1. The Seventh Session of the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA) Sub-Committee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries of Lake Victoria was held in Kisumu, Kenya, from 27 to 29 June 1994.
2. The Session was attended by representatives of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Observers were from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the European Community (EC) and the East African Development Bank (EADB). A list of delegates and observers is given in Appendix C.
3. The outgoing Chairman of the Sub-Committee and Commissioner for Fisheries of Uganda, Dr. F. Orach-Meza, welcomed the delegates and observers and thanked the Honourable Assistant Minister for officiating at the Opening Ceremony of the Session.
4. On behalf of the Director-General of FAO, Dr. Jacques Diouf, Mr. H.L. Norton, the FAO Representative in Kenya, welcomed the Honourable Deputy Minister and the delegates and observers to the Seventh Session of the Sub-Committee. He thanked the Government of the Republic of Kenya for hosting the Session. He outlined the role of FAO and the CIFA Sub-Committee in the development and management of the fisheries of the lake for sustained fish production. He assured the Sub-Committee of FAO's continued support.
5. The Session was opened by the Assistant Minister for Tourism and Wildlife, the Honourable Wilberforce A. Kisiero, who delivered the speech on behalf of the Hon. Noah Katana Ngala, Minister for Tourism and Wildlife. He highlighted the importance of Lake Victoria for fish supply to the region. He pointed out that the Sub-Committee had a formidable task of ensuring the full and sustainable utilization of the resources of Lake Victoria, the catch of which had reached approximately 500,000 tons per year. He informed the Sub-Committee that the export of Nile Perch fetched the riparian states about $60 million per year in addition large quantities of fish were consumed by the local populations.
6. The Honourable Deputy Minister emphasized that sustainable development and management of the fisheries of Lake Victoria should be based on scientific data generated by the researchers of the countries sharing the lake. He underscored the importance of disseminating research results to the resource users, including fishermen, fish processors and developers, which would ensure rational utilization of the resources for the benefit of present and future generations. The speech of the Honourable Minister is attached as Appendix D.
7. Mr. T. Maembe, Director of Fisheries (Tanzania), in moving the vote of thanks, endorsed the wise words of the Honourable Deputy Minister on the importance of the lake to the members of the Sub-Committee.
8. Mr. S. Abuga Moire, Acting Director of Fisheries of Kenya and Mr. T. Maembe, Director of Fisheries of Tanzania were elected Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively. Dr. E. Okemwa (Kenya), Professor P.J. Bwathondi, (Tanzania) and Dr. F. Bugenyi (Uganda) were elected Rapporteurs.
9. The Agenda was adopted as amended and is presented in Annex A.
10. The Secretariat introduced this agenda item on the basis of document CIFA:DM/LV/94/2 which highlighted the actions so far taken during the intersessional period both by the Secretariat as well as by Member Countries of the Sub-Committee to address the identified constraints, which included problems relating to the status of fisheries of the lake, status of the lake environment, aquaculture practices in the lake basin, marketing of fish from the lake and priorities for research and management.
11. In the ensuing discussion, the Sub-Committee briefly reviewed the major constraints affecting the development and management of the fisheries of Lake Victoria and expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by FAO through a Technical Cooperation Programme Project for the preparation of the draft Convention for the establishment of a Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO). Furthermore, each delegation informed the Sub-Committee of actions taken by their individual countries to mitigate the identified constraints.
12. The Kenyan delegation informed the Sub-Committee that the Fisheries Act of 1989 and the Fisheries General Regulations have been updated and consolidated management of Lake Victoria Fisheries. The Act provided a legal framework upon which the balance between harvesting and conservation could be maintained. This legal instrument provided regulations for gear sizes limitations, minimum size of fish to be landed and approved landing beaches.
Gillnet Mesh Size Limits
13. The delegates were informed that the following mesh sizes were under implementation:
Total Ban on Certain Fishing Methods
14. The Sub-Committee was informed that there was a total ban on beach seines, trawling, traps and weirs.
Pollution and Environmental Problems
15. It was stated that a National Interministerial Committee had been set up with a mandate to look into the issue of pollution of the lake; various projects on pollution control had been initiated; and that certain aspects of “pollution” such as effluents from surrounding factories, management of water catchment areas still required very urgent regional action.
Water Hyacinth
16. The Sub-Committee was informed that Kenya had taken the following steps to control water hyacinth:
biological control had been planned and was being tried by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute in the Laboratory before it is brought to the lake;
physical removal was being tried at various beaches;
information was being provided to individuals in communities regarding the hazards of the weed and ways of curbing it; and
research on the weed is being planned.
Aquaculture in the Lake Basin
17. It was recalled that Kenya has made some progress in developing aquaculture in the Lake Basin area, including pond rehabilitation, construction of new ponds and training of farmers.
18. The delegates were informed that mass fingerling production for Clarias and the “tilapias” is being implemented. Concerning the determination of stocking densities, experimental trials were in progress. The production of appropriate fish feed was under experimentation.
Fish Marketing and Processing
19. The delegates were informed that the necessary actions to provide fishing inputs, improving fish landings and processing had been undertaken by the respective institutions. Formulation of a marketing policy was under consideration, but prices were liberalized. FAO had provided seed money for insulated containers and for the development of added value Nile perch products.
20. The Sub-Committee was informed that a national fish quality inspection unit existed in the Fisheries Department for the purpose of ensuring high standards of fish products for local and export markets, reflecting the standards set by the European Community (EC).
Priorities in Research
21. It was acknowledged that the priorities in research programmes included the Lake Victoria Fisheries Research Project Phase II and that these were in line with national research programmes.
Status of the Fisheries of Lake Victoria
22. The Sub-Committee was informed by the Tanzanian delegation that fish production from Lake Victoria has been fluctuating between 146,000 and 213,000 tons per year over the past five years with the major component being the Nile perch (80%), Nile tilapia, “sardines” (dagaa) and others (Bagrus, Barbus, Haplochromis, Schilbe, Labeo, Clarias and Protopterus). The country has been experiencing an influx of trawlers and small (5mm) mesh size dagaa nets as a result of the banning of the same in neighbouring countries. The Government was considering putting a ban on trawlers and beach seines together with dagaa nets of less than 10 mm mesh size.
Status of Lake Victoria Environment
23. It was noted that the major pollutants in the country on the lake shore originate from industrial discharges in Mwanza, Musoma and Bukoba and agro-industrial wastes and pesticides mainly from cotton growing areas that are washed into the lake. The country was insisting that all industrial discharges be treated before they are discharged into the lake. Not much was done on fertilizers and pesticides. On the water hyacinth problem, the country has just completed a lake-wide (Tanzanian side) survey on the extent of infestation of the weed. The results would be officially known very soon. On the whole, the intensity of infestation is highest in sheltered bays with river discharges. The government had earmarked staff that would be deployed in the transferring of the weevils to the water hyacinth.
Aquaculture in the Lake Basin
24. The Sub-Committee was informed that Tanzania had only carried out a survey of the aquaculture potential in the Mara Region. A comprehensive report has been written and is awaiting implementation when funds become available. The main emphasis will be placed on mass fingerling production of Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus.
Marketing of Fish from the Lake
25. It was stated that the marketing strategies taken on the Tanzanian side include the construction of several fish filletting factories which are estimated to total 16 on completion. At the moment, only five are operational and in 1993 up to 2,000 m.tons of fish were exported. The filletting of fish has displaced the traditional women fish processors using smoking kilns and fish trade in favour of younger women who are employed in the filletting factories. There is a growing danger that when all the factories are completed, there may not be enough fish (Nile Perch) available to operate them at full capacity. A factory exists that makes insulated containers which should increase the use of ice in fisheries.
Priorities for Research
26. The Sub-Committee was informed that the priorities for research included in the Lake Victoria Fisheries Research Project Phase II financed by the European Union (EU) were in line with the Government research programme.
Status of the Fisheries
27. The Sub-Committee was informed that beach seines and trawling (except for experimental purposes) had been banned. Gillnets, longlines and handlines were used for Nile perch and Nile tilapia.
Status of Lake Victoria Environment
28. It was reiterated that studies on the Lake Victoria environment had continued. The problem of water hyacinth was being tackled through mechanical a as well as biological control methods. However, results of the specificity tests from both Kenya and Uganda were still being awaited.
29. The Sub-Committee was informed regarding the three Conferences/Workshops which had been held on the lake environment:
Lake Victoria Environment and Biodiversity (August 1992);
The Palaeoclimatology, paleolimnology and climatology of Lake Victoria-International Decade of the East African Lakes (IDEAL) (February 1993); and
The International Development Research Centre/Fisheries Research Institute (IDRC/FIRI) Workshop on the Current Environmental Status of Lake Victoria (November 1993).
Aquaculture:
30. It was stated that fish farming had been encouraged and the World Bank had facilitated this undertaking. The Fisheries Research Institute/National Agriculture Research Organization (FIRI/NARO) has taken over the Aquaculture Research Station and was doing research in stocking rates, fish feeds and fish pathology. The station continued to provide fish fry to private farmers who are also encouraged to produce fish fry.
Marketing of Fish from the Lake:
31. The delegates were informed that the Government had recognized the need for improving fish quality. Training in fish quality assurance was undertaken by FAO under a TCP Project targeted at fisheries officers and fish processors. EC has also trained fish processors to ensure that fish quality for export meets the EC requirements. FAO had supported the development of insulated containers for Nile perch.
Priorities for Research and Urgent Actions
32. It was stated that Uganda participated in all the consultations concerning research programmes, fishery projects as well as management priorities and actions. Uganda is grateful to the EC and the UNDP/FAO Regional Project for Inland Fisheries Planning, Development and Management in Eastern/Central/Southern Africa (IFIP) Project.
LVFO:
33. The Sub-Committee was informed that Uganda had participated effectively in all the consultations on the establishment of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization.
CONCLUSION
34. The Sub-Committee noted the information provided by members and urged for close collaboration to ensure the rational utilization of resources.
35. In introducing this agenda item, the Secretariat referred to document CIFA:DM/LV/94/4 which highlighted issues of concern to the management of the fisheries of the lake. The document proposed a sequence of activities to be undertaken by the three countries through the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) for arriving at a common strategy for managing the fisheries of the lake. Some of these issues, it was pointed out, could be considered as being generated from within the fisheries sector, while others were imposed on it.
36. The Sub-Committee noted that among the issues generated within the fisheries sector were:
rapid local overfishing caused by uncontrolled effort, particularly of Nile Perch and the difficulties in enforcing the existing legislation;
increase in demand for fish with increasing population; and
the change in the fishery from the original multispecies base to the current domination by three target species, viz. Lates niloticus, Rastrineobola argentea and Oreochromis niloticus;
whereas the issues imposed on the fisheries sector concerned mainly:
the dramatic changes in the lake's environment caused by indiscriminate discharges of industrial effluents or wastes;
increasing eutrophication from agrochemical residues and eroded soils reaching the lake by streams, rivers and rainfall run-offs:
increasing infestation by water hyacinth causing anaerobic conditions for the aquatic biota, particularly fish and interfering physically with fishing operations, transport and recreation.
37. In adopting the proposed guidelines and a unified strategy for managing the fisheries of the lake, the Sub-Committee made a number of pertinent modifications. These have been adopted and have been included in the policy instruments and the strategy for unified fisheries management reproduced below.
Policy Instruments for Fisheries Management
38. The Sub-Committee noted that at present Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have laws which permit:
39. The Sub-Committee noted that the riparian countries had in the past agreed to limit mesh sizes for different fisheries as follows:
however, it was observed that there was still no unanimitv on :
40. The Sub-Committee concluded that the main problem for the three countries was to ensure that the existing fishery regulations were adhered to by the fishermen on the Lake. Often this was not the case. For example, the use of beach seines, mosquito nets, traps and weirs, harpoons, etc., in certain areas of Lake Victoria is prohibited but enforcement was still a problem.
Objectives
41. It was noted that the LVFO presented its participating countries with an opportunity to introduce cost-effective management of the fisheries on Lake Victoria. The following paragraphs outline a possible sequence of activities to be undertaken.
Context
42. The Sub-Committee noted that was a worldwide tendency towards the establishment of open, market economies. This tendency is evident in East Africa and would have an impact also on the fishing industries and their management.
43. It was observed that as governments in the region encourage greater private sector involvement in the fisheries sector, more responsibilities will be transferred to producers and consumers. The role of fisheries administration and government interventions would thus be limited primarily to the provision of basic services such as research and training, infrastructures and appropriate policy direction and instruments.
44. The Sub-Committee agreed that an essential pre-condition for the success of such systems was that those who receive more power, that is, producers and consumers, should be well aware of the constraints and responsibilities which go along with the growing opportunities. In the fishery sector this meant that fishery administrations should (i) increase their effort to inform all those deriving a living from the sector on the conditions under which the activity was being carried out through effective and strengthened extension services; and (ii) that user rights in the fishery sector are such that they correspond to the long-term interests of the concerned countries.
Tasks
45. The Sub-Committee noted that the following tasks should be accomplished in order to permit rational management of the fisheries on Lake Victoria and hence these should be considered as possible priority tasks for the LVFO:
Activities
46. It was suggested that in order to arrive at effective fishery management on the Lake, the LVFO and the participating countries consider the following sequence of activities:
47. Considering the current state of the fisheries of the Lake, the Sub-Committee noted that the following issues would seem to need early attention:
optimum utilization of Nile perch (Lates niloticus) without endangering Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). This policy, however, should be supported by a monitoring programme to assess changes in abundance and size structure of the two species.
an efficient and selective fishing methods to be developed for harvesting the abundant pelagic Rastrineobola (Dagaa/Omena/Mukene).
Evaluation of the traditional fisheries for Labeo, Barbus, Protopterus, Clarias, Bagrus, Alestes and Schilbe in the littoral areas of the lake for the purpose of developing a method for rational harvesting with specific selective gear.
Impacts of modern or improved fishery technology on the fish stocks and the socio-economics of established fisheries.
Strengthening of extension mechanisms to ensure effective transfer of technology to all levels of the fishery.
Investigation of techniques and social and economic impacts of appropriate aquaculture for introduction into the lake and its basin.
the need to find a balance between food use of the resources on the one hand and export and animal feed on the other hand.
Other important issues are marketing and quality product development.
The Development of Research Programmes
48. The Sub-Committee noted that prior to the 1970's most fisheries research carried out on the lake was basic. Initially the major research programmes were undertaken by the East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organisation (EAFFRO) which was concerned with basic limnology, taxonomy and the biology of the major species. The first intensive fishery investigations commenced in the late 1960s and these were concerned with the identification of fish populations for possible exploitation.
49. It was noted that the present programmes of research on the lake were mainly undertaken by the three fisheries research organisations Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFRI) and Fisheries Research Institute (FIRI, Uganda). These government organizations were all underfunded. In fact the greatest proportion of their budget was required to pay staff salaries with virtually no budget for equipment, materials, literature or costs of vehicles or boats. The research was not only constrained by finance to programmes that emphasise laboratory and short-term investigations, but also reflected the historical emphasis on basic, as opposed to “fishery” research oriented to the needs of the countries.
50. It was suggested that the riparian countries and the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization should enhance collaborative innovative research and seek additional funding from the international community for increasing research activities. To this effect member countries should cooperate to obtain maximum benefit from the second phase of the EEC Regional Fisheries Research Project, the envisaged Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Programme for Lake Victoria and other donors.
Research Activities
51. It was recognized that the role of research in fisheries management was to provide information upon which policies, priorities and management actions can be based. Fundamental research is required to provide explanations on observed phenomenon such as species population changes, disappearance of species, trophic structure and catch trends in order to indicate management interventions that might be applicable. The three major areas of importance ranked in order of importance were:
Research Priorities
52. The Sub-Committee recalled that in the past the scope of all investigations and monitoring activities have been severely restricted because of lack of finance. This has reduced access to useful information, equipment and mobility of personnel with the adverse consequences of:
53. The Sub-Committee agreed that the member countries and the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization should ensure that research programmes take into account these restrictions or constraints and also look for a means of alleviating these. There was a need to develop a strict set of priorities for use of the limited available financial resources. All investigations should be justified by the purpose of providing answers to specific questions.
54. It was suggested that the riparian countries and the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organizations should ensure that the definition of research priorities covers the following:
Future Action
55. The Sub-Committee recommended that these research and management issues be further defined and elaborated at a meeting to be held in Jinja, Uganda, from 17 to 19 August 1994.
(a) GEF Fisheries Management Programme and Programme for Control of Water Hyacinth and other invasive weeds
56. The relationship between the Sub-Committee and the proposed component of GEF Fisheries Management Programme and programme for control of water hyacinth and other invasive weeds was discussed on the basis of CIFA:DM/LV/94/5 which set out the priority activities established for these programmes.
57. The Sub-Committee was informed that at the East African Tripartite Meeting of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda on the Lake Victoria Environment Management Programme (Nairobi, 27–29 April 1994) it was agreed that the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) will act as Regional Task Force 1 on Fisheries Management and Water Hyacinth Control for the purposes of the Programme. Until the LVFO becomes operational, the Sub-Committee resolved that it would assume the functions of the Task Force shall come under its umbrella.
58. The Sub-Committee emphasized that the national Fisheries Departments and Fisheries Research Institutions of the various countries would play the key role in the development of these programmes and that the national delegations to the Sub-Committee would be expanded, as appropriate, by inclusion of representatives of the fisheries sector as a whole.
59. With regard to the preparatory tasks, as specified under attachment 1 of the Draft Agreement of a tripartite Environmental Management Programme for Lake Victoria it was recognized that there was an ongoing process whereby the various tasks are to be accomplished. The next step in this process would be the organization of a Regional Meeting in Jinja, Uganda, from 17 to 19 August 1994 in conjunction with the Management Committee of the EC Lake Victoria Fisheries Research Project, which will discuss the regional fisheries management programme and priorities for research.
60. The Sub-Committee reached the consensus that the solution to the water hyacinth problem would be best approached by a combination of biological and mechanical control. As environmental risks from mechanical control were minimal, immediate action could be taken on the basis of the EC project document which is already available. With regard to biological control, it was resolved to proceed with the introduction programme set out in attachment 1 of the Draft Agreement on the Preparation of a Tripartite Environmental Management Programme for Lake Victoria, subject to positive clearance from the host-specificity tests. The Sub-Committee urged delegates from Kenya and Uganda to obtain the reports from their respective plant protection units prior to the Jinja meeting in August so that a decision could be taken with regard to biological control. The Sub-Committee recommended that funding should be immediately sought for mechanical control.
(b) EEC Lake Victoria Fisheries Research Project
61. The Sub-Committee recalled that the first phase of this project was started in 1989 with a budget of ECU 1.5 m for a two-year period. The long term objective of the project was to encourage cooperation on fisheries matters among the riparian countries of Lake Victoria as a contribution to regional fisheries management. More immediately the project aimed at strengthening national research institutions, the exchange and dissemination of information, the harmonization of data collection systems and the reactivation of the African Journal of Tropical Hydrobiology and Fisheries. Activities also included the provision of equipment, books and journals, the refurbishment of the research vessels and training. Some activities were still outstanding including the publication of two issues of the journal, training of data collectors and the carrying out of the initial survey cruises.
62. The Sub-Committee was informed that the second phase of the project would start at the beginning of 1995 for a period of five years with a budget of ECU 8m. It would aim to contribute to the sustainable development of the Lake Victoria basin by assisting in the creation of a valuable management framework for Lake Victoria fisheries and by developing the knowledge base required for rational management of the lake's fisheries. This phase would have five major components: i) Development of institutional capacity by supporting the LVFO committees on fisheries research and fisheries management by having regular meetings and by facilitating participation of international scientists in scientific meetings; ii) Stock assessment by a series of acoustic, trawl and gillnet surveys and associated biological, statistical and other studies; iii) Ecosystem dynamics and ecology through a limnological programme, multispecies modelling and assessment of abundance of food organisms; iv) Social and economic impact of management strategies through baseline information collection, analysis and dissemination of data, studies on marketing, processing and retailing systems and through a survey on nutritional and health impacts of the fishery; v) Development of participatory process through an overview of structures for community participation in management, development of pilot community management initiatives and expansion of pilot initiatives.
63. It was noted that the EEC Lake Victoria Fisheries Research Project would implement its activities under the LVFO by supporting its Committees and by the provision of information to assist in the management process. It might also facilitate the work of the LVFO by funding certain of its activities during the lifetime of the project.
(c) Other Projects
FAO/UNDP Kagera, Fisheries Project URT/90/005
64. The Sub-Committee was briefed by the Project Manager on the progress of the pilot phase of the Kagera Fisheries Project based in Bukoba, Tanzania. The phase was aimed at the artisanal fishing communities of the Kagera coastline and offshore islands and was based on the experience gained during the operation of a similar fisheries project based at Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika. Further extensions of the Kigoma/Kagera model projects were envisaged for the Mwanza and Mara regions around Lake Victoria, but had not yet been funded.
65. The Sub-Committee was informed that during the three years of operation, a Revolving Credit Fund had been successfully initiated through the cooperative efforts of two institutions in Tanzania, the Fisheries Department and the Credit and Rural Development Bank (CRDB) and FAO. This scheme had improved the availability of fishing gear, outboard engines and spare parts to both fishermen and women through the CRDB scheme as well as a small-scale credit scheme aimed at women in fishing communities. The credit scheme promoted conservation measures now considered necessary by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization by supporting only those fishing techniques and equipment which were considered acceptable in relation to the exploitation and sustainability of the resource. For example, outboard engines helped disburse fishing effort outside paddling range and helped open up isolated and under-utilized fishing grounds. The support of minimum mesh sizes of 152.4 mm for gill netting of Nile perch and 10 mm for dagaa reduced the capture of immature fish and the support of artisanal fishing methods such as the lift net and scoop net as opposed to trawls and beach seines helped protect breeding grounds, immature fish and artisanal jobs in the long term. Likewise, the fish processing section is engaged in promoting new fuel efficient smoking/drying ovens as well as diverting effort and Nile perch. Considerable attention is also being paid to helping the private and artisanal sectors to reprocess the heads and backbones which are left over after filletting for export. This would give product which could rival dagaa as a prime source of protein for the poorest sections of society.
66. The Project Manager informed the Sub-Committee that an extensive village based fuelwood and agro forestry programme also sought to improve fishing community access to fuel as well as improving intercropped food crops in the fishing communities. Pilot phase research has facilitated the design of a modular development programme based on the perception that most fishing communities are not highly specialized but are almost invariably agricultural and fishing communities with household incomes and survival strategies based on access to both. This forms a convenient approach to the improvement of these communities in relation to the sustainable exploitation of Lake resources.
67. The Sub-Committee recommended that the experience of the Kagera project be extended to from the basis for a Regional Project for the improvement of the artisanal fishing communities in Kenya, Uganda, as well as Tanzania. It was felt that such an overall approach, sanctioned and encouraged by the riparian states would actually promote the achievement of the aims of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization. Such a programme could be implemented by extending the coverage of the Bukoba based project to cover other lakeside regions on the basis of national execution with FAO assuming a coordinating and backstopping role. The duration of such a regional project should be for a minimum of five years at an estimated cost of $2.8 million.
International Decade of the East African Lakes (IDEAL)
68. The Sub-Committee was informed that the “International Decade of the East African Lakes (IDEAL) Programme would start operation on Lake Victoria mainly on the environmental problems the lake has experienced. It would derive information from sediment cores to portray past climatic and other changes which, together with the current status of the Lake, would in turn be used to construct models for predicting future changes.
69. The Sub-Committee noted that under IDEAL, two other complementary sub-projects would be funded by NSF(USA): (i) Lake Victoria Ecosystem Study, and (ii) Biodiversity and climate changes in East Africa: Lake Victoria IDEAL.
65. It was noted that the first project will provide answers to the following three questions:
were the changes in Lake Victoria ecosystem a result of input of excess nutrients;
was the introduction of Nile perch, which predates on smaller fish species, and thus disrupting the food web, responsible; and
were the changes related to the energy and stability of the water column as affected by regional climatic changes. Was the lake in danger of permanent stratification as a result of this?
70. It was also noted that the second project concerning biodiversity and climate would critically carry out three tests (i) Nutrient bioassay experiments, (ii) tests on rates of photosynthesis versus irradiance and (iii) determination of rates of Nitrogen fixation versus irradiance.
(iii) Ecotone Project
71. The Sub-Committee was informed that information from the fringing wetland ecotone functioning around the lake was required for proper management of the lake. Some fish species utilize such habitat as refuge and as breeding and feeding areas. In addition, the people living along the shores have various cultural uses for the vegetation of the fringing zones. Many urban centres are springing up along the shores which drain their domestic and industrial waste through such patches. The ecotone patch is known to control, regulate and filter the incoming contaminants and nutrients in the lake. The Swiss and FIRI (Uganda) have a project investigating the sustainable utilization of this ecotone zone.
(iv) International Development Research Centre, Canada (IDRC) Project
72. The Sub-Committee was informed that IDRC has funded activities in the past which indicated the changes in the lake. It would like to complete its mission by helping to fund a regional project involving multi and interdisciplinary investigations on the ecosystem of he lake basin. This would be an extension of projects that have been going on within the region.
(v) Michigan State University Programme
73. The Sub-Committee was informed that the Michigan State University Programme on the Lakes of East Africa has been conducting socio-economic research around Lake Victoria. Extensive qualitative and quantitative data has been gathered in thirteen randomly selected riparian communities on fishing operations and marketing, demographics, attitudes towards management and co-management, gender issues and nutrition. Data gathering in twelve more communities will be carried out during the programme's current phase and increasing this sample to forty communities, as well as return visits yielding data on changes in key variables, was anticipated. The project is developing a training programme for East African fisheries socio-economists and a CD-ROM library of physical, biological and socio-economic studies of Lake Victoria. A cooperative initiative with the Tanzanian government and private companies dealing with practical issues of co-management was being formulated.
(vi) Kenya-Belgium Joint Project in Freshwater Ecology
74. The Sub-Committee also took note of the Kenya-Belgium Joint Project in Freshwater Ecology is executed by the Free University of Brussels, Belgium. It started in February 1993 and is budgeted until February 1997. Its aim was to support research activities of Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute-Kisumu station. Its main objectives comprise:
75. It was noted that after a Preliminary Survey, the researchers defined their research programmes and since March 1994, the Kenya-Belgium Joint Project was organizing monthly sampling trips of six days in the Kenyan part of Lake Victoria and around the mouths of the most important inflowing rivers.
76. The Sub-Committee expressed concern as to the multiplicity of projects working on aspects of the fisheries and water quality in Lake Victoria. A clear need was identified for coordination of these efforts which should be a function of the LVFO. Until the Organization becomes operational, the Sub-Committee should assume this task.
77. The Sub-Committee considered this Agenda Item on the basis of document CIFA:DM/LV/94/6. It recalled that the FAO World Fisheries Conference, which was held in Rome exactly ten years ago, had endorsed the Strategy for Fisheries Management and Development consisting of principles and guidelines which were aimed at ensuring the sustainability of fisheries resources. The development of inland fisheries and aquaculture was also given priority. The Sub-Committee was informed that the Committee on Fisheries while reviewing the world fisheries situation in March 1993 recognized that there was large overcapacity in the world fishing fleet and that most fish stocks were already fully exploited while others were becoming heavily fished. There was, therefore, a need to conduct fishing in a responsible manner taking into account all the technical, socio-economic and environmental factors involved.
78. The Sub-Committee agreed that the concept of responsible fishing could be extended to Lake Victoria with a view to controlling prohibited fishing methods and practices, preservation of the ecosystem and abating environmental degradation. It fully endorsed the “Declaration of Cancun” which highlighted the following elements:
the concept of Responsible Fishing that “encompasses the sustainable utilization of fisheries resources in harmony with the environment; the use of capture and aquaculture practices which are not harmful to ecosystems, resources or their quality; the incorporation of added value to such products through transformation processes meeting the required sanitary standards; the conduct of commercial practices so as to provide consumers access to good quality products”;
the duties for the Countries: “States, with a view to ensuring supply of fish products to feed present and future populations, should adopt effective fisheries planning and management standards which, within the context of sustainable development, will promote the maintenance of the quantity, quality, diversity and economic availability of fisheries resources”;
the decision “to call upon the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to draft, in consultation with relevant international organizations, an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing, taking into account this Declaration”.
79. The Sub-Committee noted that the FAO Secretariat, in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) had initiated the preparation of the International Code of Conduct on Responsible Fishing, which would consist of General Principles and the following six Thematic Chapters: Fishery Operations, Fishery Management Practices, Fair Trade Practices, Aquaculture Development, Integration of Fisheries into Coastal Area, Management and Fishery Research. It would also include legal instruments, internationally agreed standards, technical guidelines and Codes of Practice. The Draft of the entire Code would be circulated to member countries, international organizations and non-governmental organizations for review at the Ad hoc Technical Consultation scheduled to be held in Rome from 26 September to 5 October 1994. The Revised Version would be submitted for adoption by the Committee on Fisheries and the FAO Governing Bodies in 1995.
80. The Sub-Committee noted with appreciation the steps already taken by the FAO in the development of the International Code of Conduct on Responsible Fishing. It recommended that following the adoption of the main Code, a supplement specific for Lake Victoria should be prepared by FAO for application by the LVFO and the riparian countries.
81. The Secretariat reported to the Sub-Committee on the steps followed for the preparation of the Convention for the Establishment of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization and the Headquarters Agreement and on the Conference of Plenipotentiaries itself.
82. The Sub-Committee discussed at length the procedures to be followed during the Conference of Plenipotentiaries for the adoption of the Convention and the Headquarters Agreement. The delegates unanimously agreed upon the following:
The representative of the Director-General of FAO, who convened the Conference of Plenipotentiaries would chair the Conference until the Rules of Procedure were adopted and a Chairman elected.
As the delegations of the three Governments were now in full agreement on the text of the Convention, any debate on the matter could be avoided and the Convention signed at the end of the first day, that is on 30 June 1994.
As the Governments concerned accepted the offer made by the Government of Uganda and reflected in Document LVFO/CONF.PLEN/6, there would be no necessity to present the matter in detail and have a debate. The Legal Adviser would only have to refer to the negotiations held with Uganda in his general presentation. The undertakings of the host country would be referred to in the Headquarters Agreement adopted by the Conference together with the Convention.
83. On the advice of the Sub-Committee, the lawyers present in the delegations met with the FAO Legal Adviser and agreed on the Final Act to be signed at the end of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries.
84. Members of the Sub-Committee recognized that the Sub-Committee had provided a unique forum for international discussions on matters relating to development, research and management of Lake Victoria's fisheries since its establishment in 1980. Its role would be assumed by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization upon its establishment. It was, therefore, recommended that the parent body of the Sub-Committee, the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA), be informed at its next session of the intention of the three members of the Sub-Committee to discontinue its activities when the LVFO becomes operational.
85. Member Countries agreed that until the first Session of the Council of Ministers of the LVFO had taken place, the Sub-Committee should continue to fulfil its objectives and functions, particularly its role as Task Force 1 of the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Programme and in preparation of essential research and management programmes for eventual consideration by the LVFO.
86. No further matters were discussed.
87. The report was adopted by the Seventh Session of the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA) Sub-Committee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries of Lake Victoria on 29 June 1994 at Kisumu, Kenya.
