Search

Inland fishery ecosystems in Africa are characterized by patterns of overexploitation, environmental degradation and exotic species introductions. Ecological complexity and diversity of aquatic habitats dictate that fishes in general are not evenly distributed in a water body. However, fisheries management regimes tend to ignore this basic principle, assume generalized conditions in a water body, and focus more on ‘desired’ objectives such as maximizing catch. The result is to disregard fish habitat boundaries and anthropogenic influences from the catchment that influence fish production. Overexploitation and environmental degradation disrupt sustainable socioeconomic benefits from the fisheries, create uncertainty among investors, but leave some managers calling for more information with the expectation that the fisheries will recover with time. Open access to the fisheries and full control of fishing effort remain challenges for managers. Exotic species introductions and fish farming can increase production, but such interventions require firm commitment to sound ecological principles and strict enforcement of recommended conservation and co-management measures in capture fisheries. The general tendency to downplay fishing effort issues, other ecosystem values and functions or rely on temperate fisheries models until a new cycle of overexploitation emerges, characterizes many management patterns in inland fisheries. Aquaculture is not an option to challenges in capture fisheries management. Aquaculture should be developed to increase fish production but even this practice may have negative environmental impacts depending on practice and scale. Decades of information on Lake Victoria fisheries trends and aquaculture development did not stop the collapse of native fisheries. The successfully introduced Nile perch ( Lates niloticus) has shown signs of overexploitation and aquaculture has again been considered as the option. By reviewing significant trends associated with Nile perch and its feasibility in aquaculture this paper uses Lake Victoria to illustrate ‘special interest management’ targeting selected species of fish rather than the fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freshwater fisheries of Africa are important sources of income and protein for the people of the continent, and stocks of biodiversity for the world. This report discusses the experience for eight important lakes (Baringo, Chad, Kariba, Malawi, Naivasha, Nakuru, Tanganyika and Victoria), in order to provide an overview of the challenges facing the African freshwater systems, the interventions undertaken to manage the challenges, the inputs that have been required, and the lessons learned to guide further actions. In particular, the experience of the Global Environment Facility in promoting sustainable fisheries and lake basin management at five of these lakes (Baringo, Chad, Malawi, Tanganyika and Victoria) is discussed. The overall experience to date indicates a lack of effective management actions, as a result of limited accessibility and application of scientific information, poor dissemination of management information, inappropriate and un-harmonized fishery laws and regulations, inadequate enforcement of existing laws and regulations, weak institutions and institutional processes, and inadequate funds for implementing fishery programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]