1. The Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika of the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA) held its Second Session on 20 and 21 October 1983 in Rome, Italy. The Session was attended by representatives from the four Member Nations: Burundi, Tanzania, Zaire and Zambia, and one observer from Uganda. A list of delegates and observers is given in Appendix A of this report.
2. The Session was opened by Mr E.D. Muyanga, Director of Fisheries, Zambia, Chairman of the First Session of the Sub-Committee. He welcomed the participants and drew attention to the importance of Lake Tanganyika fisheries in the economy of the four Member States and the need for the protection and exploitation of these resources for the full benefit of these riparian States. In view of the nature of the shared resources there was an urgent need for regional cooperation in their development and management.
3. Dr H.F. Henderson, Chief, Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service, addressed the participants on behalf of Mr Edouard Saouma, the Director-General of FAO, and of Mr J.E. Carroz, the Assistant Director-General (Fisheries Department). He recalled the sustained efforts at cooperative dialogue that have been taking place in this region. He informed the Sub-Committee that the Secretariat supported the idea that a study be commissioned to review the problems of stock fluctuations in large African lakes and the effect of these fluctuations on the viability of investment projects. This study will be of immediate interest not only to the countries themselves to determine their fisheries policy but particularly to the financing agencies which should evaluate their investment over a much longer term period.
4. Mr T.M. Salea, Chief, Fisheries Division, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Zaire, and Mr B. Nyakageni, Director for Waters and Forestries, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Burundi, were elected Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, for the Session.
5. The Agenda was adopted, as attached in Appendix B. The documents presented to the Session are shown in Appendix C.
6. The Secretariat introduced document CIFA:DM/LT/83/2 which summarized the situation of the artisanal and industrial fishery in each of the four countries as well as the resulting conclusions and suggestions for action by the CIFA Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika. These suggestions concern the necessity to conduct fishery research on a regional basis, to introduce a standardized system of statistics collection and analysis, to diversify fishing methods in order to make the artisanal fishery less dependent upon the availability and abundance of the clupeid resource. Further suggestions concern the necessity to computerize statistical and research data, to translate into French or rewrite in a more regional context and distribute more widely the final report of the UNDP/FAO Fishery Research and Development Programme. Finally, it is suggested that FAO make available to the four countries the resources needed to collaborate in fisheries development and coordinate their activities.
7. During the ensuing discussion, the delegates stressed the necessity of a regional fishery research project, in order to understand the large fluctuations in the abundance of the stocks of Lake Tanganyika. It was emphasized that it was of the greatest importance to make available time series of reliable fishery statistics. A standardized simpler system of data collection should be introduced as soon as possible in each of the four countries, if possible as a regional project financed by an outside donor.
8. The Senior FAO Regional Fisheries Officer informed the Sub-Committee that the FAO Regional Office for Africa had recently financed training courses in marine fisheries statistics in West Africa and will finance a similar course for East Africa in December 1983. The Regional Office could consider giving similar assistance to Lake Tanganyika Sub-Committee. The suggestion was appreciated by the delegates and requested the Secretariat to follow it up.
9. The Sub-Committee was informed that FAO had some limited funds available for a 6–8 weeks consultancy to Burundi to update the computerization of the bimonthly length-frequency distribution for the three main pelagic species. A consultant had already been identified for this work which is to be done before the end of the year.
10. Zambia has already started computerizing their Lake Tanganyika research data. A consultant from ICLARM will be visiting Zambia to develop a computerized model for stock assessment.
11. It was recognized that one of the main problems hampering regional activities on Lake Tanganyika is the lack of communication between the four countries. Delegates of the four countries felt that there is a need of regular contact in order to coordinate activities and promote exchanges of research data and ideas. The information to be exchanged on a regional basis would not necessarily be written up as a special report but could, for example, be in the form of a quarterly report as produced in some countries and, for instance, be sent to the other countries involved, through the FAO Representative, the FAO pouch and FAO Headquarters.
12. The Sub-Committee agreed that collaboration among the four countries could be facilitated through the appointment of national correspondents in each country to whom is addressed all correspondence. Directors of Fisheries or their delegates stationed on the Lake would be the logical choice. The full list of national correspondence will be communicated to all countries in due course.
13. The Sub-Committee felt that the fluctuating availability of the resource poses a serious problem as it makes difficult any planning of fishery development or resource management. In the past, the main management strategy would have been to try and minimize these fluctuations, but it is gradually realized that this can hardly be achieved. It should therefore be tried to diversity the fisheries to enable them to cope with these variations. In order to make governments, donors and banking institutions involved in fisheries projects take such fluctuations into account when planning projects (by introducing for instance, alternative strategies in case of low resource abundance), it was thought that it might be appropriate if FAO would write a document attempting to clarify these issues.
14. Some countries (Zambia and Tanzania) are presently trying to develop fishing methods meant to make the artisanal fishery less dependent upon these resource fluctuations.
15. The Secretariat introduced document CIFA:DM/LT/83/3. The Sub-Committee recalled that the following elements of a programme for the Development and Management of Lake Tanganyika fisheries arose from Working Document CIFA/LT/83/2 and required regional cooperative actions:
promotion and coordination of fishery research on the Lake;
improvement and standardization of statistics collection and coordination of the analysis of the data already collected;
improvement of fishing gear and methods in order to diversify the fishery and the provision of credit to fishermen to obtain fishing gear and boats;
harmonization of fishery legislation and regulations;
conservation of the environment and in particular the control of water pollution as it affects fisheries;
management of the fisheries of the Lake: the study of various, traditional management measures and the study of the allocation of fishery resources between and within the countries;
regional training activities, in particular the exchange of fishery experts between the countries;
mobilization of external and internal assistance to finance regional management and development activities.
The Sub-Committee agreed that the above elements should be included in a long-term programme for the development and management of Lake Tanganyika. Until such a programme is materialized, the delegates proposed that several of the above-mentioned activities can constitute a regional action plan appropriate for execution in the near future with national and/or bilateral assistance. These activities are:
(i) Diversification of fishing gears for small-scale fishermen
At times of relative scarcity of some kinds of fish stocks, fishermen find it difficult to continue fishing on an economic basis. One solution is to diversify their fishing so as to be able to take advantage of abundant stocks.
The aim of this activity would be to assess the practical aspects of gear diversification in each country (technical and economic aspects) and to recommend appropriate gears. About 2 weeks would be devoted to each country's problems by a fishing expert. Funding and expertise might be obtained from the existing project in Tanzania.
(ii) Harmonization of fishery legislation and regulations
One basis for the management of the shared resources of Lake Tanganyika is through harmonization and rationalization of fishery legislation. This activity, if requested by the Sub-Committee, could be supported by the EEZ programme. It would investigate possibilities and procedures for such harmonization by studying the existing legislation of each country.
(iii) Training in fishery statistics
One problem in managing the common resources of Lake Tanganyika is that statistics are generally inadequate, because present methodologies are not completely appropriate. This problem can be solved through training. The Sub-Committee reiterated its appreciation for the willingness of the FAO Regional Office for Africa to sponsor a training course in fishery statistics which might be held in conjunction with the next meeting of the Sub-Committee as indicated in paragraph 8.
Another problem of fishery statistics is the timely analysis of data so that it can be used for management and development purposes. Burundi is to receive such assistance in the near future. Similar assistance could be extended to other Sub-Committee members as needs arise.
(iv) Study on the fluctuations of stocks
One of the fundamental impediments to management and development of Lake Tanganyika fishery resources is a lack of knowledge of long-term fluctuations in stocks. As a first step it is proposed to review and report on the existing information from Lake Tanganyika on such fluctuations. Such information, though incomplete, would still be quite useful for planning future development and investment projects.
As a second step it might be possible to further define these fluctuations by using historical satellite imagery to delimit seasonal and annual patterns in primary production. The Sub-Committee requested that the Secretariat endeavour to undertake these activities.
(v) Regional project proposal
The four countries, conscious of the fact that further development of Lake Tanganyika cannot proceed without a better knowledge of the fluctuating resources, recommended that a regional project be prepared for submission to possible donors. The Sub-Committee agreed that each country present a specific request based on the outline of Appendix D to their EEC Country Representative for the detailed formulation and funding of the regional project.
16. The Sub-Committee agreed that in view of the vast programme required to coordinate fishery development and management activities on Lake Tanganyika it would restrict itself for the moment to the priority issues identified during discussions on the previous item.
The Secretariat introduced Document CIFA:DM/LT/83/4.
17. The Sub-Committee was informed of the amendments made to the Statutes and Rules of Procedure of CIFA following the recommendations made at the Fifth Session of CIFA, held 15–20 January 1983 in Cairo, Egypt.
18. As regards its own functions, the Sub-Committee noted that the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA) had delegated to it the same development and management responsibilities as those assigned to the Committee itself in the Africa region as a whole.
19. It further noted that when a regional project on Lake Tanganyika, in which all the four countries participated, comes into being the Sub-Committee would act as the Advisory Body to such a project.
20. No other matters of business were raised.
21. The Secretariat informed the Sub-Committee that the Third Session had been programmed to be held in 1985 in conjunction with the Sixth Session of CIFA.
22. The Sub-Committee however reiterated the need to meet more often and requested the Secretariat to organize an ad hoc session of the Sub-Committee during the third quarter of 1984.
23. Tanzania offered to host such a session and the Sub-Committee accepted the offer with appreciation.
24. The exact date and place is to be determined by the Director-General in consultation with the Chairman and the authorities of the host country.
25. This report was adopted on 21 October 1983.
