1. The Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika of the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA) held its Fourth Session from 25 to 27 April 1988 at FAO Headquarters in Rome. The Session was attended by representatives from three Member Nations of the Committee: Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia; observers from six Member Nations of FAO; a representative of the European Economic Commission (EEC); and observers from the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) region. The list of delegates and observers is given in Appendix C.
2. The Session was opened by the outgoing Chairman, Hon. H. Jumaine, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Burundi. He welcomed the participants and underlined the contribution which fisheries can make to food security in the Lake Tanganyika region. The rapid exchange of information through a common research project would ensure maximization of economic and social benefits to be derived from a rational development of the resources of the Lake.
3. Mr A. Lindquist, Assistant Director-General a.i. (Fisheries), addressed the participants on behalf of the Director-General of FAO, Mr Edouard Saouma. He reviewed the terms of reference of the Sub-Committee as originally adopted in 1977, which were to develop a regional fishery project for the Lake, bring it to the operational stage and provide technical guidance to individual governments on the implementation of the regional project, thus participating in the long-term integrated development of the fisheries of the area. The Fourth Session was considered a turning point in the history of the Sub-Committee in that it offered a unique occasion to finalize a comprehensive research and development programme through the close collaboration of riparian States and the many interested donors.
4. Mr G.K. Libaba, Director of Fisheries, Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania, was elected Chairman and Mr P. Chipungu, Chief Research Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Zambia, was elected Vice-Chairman of the Session.
5. The agenda was adopted as given in Appendix A. The documents presented to the Session are shown in Appendix B.
6. Document CIFA:DM/LT/88/2, The status of the fisheries of Lake Tanganyika, was reviewed by the Sub-Committee. The paper summarized the trends, problems and priorities in the fisheries of the Lake as background information for the discussion of the proposals for regional fisheries research and development projects.
7. In spite of a general problem regarding the reliability of statistical data, total catches from the Lake were estimated to have been of the order of 85 000–90 000 tonnes in 1986. The number of industrial vessels decreased in the north and increased in Zambia. Both Burundi and Zaïre have, with the assistance of UNDP/FAO, formulated fisheries development masterplans, defining a number of actions/projects to be undertaken. In Tanzania, the FAO/Netherlands project GCP/URT/066/NET has been very successful in providing equipment to individual fishermen through a revolving fund. Zambia was considering the introduction of liftnet fishing techniques to replace beach seines in the artisanal fishery.
8. Identified problems hampering fisheries development included the unexplained natural fluctuations in fish abundance and the rapid movements of the stocks, the inaccessibility of most parts of the Lake shore which lead to an uneven pattern of exploitation, the remoteness of the main consumer market and lack of infrastructure for preserving fish. Other constraints include the difficult economic situation of the riparian countries leading to weakness of fisheries administration, lack of imported goods, loss of purchasing power of revolving funds, inadequate communications between the four countries, and sociological factors preventing fishermen from operating as full-time professionals.
9. Priorities defined were Lake-wide research including statistical data collection, the reinforcement of national fisheries administration, the need to define development requirements in a logical sequence, the availability of gear and other equipment, access to fishing grounds, creation of infrastructure and establishment of regular contacts between the countries.
10. In the ensuing discussions, complementary information was provided by the participants. Particular reference was made to the uneven pattern of exploitation between the two major arms of the Lake in Zambia, the necessity in Tanzania to study the best means of access to the Lake shore area, the creation of service centres for the artisanal fisheries and the conduct of sociological studies. In Burundi a new scheme to make available credit for the artisanal fishery sector was being considered.
11. The Secretariat introduced the evaluation report which, as with the Work-shop held in Bujumbura, Burundi, 30 May - 4 June 1984, had been prepared with assistance from the FAO Regional Office for Africa. It was apparent that the impact generated by the Workshop had been little, if any. The statistical quality of the data was noted as not being satisfactory, and the report did not suggest ways and means of correcting the weakness of existing national systems.
12. The Sub-Committee agreed that a set of meaningful regional statistical data, needed to provide a sound quantitative base on which to determine development policies and management measures, required a more uniform approach to statistics collection, analysis and reporting among the countries bordering the Lake. It was also agreed that the standardization of statistics could best be achieved through regional cooperation, as part of a comprehensive programme for the development and management of shared resources.
13. The Sub-Committee recommended that:
the Secretariat should look into the possibility of proposing alternative methods of statistical data collection, more cost effective than those presently in use, which could be adapted for the four Lake States;
the proposed regional research project for Lake Tanganyika should take the lead in coordinating any necessary action to standardize the collection, compilation and analysis of statistical data on a regional basis.
(a) Regional Research Project
14. The Secretariat introduced paper CIFA:DM/LT/87/4 and summarized the recent history of the proposed Regional Research Project. Finland had financed and participated in the Preparatory Mission to all four member States in January 1987, which was undertaken in collaboration with an EEC mission investigating particularly the fisheries development possibilities. The FAO mission report had been distributed, and formed the basis of a specific project proposal prepared by the Secretariat and submitted to the two agencies which had first indicated their interest in principle and indicative budget limits: i.e., the Finnish Department of International Development Cooperation, (FINNIDA) and the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organization (AGFUND).
15. Annex 1 to the paper gave the Plan of Operations for the AGFUND inputs, which covered essentially equipment and training elements, specifying the combined workplan for the next (mobilization) phase. This Plan of Operations had been forwarded to the participating countries in early 1988 for signature and it had already been endorsed by Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia, but its implementation was still conditional upon signature by the remaining member, and upon provision of a matching input from other donors to cover the personnel and operational expenses. This matching element had been proposed to Finland in the form of a project revision expanding upon the Preparatory Phase.
16. A number of other assistance agencies and potential donors had also expressed a general interest in collaborating in this regional research project. The Norwegian Agency for International Development (NORAD) had already agreed in principle to assist the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) in catch assessment and stock monitoring programmes for the Tanzanian and Zambian sectors of the Lake, hence, SADCC had now withdrawn their request for assistance from UNDP's Regional Programme for Africa. Belgium, EEC, Italy, Japan, Netherlands and Sweden, most of whom were already represented at the meeting, were invited to comment on their earlier general expressions of interest.
17. It was noted with appreciation that Burundi had agreed to host the central (Headquarters) unit of the proposed Regional Research Project at Bujumbura.
18. The Secretariat recalled that although the Committee members had collaborated with each other and various external assistance programmes over the past two decades, a major coordinated programme was necessary if rapid progress was to be made in assessing and effectively monitoring the potential of the important pelagic fisheries of the Lake.
19. Delegates were requested to review the FAO proposal for the next phase of the Regional Research Project for the whole Lake, and particularly to endorse or comment upon it, as well as the guidelines for the long term activities, and particularly to describe national activities underway or planned so that there should be full coordination and no duplication of effort.
20. Delegates from Zambia and Tanzania, as well as observers from SADCC and NORAD elaborated on the proposed NORAD-supported SADCC programme for fisheries catch assessment and long-term stock monitoring in the Zambian and Tanzanian sectors of the Lake, whose detailed formulation had specifically been delayed pending discussions and information exchanged during the present meeting, in order to ensure that there should be no duplication of effort but rather complementary and collaboration with other related activities on the Lake, including FAO's proposed Regional Research Project.
21. After considerable exchange of views, during which Zambia, Tanzania and SADCC emphasized the urgency to be given to the implementation of their segment of the programme without necessarily waiting for the proposed FAO Regional Research Project to start, it was agreed that, on the understanding that Finland and AGFUND contributions would be forthcoming, the SADCC/NORAD project should make provision for acoustic survey covering the whole Lake. It was further recommended that FAO staff and consultants be associated with this exercise.
22. Belgium outlined its proposal for a four year project of support to the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (ECGL) fisheries research sector, plus a preliminary year to start perhaps early in 1989, which would include the Burundi and Zaire waters of Lake Tanganyika, as well as Lake Kivu and the Bugesera complex. However, this project would concentrate on training and studies in the technical domains of aquatic chemistry, pesticide/herbicide elements of pollution, fisheries biology and ecology - particularly the littoral/benthic populations; it was noted that the limited resources available would not permit studies on fisheries statistics, pelagic fish populations, fishing technology or fish technology. The Belgian scientists responsible for this project agreed in principle to incorporate this element into a Lake-wide research programme.
23. Regarding Zaire waters, the observers from the Federal Republic of Germany (German Agency for Technical Cooperation - GTZ) advised that they were studying a request from the Government of Zaire for the development of artisanal and semi-industrial fisheries in the northern sector of the Lake. Information would be welcome, and close association with the proposed Regional Research Project would be valuable.
24. The Netherlands declared special interest in the Great Lakes and was already supporting bilateral and multilateral projects on Lakes Kivu, Tanganyika and Victoria. However, their present programme did not include any further inputs to Lake Tanganyika, but if FAO wished to present particular project ideas for their consideration, for instance regarding fish stock assessment, they should be raised at the next FAO/Netherlands Government Cooperative Programme meeting.
25. The EEC informed the meeting that, in reply to the request of the Sub-Committee at its Third Session (Lusaka, Zambia, October 1985) for fishery development assistance, it had fielded a mission during 1987 to identify regional fishery development activities. The report of this mission had been distributed to member countries for comments but none had been received to date through the established channels. However, the representative of the EEC had met separately with those delegates present. They had agreed, subject to official confirmation by their countries, that the first phase of the EEC project would centre on the following priorities: improvement of fishing techniques; provision of equipment to fishermen; training of cadres and monitors in improved fishing technology and management, and the dissemination of these techniques. A second phase should concentrate on long-term development activities and the strengthening of regional cooperation.
26. The Representative of the EEC stressed the fact that fishery development activities should be linked to the results of the cooperative research programme undertaken under the auspices of the forthcoming regional project.
27. As the CIFA Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika was currently the only regional body responsible for fisheries in the region, the EEC would initially coordinate its activities in the region through the Sub-Committee which would also be the coordination mechanism for the new multinational Regional Research Project. However, the management of the EEC-supported project activities would eventually require the presence of a coordinating committee consisting of the EEC project manager and representatives from the four countries concerned.
28. The Secretariat reported that Finland was favourably considering funding of the next phase of the Regional Research Project, and had continued interest in the subsequent main phase envisaged over five to ten years. A collaborative effort with other Nordic countries (e.g., NORAD/Norway and Sweden) would be welcomed1.
29. In conclusion, the Sub-Committee agreed that valuable up-to-date information had been provided on current and pipeline fisheries research and development activities on Lake Tanganyika. The SADCC/NORAD planned activities should go ahead without further delay, and the Sub-Committee recommended that FAO's proposed Regional Research Project should be appropriately modified to take account of those activities to be undertaken in Tanzania and Zambia, as well as relevant ECGL/Belgium activities in the Burundi and Zaire sectors. The next phase of the FAO Regional Research Project should therefore specifically focus on the establishment of the central coordination office in Bujumbura, and initial coordination activities concerning the detailed planning of the other programme elements, such as working meetings of the Sub-Committee to treat, for instance, harmonization of fisheries legislation, etc.
30. It was agreed that the inputs from Finland and AGFUND (and other potential assistance programmes) should be rescheduled to provide for a balance of inputs in the Zaire/Burundi and Tanzania/Zambia sectors. Meanwhile, FAO should follow up with other assistance agencies, particularly the Netherlands, Federal Republic of Germany, Sweden, Japan and Italy to ascertain their possible complementary inputs to the overall coordinated Programme. The Sub-Committee therefore endorsed the general guidelines for the long-term Regional Research Project.
(b) Harmonization of Fisheries Legislation
31. The Sub-Committee considered this item on the basis of document CIFA: LT/DM/87/6 “Harmonization of fisheries legislation for Lake Tanganyika” and of Compendium of fisheries legislation prepared by the Secretariat. The document reviewed the legal texts in force in the different countries and identified the main legal issues on which there appeared to be a need for harmonization. These issues included the collection and analysis of statistics; fisheries management planning procedures; definition of fishing operations; licensing and limitation of effort; conservation measures; controls over ecologically dangerous methods of fishing and the introduction of non-indigenous species. Should reciprocal access regimes be in force, access conditions would also need to be harmonized. The document suggested that a first step in the process of harmonization might be to prepare a draft text of harmonized fisheries regulations for consideration at a workshop composed of lawyers and fisheries administrators from each riparian State.
32. In the discussion which followed the delegates recognized the need for harmonization of rules regarding a number of specific issues, with particular reference to those relating to the management of stocks of common interest concerning inter alia collection of statistics and conservation measures. The Sub-Committee supported the idea of a regional workshop, bringing together lawyers and technicians from member countries, which would consider the text of draft harmonized fisheries regulations and requested the Secretariat to make the necessary arrangements for the organization of such a meeting to be held in the region before the next session of the Sub-Committee.
33. It was recalled that this item was already discussed at the previous session of the Sub-Committee, at which it was agreed the principle of agreements allowing fishing vessels of one country to seek official permission to fish in the waters of another country, or to use another country's landing facilities, and that such arrangements should be made through the appropriate ministries. As a follow-up to this discussions, the Government of Burundi submitted to the present session a detailed proposal as follows:
“Member Nations should agree to allow the free circulation of private entrepreneurs who are nationals of the four countries bordering the Lake, and to facilitate free access to fishing in territorial waters.
There should be regular exchanges of information and technical experience, in a context of regional cooperation. It is essential to encourage cooperation in data dissemination on a regional scale wherever appropriate.
To achieve genuine regional cooperation, the Governments of the Member Nations of the Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika should conclude bilateral and even regional agreements to allow fishing vessels to have easy access to the whole Lake.
The four countries should adopt standard specifications as regards identification and marking of fishing vessels operating in the waters of the Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika.
To achieve optimal utilization and rational exploitation of our fishery resources, it is important that Governments of Member Nations of the Sub-Committee adopt strict fisheries management and planning policies to avoid exhaustion of stocks. Consultations should be held regularly to improve cooperation.
Given the conditions in which the fisheries sector operates in the Member Nations of the Sub-Committee, both the terms of agreements governing access to fisheries, and the fishery regulations of the Member Nations, should be scrupulously respected. The Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika could appoint a National Expert Group to control and monitor resources, and to implement the agreements concluded between Member Nations and the measures taken by Governments. Such a working group should be created within the Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika to make regular checks in the various Member Nations on the implementation of the fishery strategy and regulations.
The Sub-Committee should study the possibilities of establishing basic infrastructures, particularly refrigeration facilities (cold rooms) for fish conservation and storage when conditions of access to fishing are accepted by Member Nations.
If fishery agreements are to be concluded among the countries composing the Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika, there must be legal frameworks and institutional structures.
It is essential that the four Member Nations of the Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika fully understand that fishery management means rational and sustained fishery development.
The Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika should agree that, as from January 1988, Governments of Member Nations will facilitate the free circulation of fishing units. Technical officers should send before that date the names and numbers of fishing vessels expected to circulate within the inland waters of other States.
The Sub-Committee should appoint an officer to keep the security services informed in the various Member Nations.”
34. Considering this proposal, delegations expressed the opinion that any decision on this matter should be based on a good knowledge of the state of the resources to be possibly made available to other countries. It was hoped that the proposed regional research project would provide riparian countries with the necessary information. It was therefore felt that it would be somewhat premature to formulate any recommendation in this respect at the present stage. It was also suggested that the Secretariat could prepare a study of the arrangements entered into by countries bordering the same lake in other regions of the world. This information should be made available to the proposed Workshop on Harmonization of Fishery Legislation. Meanwhile, the competent authorities of all the riparian States would review in detail the implications of the Burundi proposal.
35. No other matters were raised.
36. The Tanzania delegation offerred to host the Fifth Session of the Sub-Committee, subject to the approval of the Tanzanian Government.
37. Sessions of the Sub-Committee are normally held at two-year intervals. However, the member countries expressed the wish to have the next session at an earlier date, in view of the forthcoming regional programmes.
38. This report was adopted on 27 April 1988.
