enforcement of fisheries regulations
Though well intended, the programme never got off the ground because of lack of purpose and local guidance within the Committees. It should also be pointed out that perhaps the time factor can be associated with the dismal failure of the programme. It seems that the time was not yet opportune for the would-be Committees to shoulder the responsibilities required of them. However, it would now be appropriate to reconsider the introduction of Fishing Development Committee with a more positive approach.
Fish processing plants were also introduced to improve upon processed fish and thereby reduce the present pre- and post harvest losses of about 10–15% to 2–3%. The Department of Fisheries designed and demonstrated better handling and processing techniques by the establishment of Fish Processing Plants in the major fishery areas.
It is true to state of this demonstration approach that instead of the plans being motivated by the users at the base fishery areas, the idea was devised and later on, imposed on the fishing communities. this plan of action though well intended never succeeded due to lack of consultation with the intended beneficiaries. This failure has clearly demonstrated the need to involve grass-root populations in any developmental aspects of their environment.
Thus, in order for planning to be meaningful in Zambia, it will in future be based upon the following principles:
At grass-roots level, developments to be initiated and later implemented by the people.
The broad spectrum of related effects to be considered during the formulation of development plans.
Qualified and competent staff (preferably local) to be engaged in all the stages of planning and development work.
When ever possible regular reviews of the performance of plans to be considered during the life of the plan.
12.10 Zaire
The management and development of the fisheries sector in Zaire raises the following problems in terms of administration and execution.
(a) The detailed administration of fisheries plans
This problem has three aspects: internal organizational hierarchy, appropriate qualifications and number of personnel and technical and financial methods of operation.
(b) Mechanisms for liaising with other sectors
These are by nature complex and are difficult to overcome:
Integration of the fisheries sector plan with the national Five Year Plan prepared by the Department of Planning.
Regional and international cooperative programmes outlines by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Road network rehabilitation programmes laid down by the Department of Public Works and carried out by the Road Division according to, national, secondly regional and finally local priorities.
Programmes of fisheries training and research laid down by the Departments of University and Higher Education as well as of Scientific Research.
(c) Participation of fishermen in the preparation and orientation of fisheries sector development plans
Such participation is still limited by several factors:
The generally low level of education of fishermen.
The lack of integration, in general, of the artisanal fisheries sector with the modern economy.
The location of fishing communities in outlying and inaccessible areas.
The scattered distribution of fishing communities and the absence of cooperative type organizations.
The absence of a suitable system for financing artisanal fishing activities in rural areas remote from urban centres.
The following corrective measures have been taken by the authorities:
(a) Creation of a National Committee for the formulation, execution and follow-up of Fisheries Action Programmes. This committee is a multi-disciplinary team, comprising experts (Zairois and international), responsible for:
Preparing the national action programme.
Revising the administrative structures.
Initiating financial and technical assistance projects for artisanal fisheries.
Initiating investment projects for the benefit of projects for the benefit of private sector industrial and semi-industrial fisheries.
devising an adequate credit scheme for fishermen.
Programming the training of key personnel in different specialities in the field of fisheries.
Organising training workshops and seminars for basic technical personnel.
(b) Liaison with other sectors
Appointment within the Department of Planning of an official responsible for ensuring the integration of the fisheries plan with the national Five Year Plan.
Recourse to aid facilities offered by friendly countries to implement pilot projects and to propose the creation of an independently financed special fishing fund.
Setting up a ‘watch-dog’ unit within the department for international relations, in order to manage agreements for cooperation or participation at all sessions of the Joint-Venture Commission.
Since the fishing zones are all in rural areas, roads are normally classified in the category of ‘local importance’. These roads have now been included with the list of ‘agricultural service’ roads, benefiting from a special rehabilitation programme.
Contracting researchers when they begin their fisheries investigations to make them aware of the wider problems of the fisheries sector.
(c) Contribution of fishermen
A project for re-opening the fisheries training school at Kilua on Lake Moëro.
Creation of artisanal fisheries development projects in various fishing centres.
Progress achieved so far is as follows:
The programme for specialist training and project financing will not be implemented until 1986.
The coordination of activities with other departments is evolving very well.
Insufficient finance has prevented total rehabilitation of ‘agricultural service’ roads.
Fisheries research is still fairly limited. Facilities are not available to scientists and there is insufficient specialisation in the different fields of fisheries research.
The authorities are not yet able to support artisanal fisheries because of lack of finance and of personnel with the basic technical skills. Fishermen do not yet constitute a true ‘pressure group’ so as to possess credibility and be unavoidably associated with all decisions.
The Secretary of State is supervising fisheries administration to accelerate decision making. The establishment can only be modified by a change in the law.
