Category Archives: Fishing

Kenya and Tanzania tussles over sharing fishing grounds in the India Ocean

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Report By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

FOUR months down the line after the coming into effect of the East African Common Market, cross border fishing in the Indian Ocean is still skewed against Kenyan fishermen.

Kenyan fishermen who dared to go deep southward fishing arrests and prosecution by Tanzanian police, while fishermen from the South are free to go fishing on Kenya’s coastal waters.

According to the arrangement, residents of the countries in the region are supposed to have the access to market and factors of production. But Kenyan fishermen continued to get a row deal as they are barred from fishing in Tanzania coastal waters, and yet their counterparts from the south are having a field day in their northern neighbor’s waters, even at times selling their catches to the locals.

According to the information obtained from the Ministry if Fisheries, several Kenyan fishermen have been arrested and charged by Tanzanian authorities for fishing in their territorial waters..

This latest event has heightened tension between fishermen from the two neighboring countries who have over the years been operating on the same fishing ground.

Kenyan fishermen in the South coast now want the two governments to clearly mark the boundaries to avoid constant harassment at the hands of Tanzanian authorities.

They say fishing has become nightmare for them following recent arrests by Tanzanian police patrolling the East Coast the Indian Ocean, a situation that can be avoided if there were proper boundary marking indicating the exact border lines making much easier for fishermen from Tanzania to fish in Kenya waters. This could easy the existing tension between the two Eastern African nations.

Addressing journalist at the Kenyan coastal ton of Vanga, one of the prominent fishermen in the fish landing areas has extended to inside the Kenya border, Mr Nassor Diwani said conflict will continue getting out of hand and needed to be addressed.

“We have complained about inequality to the relevant authorities, While our Tanzanian counterparts finds it easy to access the Kenyan territorial waters, the same does not apply to us and when we cannot cross south of the border.”

Similar situation persist along the Kenya-Tanzanian border on Lake Victoria where local fishermen from Kenya are not allow to cross into Tanzania side of the lake. Each time they are spotted by the police patrols, they are immediately rounded up and taken into police custody in the mainland for prosecution on charges of trespassing, and yet Tanzanian fishermen cross the border at will undisturbed.

“Over the years, the Kenyan and Tanzanian fishermen have been sharing the same fishing ground were doing that in the spirit of the East African Cooperation, these latest arrests should not happen,” said Mr Diwani.

He added that lack of security patrols on the Kenya side had also led to cases of illegal fishing methods such as the use dynamite fishing destroys marine ecosystem.

The officer-in-charge of fisheries in Vanga district Mr Ronald Deche has confirmed that for the last few weeks ten Kenyan fishermen have been arrested and charged with trespassing in Tanzania territorial waters.”Our laws are not clear on right of fishermen, making it for fishermen from Tanzania to fish in Kenya waters.

Mr Deche told the newsmen that cross border fishing laws needed to be addressed a fresh as countries in the starts formalizing policies for the East African Community. He said fishing has a great potential. In the last year, Kenyan fishermen landed more than one million kilogram of fish. This earned the fishermen more than Kshs 100 million.

As parts of the effort to reduce pressure on the Ocean resources, Mr Deche said that the EAC had embarked on fish farming commonly known as “marculture”This particular effort communities plant mangrove, about orals farming and bee-keeping as alternatives sources of income.

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Fishermen in Lake Victoria will be required to pay levy as EU pulls out its funding

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

From now onward fishermen in Lake Victoria will son be required to pay a small fees towards the Fisheries Management Project should plans by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania go through.

In a sign document reportedly still in the drawing board, but already signed, all East African Community member countries are to ensure that the landing site use fee is legislated as a funding mechanism for the Beach Management Unit.

The document signed by Ugandan Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Hoppe Mwesigye, then Kenya’s Fisheries Minister Dr. Nyongesa Otuoma {now shuffled to Sports Slot}, and Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Uganda Rajabu Gamaha requires the member countries to starts implementation immediately.

The European Union {EU} is a major partner of the Lake Victoria Basin states and has a long histor6y of support to the quality control, research, development of the fisheries resources of Lake Victoria.

Head of the national resources section at the EU delegation in Tanzania Anne-Claire Leon confirmed that the EU has pulled out from funding beach and fisheries management around Lake Victoria beginning August 31, 2010 after seven years of support. out of which USD 6.7 million was used for beach management units formation and support.

The overall objective of the project was the sustainable economic growth and development of the Lake Victoria Basin. The program was managed by the EU delegation in Uganda.

Prior to the fisheries management project, the EU injected USD 12.7 million into phase 1 and phase 11 of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Research Program that ran from 1996 to 2002.

The East African Community is also asking its member countries to increase contributions to the regional fisheries kitty managed by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization in Uganda.

Currently every country provides between USD 120,000 and USD 320,000.In addition, the Council of Ministers is looking at the possibility of setting up a fish levy trust to help in the implementation of program.

Among the challenges lake faces are the deteriorating water quality, overfishing and use of illegal harvesting methods.

The Nile perch is of great commercial significance as evidence by inland fisheries contribution of between two to 12 per cent to GDP in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

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Uganda & Kenya: Ugandan millets may soon find it way in exports to neighbouring Kenya

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Business News By Leo Odera Omolo

EFFORTS to transform Uganda’s agricultural sector from subsistence into commercial production have been boosted with the signing of an agreement that seeks to stimulate millet production.

The deal was signed last week between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Livelihoods and Enterprises for Agricultural Development (LEAD) project, the World Food Programme (WFP), Equity Bank and the Kenya-based UNGA Holdings.

Jeffrey Gray, an agri-business consultant, John Tushabomwe, the Equity Bank credit manager (Oasis Mall branch) and Paul Forrest, the LEAD agri-business unit director, discussing after signing the memorandum of understanding last week

It aims at increasing millet production to satisfy local and foreign demand. Under the deal, about 2,000 metric tonnes are expected to be produced and exported to Kenya next year, reaching 6,000 tonnes annually by 2013.

According to the agreement, LEAD will search for the grain market, give grants and technical knowledge to smallholder farmer groups. WFP will provide modern warehouse facilities for the produce, UNGA, East Africa’s oldest grain miller, will buy the millet. Equity Bank will give farmers loans under the Warehouse Receipt System arrangement.

“One of the most challenging problems facing commercial agriculture progress has always been the lack of ready markets. However, this process will be fully-financed and the market is guaranteed.

“When farmers are sure of the market, they will be induced into millet farming since they will not be worried about where to sell or the price of the crop,” said the Livelihoods and Enterprises for Agricultural Development boss, Susan Corning, during the signing of the deal.
Farmers in Teso, Acholi and Lango regions are targeted. Communities in the regions grow the crop, climatic conditions are favourable and the areas’ soil texture supports the healthy growth of millet. The population there faced over 20 years of insurgency, thus the need for recovery through commercial farming.

Nick Hutchison, the UNGA managing director, said much as the company had agreed to provide a guaranteed minimum price of sh585 per kilogramme, it would adjust and pay according to the prevailing market prices, in case they rise above the minimum price.

Apollo Njoroge, the Equity Bank executive director, said the bank would finance up to 60% of the grain value in the warehouse.

“Similar deals aimed at uplifting farmers through the warehouse receipt system funding have done wonders for Kenya. We are optimistic that Ugandan millet farmers will benefit in the same way,” Njoroge said.

The warehouse receipt system allows farmers to deposit their produce with certified warehouses and wait for attractive prices. The system also helps avoid vagaries of weather. The produce is valued by managers and farmers are given receipts worth their grain value.

The receipts can even be used as collateral security in case farmers need loans before the produce is sold off.

The system helps farmers enjoy large economies of scale while selling because the pooled produce boosts their bargaining power.

WFP has begun installing cleaning and drying equipment for nine public warehouses in Uganda to help improve the country’s market infrastructure for small-holder farmer groups.

The equipment installation project is valued at a total
of $2.4m (about sh5b).

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Kenya: How amorous fisherman lost this teeth after eloping with farmers wife

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

AN incident, in which a young fisherman is said to have lost his upper and lower teeth, is still the common talks within the three lakeside districts of Nyatika, Gwasi and Mbita in the greater Southern Nyanza region.

Puzzled fishermen, fish traders and petty kiosk traders operating their businesses on the small Island of Ringiti have yet to come to term with the realities of what happened in the first week of August.

Ringit is asmally rocky fishing Island, which is located few kilometers of Mfangano Island in the Lake Victoria. It is one of those islands like Migingo, which Kenya and Ugandan governments are currently locked in dispute over their ownership.

Majority of fishermen and trader operating on this Island are Kenyans of Luos and Somali origins. Also, there are few Luhyia fishermen from Banyala sub-clanwho came from Sigulu Island formerly part of Kenya, but now on the Ugandan side of the Lake and also from Port Victoria I the mainland Budalangi constituency.

Like its sister Island Migingo, Ringiti is also housing Ugandans and Tanzanian fishermen and fish merchants.

It happened that an unfaithful married woman who is actively involved in fish trade, making her frequently traversing between Ringiti and Muhuru- Bay on the mainland Nyatike district. The woman who is called Adhiambo Sianda {Not her real name}had formed the habit of visiting the island for the purpose of purchasing fish from fishermen and then crossing the lake back to the mainland quite often. She could spend between four days or one week on the Island depending on the availability of fish. But all this time she used to be staying with relatives and friends.

But the woman who is said to be the third wife of a wealthy farmer living on the mainland and a mother of three children two daughters and one son had since February this year, is reported to have requested her husband {name with held} to allow her to rent a one room house of her own on the Island . The husband consented to this request and even travelled with her to the Island for the purpose of blessing the one room house as required by the Luo tradition and cultural virtue.

After blessing the house, the husband spent about three days with her on the Island and returned home to the mainland. Thereafter, the woman frequent trips to the mainland where she usually sells her fish became unusually irregular and dwindled though previously she used to return home almost every week.

A young woman married to a young man of twenty six years, but from a neighboring village is said to have confronted the woman’s husband in a market place and told him how his businesswoman wife had taken her husband along with her to the Ringiti fishing island, where they are reported to be cohabitating in one room house like a husband and wife.

The farmer couldn’t believe what he was hearing. But he composed himself handled the matter with dignity which is devoid of emotion and hired and dispatched a “Private Eye”to the island to investigate the rumor. The private eye spent three days on the island pretending to be o n a fish buying mission and returned home with full facts, that reaffirmed the story. The investigator even visited the woman and her secret loved and had supper with the unsuspecting lovers couple who entertained him with a few bottles of beer.

On receiving the report, the farmer armed himself with a Maasai simi, a rungu and hired a motorboat late in the afternoon for a close to four hour voyage. He arrived on the island at about 7.p.m. and walked street into his wife one roomed house. The wife was somehow surprised why he had made such an abrupt trip inquiring if something fishy has happened I n the family back home. But her husband only smiled broadly telling her that he had become love-sick after missing her for a couple of weeks.

Inside the house, the husband who caught the woman by surprise and unaware, saw a number a man’s clothes hanged, a man shoes, hut and other materials, which indicated that the place was a living room for a couple. But did not bother to inquire from his wife who the man or the owners of those materials was.

The woman cooked supper of “Ngege” and both enjoyed it with Ugali. The woman even took her visiting husband to a small bar and the two of them consumed several bottles of Tuskers” before coming back to the house and retiring to bed. During all these happened the visiting husband never showed any sign of distress of annoyance.

It happened that the husband arrived at the time when the amorous man had gone on fishing expedition for the whole night only returning after past midnight. The wife is said to have made frantic effort to reach his secret lover via her cell phone, but it was heavily raining and the young man had switched off his mobile phone the better part of the night, therefore there was a total communication breakdown between.

Inside the woman’s house, her husband had hidden the crude weapons inside a big brief case and things looked normal. But at about 2.30 AM,there was a knock at the door.The young man had returned from fishing expedition and had come home to sleep. Them woman hesitated from opening the door, and it was the husband who stood up in the darkness got hold of his rungu and Maasai sword and opened the door for the stranger. As the amorous fishermen popped his head past the door while inquiring what had happened to the spotlight the where about of the lamp, the husband slashed his nose with the simi. This was followed with heavy blows to his face sending sprawling on the ground This was the best opportunity of the offended husband to use made good use of his rungu. He reigned blow and kicks on the helpless man on the ground and struck the man on both knees and face.

The amorous fishermen grasp the remaining strength, stoop up and took to his heel, but to nowhere, because the small fishing island is only an acre and half in and size, most of it occupied by small huts which belong to the fishermen and fish traders.

The whole Island got woken amid the cries of Uwwwiii Uwiii which alerted the few Ugandan security personnel who were on the patrol near the island. As the amorous fishermen run around the rocky island with the husband of the woman in hot pursuit on his heels. He latr jumped on one parked small home made canoe and pushed it into the water and peddle to the deeper said of the lake to escape punishment.

But not before the man lost four of his upper teach and two of the lower teeth plus a suspoected broken jews.after received blows from the husband of the woman a heavily built and stronger man of about 45years.

The amorous fisherman is reported to have single handedly peddled the canoe up to Karungu Bay in Nyatike mainland living his clothe and other belonging on the Island, which the enraged husband is said to have confiscated and promised to use as exhibits in a divorce case he is planning to file in a civil court later.

The husband was heard shouting loudly while raining blows on the face of the amorous fisherman “Ong’erni tinde ini ng’eya ni an ng’ano” (you monkey today you’ll know whom I am today}

Sources have told us that the husband boarded the boat which he had hired previously taking with him all the belonging of his wife, plus fisherman’s clothes of her secret lover. The woman later followed her husband on the mainland, but went straight to her parents home, while her secret loved boarded a boat heading for Bugiri district in Uganda where he is said to be receiving medical treatment for the nose his buttered nose and bodily injuries he had sustained during the midnight heavy championship boxing bout, which has since been baptized as Mohamed Ali Verses Joe Frezier of the 1970s in Manilla Philiphine.

Report emerging from areas adjacent to Lake Victoria shorelines and also from the dozens of small fishing islands talk of moral decaying in that many woman who had left their husbands on the mainland usually hired young men s the acting husbands while doing business in those places. Widows whose husbands have died of HIV/Aids have also infiltrated these places for easy and luxurious life.Ad that is reason why there is widespread of the Hiv/Aids outbreak.

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Kenya: fisheries

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KSHS 144V MILLION FOR RESTOCKING NILE PERCH WITHIN E.A STATES

By Agwanda Powerman

Nyanza Provincial Fisheries Director Michael Obadha is saying that the three East African states sharing Lake Victoria have contributed kshs 144 million aimed at restocking Nile perch in the lake.

He at the same added that each state is contributing Sh. 48 million for the project dubbed ‘operation to save Nile Perch’.

Obadha says that the funds were channeled through Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization based in Jinja Uganda .

He says that current survey report indicates that there are plenty of juvenile Nile Perch and fewer adult Nile Perch.

He says that the trend forced the three states to join efforts in conserving the depleting Nile Perch stock since the species has done well in the global market.

Obadha says that in the next two months the three states will mount a joint operation to weed out illegal fishing gears in the lake that have been used to eliminate juvenile Nile Perch.

Speaking in Kisumu pier after a night operation in the lake that show over ten illegal nets being confisticated from the fishermen, Obadha says that the war on illegal nets will continue unabated.

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UGANDAN FISH EXPORTS IS DECLINING AS EAST AFRICA EXPERTS PREDICTS STIFFEST MARKET COMPETITION FROM EUROPEAN PRODUCED COD FISH

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Economic and Business Reports By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Fish experts I East Africa are predicting a new threat of fierce competition from Cod white fish from European lucrative market

This fish is favoring red in Europe but until a few years ago, its stock had diminished to a worrying level-leading to a boom in Nile perch imports.

And Now Lake Victoria fisheries officials are themselves worried over declining fish stocks in the water body, which is shared by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Cod white fresh fish hit European market last year, with the production in Belgium peak to 120,000 metric tones this year.

More production of Cod fish are expected from Britain, Norway and Scotland. As market that were recently importing Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania fish begin to produce their own, the competition will son get toughen.

“We must excel in aquaculture Cod white fish is farmed and compete better in the European market than Nile perch. Its stocks in the world market had diminished simply because of mismanagement,” said Uganda’s Commissioner for Fisheries William Mwanja in a recent interview.

At 17,400 tones Uganda is the largest exporter offish from Lake Victoria. Europe is one of the principal markets. Cod fish is a native to Europe. It is favored of many homes there.

Conservation efforts and fish farming {aquaculture} over the past few years are now yielding positive results in Europe.

Shortage of Cod fish had led to high demand in prices for East Africa’s Nile perch in Europe resulting in a near monopoly for decades.

Booming demand for Nile perch in Europe created more opportunities in Uganda for rapid industrialization of the fish processing sector in the early 1990.

More and more fish processors came on board, creating jobs and improving the lifestyles of local communities. Soon, however, poor management of fisheries led to illegal fishing, theft and a sharp drip in fish stocks and exports.

“We used to set about 20 fish nets and get enough fish, but today we set about 100 nets and get very few fish, “said Richard Semukwaya a fisherman Muchungu fish landing site outside Kampala.

The fisherman who has been in the trade for close to 35 years gave the example of Lake Albert in mid-western Uganda where illegal fishermen spend months in the middle of the lake fishing and smoking the catch.

Fish volume have dropped significantly in the past three years-because of export high of 28,394.8 metric tones last year earning USD 85,426.2 billion. Seventy per cent offish harvested in Uganda is immature, but it was readily marketed locally and in Kenya, DR Congo, Central African Republic, Sudan and Angola.

Estimated value stands at USD 100 million. There are 167 lakes in Uganda. Five of them, Victoria, Kayega, Albert, George and Edward.20 other are moderately big the others are relatively smaller..

Lake Victoria is the most productive. The Ugandan government, however is presently is considering leasing out smaller community water bodies for better management. But the move could stir up bitter political agitation by the community leaders as most of these lake are the major source of livelihood for the locals

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Tanzania & Kenya: LAKE VICTORIA BASIN LAUNCHES UNIVERSITIES’ RESEARCH FUND FOR MARA RIVER BASIN

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By Agwanda Powerman

The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with three Universities; Ardhi University (Tanzania, Egerton University (Kenya) and Maseno University (Kenya) to support critical studies in natural resources and landscape conservation in the Mara River Basin.

The ceremony which took place in Kisumu will allow collaboration between the Commission and the Universities on applied research on Biodiversity Conservation in the Mara River Basin and the Environmental Flows Assessments of the Mara River.

The research will also include wildlife habitat conservation ,conservation enterprise and capacity building and leadership with an initial amount of US dollars 60,000 with 20,000 going to each of the three Universities under partnership.

“This new collaboration is part of broader initiatives being implemented under the “Trans boundary Water for Biodiversity and Human Health in the Mara River Basin Project” supported by USAID /East Africa and implemented by the LVBC” the organizations’ Executive Secretary General Dr.Tom Okurut said.

He added that under the recently -concluded Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (BSAP) for the Mara Basin ,the measures to be undertaken will target improving policy,legislation and institutions,economics,investments,applied research ,communication ,education and awareness -raising.

“The LVBC is an institution of the East Africa Community responsible for coordinating the sustainable development agenda for the Lake Victoria Basin,the Mara Basin is one of the basins of the Lake Victoria Basin and is essential for the survival of wildlife anchoring Kenyan and Tanzanian tourism” Okurut further said.

He added that the survival of the Eco system depends on the flow of the Mara River and the collaboration between the Commission and the Universities will play an essential role of supporting a long term capacity development for science based management system of the ecosystem.

KENYA, TANZANIA, UGANDA: LAKE VICTORIA THREATENED BY ENVORONMENT DEGREDATION, FISHERIES EXPERTS WORRIED

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By Dickens Wasonga.

Lake Victoria which globally supports a rich fisheries resource estimated at 1 million metric tons annually, and a standing stock biomass of 2.12 million metric tons is likely to suffer irreversible ecological damage if urgent action is not taken to improve its environmental management, fisheries experts have warned.

During a meeting held in Kisumu city in Kenya which was attended by a high powered team of fisheries experts drawn from the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization and top ministry officials from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, it emerged that the Lake was facing a myriad of environmental and fishery related threats.

Kenya’s permanent secretary in the ministry of fisheries development Prof. M. Ntiba while making his official speech noted that over the years, Lake Victoria which also supports a fisher population of 196,500 regionally has been plagued with massive water weeds infestation and sporadic toxic algal blooms; uncontrolled influx of pollution and nutrients from the hinterlands.

The PS said increased sedimentation and Lake level changes associated with poor land use and climate change; reduced levels of dissolved oxygen in the water; increased use of illegal fishing gears and methods which results to over exploitation of immature fish were amongst the thorny issues that needs to be addressed urgently by countries benefiting from the Lake.

In an effort to help enhance management of the Lake environment and its living resources, Kenya’s ministry of fisheries development on Friday launched a Vessel worth Ksh.57m which will now be used by scientists drawn from Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute KMFRI to provide necessary research and monitoring support.

It is the mandate of KMFRI to undertake research in all spheres of fisheries, acquaculture, aquatic ecology and environmental monitoring. It also provides scientific data and information,new and adoptive technologies and innovations for the sustainable exploitation, management and conservation of fisheries resources and aquatic environment.

On the larger scale the research out put from KMFRI should support the national development strategies and programs on achieving food security ,reduced poverty levels and increased job opportunities for Kenyans.

The new Vessel will be a crucial tool for KMFRI to undertake research and monitor all fisheries and environmental parameters on the world’s second largest fresh water lake.

The funds to buy the Vessel-MV UVUMBUZI- A kiswahili word which means discovery, was provided by the European Union which is also supporting the Lake Victoria Fisheries Implementation Plan and the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization.

It is a specialized research vessel set to revolutionize the way research has been conducted on Lake Victoria which also generates a substantial income to the region in terms of export of fish to different international markets.

THe IFMP project which is ending this year was targeting to boost the capacity of both human resource and infrastructure and will remain a clear land mark of development in the Lake Basin,in particular , in supporting fisheries research and development agenda for Lake Victoria in Kenya and her two sister states of Uganda and Tanzania.

According to the Kenya’s minister for fisheries development Dr. Paul Otuoma, several fish processing plants have been forced to close down due to dwindling fish stocks in the Lake.

He said as a result many Kenyans especially those living along the shores of Lake Victoria have been rendered jobless. He said the trend was now worrying the government which was losing a substantial amounts of money from the fisheries.

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda: East African states have decided to levy fee on all the fishermen and fish traders operating in Lake Victoria

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Business and Economic News By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu CITY

THE three governments of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have agreed to impose levy charges on fishermen and fish traders operating in Lake Victoria in the near future.

This was agreed at the Council of Ministers in charge of fisheries from the three countries at a meeting held in the Ugandan capital, Kampala last week. The proposal is contained in a joint ministerial statement issued last Friday after the meeting.

It is indeed one of the various raft of measures aimed at raising funds to run and manage this fisheries sector.

“All the three countries will have to ensure that the fish landing site users fee is legislated as a funding mechanism for Beach Management Unit, “reads the joint statement.

It was signed by the Ugandan Minister for Agriculture, Culture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Hope Mwesigye, Kenya’s Fisheries Minister Dr.Paul Nyongesa Otuma. Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Uganda Rajab Gamal signed for his country’s Minister for Fisheries.

The move came in the wake of the reported move by the European Union {EU} which has been supporting most of the Beach Management Units and infrastructure development had announced it would be pulling out by August this year.

To-date, the EU has finance the Beach Management Units within the three territories to the tune of Kshs 3 billion. The phased out EU support aimed at fighting illegal fishing, building office blocks, research and vessels, among other activities.

And among the options the three Ministers discussed was the possibility of increasing states contributions to the regional kitty managed by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization, whose administrative headquarters is based in Uganda.

Presently, every country provides an equivalent amount of money to the tune of Kshs 9 billion [USD 120 million} and Kshs 24 million {USD320,000}

The Council of Minister, however, is exploring the possibility of setting up a fish levy trust to help in the implementation of the programs.

Dr Otuoma was quoted by the press as saying that the running of the water body can no longer be done by every state individually.

Among the challenges faced include deterioration of water quality due to pollution, over fishing and use of illegal harvesting methods..Stocks of the biggest income earner, the Nile Perch, have been on the decline, pushing high its price in the local and international market.

Available statistic released in February this year by LVFO shows show that 360,000tons of Nile perch had been harvested cumulatively b the three countries. This compared badly with the 1,932,000 tons last year.

The decline in many fish species in Lake Victoria is also attributed the poor quality of water which is excessively polluted by industrial residues discharged from various towns and u country industries.

Numerous Non-Governmental Organizations {NGOs} have sprung up in recent year and went over drive in raising funds from foreign governments, mostly in Western Europe purporting to be working towards the preservation of Lake Victoria waters and fighting its environmental degradation, but only converted the donor money into wealth making.

These NGO are found within the three countries of Tanzania Uganda and Kenya. They usually approach the donor agencies with elaborate plans earmarked for fighting pollution and other environmental degradation in the water mass, but all the funds got siphoned and ended up lining the pockets of the NGO bosses, but strangely enough thy still able to continue conning the donor nations of millions of dollars of taxpayers money in those countries.

The sweet talking bosses of these NGO have become excessively wealthy and jet set flying to every capital of the world, especially within the EU nations attracting donor fund, and yet the quality of water in Lake Victoria has deteriorated so much that it is no longer even fit not only for fish breeding, but even for human consumption.

Millions of dollars raised from the generous donor agencies most of it is squandered in funding the purchase of the latest state of the art vehicles, mostly the four wheel drive Japanese fuel guzzling cars private posh houses in the cities, business enterprises premises and other valuable properties while Victoria is on its deathbed!!.

Lake Victoria has changed its color and the water looked dirty and contaminated due to human errors and pollution by industrial wastes.

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Kenya & Tanzania: NILE perch stocks in the Lake Victoria is slowly and steadly recovering

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

A report recently prepared by experts says that the economically and commercially important Nile perch stock in Lake Victoria is slowly but steadily recovering after Kenya and Tanzania banned fishing in their territorial water to foreign fishermen.

THE Tanzania’s Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Dr. John Magufuli was recently quoted in the press as saying that the3 Nile perch stock is now at about 400,000 tons, up from 340,000 tones recorded in 2008.

The Minister’s remarks were based on a recent hydro acoustic survey. IT says say that in 2008, the fish stock was estimated to be about 750,000 tones

The Minister explained that zero tolerance drive against excessive fishing and use of inappropriate methods by the two countries have also contributed to the rising fish stock.

“In the next six months, Lake Victoria will have satisfactory stocks of Nile perch and other fish species, “said Dr.Magufuli.

Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest fresh water mass covers a total area of 68,800 square kilometers and has a maximum depth of 80 meters. Tanzania owns the lion’s share of 49 per cent, while Uganda has 45 per cent with Kenya having the smallest portion of only t per cent.

The Nile perch is of great significance to the three Eastern African countries, which jointly owns Lake Victoria. The lake provides fish for domestic and export markets. The value of the catch fro the lake is about USD 350 million annually at landing sites, with a further USD 250 million generated as foreign exchange from Nile perch fillets exports to European Union countries, Middle East, Japan and the US.

Over 30 million people in East Africa depend on fishing for their livelihood. Fish is also provides high quantity food protein in the form of nutrient and animal protein for million of consumers in the region.

Inland fisheries contributed 1-12 per cent of the GDP in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, most of which is from the Nile perch in Lake Victoria.

Last year, Tanzania earned nearly USD 23 million from fish catches in Lake Victoria alone.

It should be remembered that in 2008, nearly five cargo planes from Ukraine, Holland and Belgium used to land at the Mwnza Airport, on the southern shores of Lake Victoria every week, to carry an estimated 400 tones fresh Nile perch fillets to Europe, Middle-East, Japan and other destinations.

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Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda: Governments are blamed for mismanagement of Lake Victoria

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda failed to manage Lake Victoria leading to a sharp decline of its most valued species, the Nile Perch

Experts have predicted that there will be no Nile Perch in Lake Victoria in the near future unless there is a drastic change in the way the resource is harvested, the Kenyan Fisheries Ministry has said.

Official statistics made available to this writer indicate that the stocks harvested steadily fell from 1.9 million tones to 1.2 million tones between 1991 and 2001.The figure further dropped to 544,000 tones in 2005.

Regional survey carried out in 2008 also show a further drop to approximately 299,000 tones, raising fears that the poor fishing, use of unlawful fishing gear, is rapidly depleting the lake of its economically important resources.

Kenya’s Minister for Fisheries Development, Dr. Paul Nyongesa Otuoma, readily admitted that the decline has led to reduced exports and less of revenue for the three states sharing Lake Victoria.

Fish processors contend that while they have instituted self regulation measures to address the declining fisheries level, which is the responsibility of the governments, this has not been strictly enforced.

According the Kenyan based fish processors and exporters association CEO, fish factories can barely operate at their optimum capacity leading to the collapse of several factories over the years.

“We cannot even raise the 10tons that most factories require to break even,“ said the CEO. There are eight fish processing factories on the Kenyan side of the lake, four are located in Kisumu City, while Nairobi Homa-Bay and Migori towns have one each.

The latest statistics indicate a sharp decline in the number of the Nile Perch from 1.2 million tones a decade ago, to 299,000 tons last year.

Besides the huge economic effects supporting the estimated USD 250 million annual export market, experts have linked to dwindling fish stocks in the lake to emerging fishing conflicts such as the row over Migingo Island and wars of an escalation of such incidents, id this is not adequately addressed.

Lack of commitment has been blamed for the failure of national initiative by the three governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to reverse the trend.

In the recent past, the focus has been on joint plans that have bit fared well so far. Last year, a plan to eliminate illegal fishing and trade in immature Nile Perch fish species in Lake Victoria by December flopped.

However, an Assistant Director of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute[KMERI] Dr. Richard Abila, explained that though success was made in removing illegal gear, authorities could not keep up with the rate at which they were being re-introduced in the lake.

A joint communique by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization Council of Ministers that set the stage for the planned crackdown against illegal fishers alluded to this, saying, that as soon after the confiscation, the illegal fishing gear were immediately replaced by racketeers.

Drawing from the experience of the botched attempt, the governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are planning a fresh onslaught against the declining Nile Perch stocks.

A major security operation is planned in Lake Victoria later moth {April 2010} to mop up illegal fishing gear. The planned week-long operation is part of the regional initiative dabbed ‘Operation Save the Nile Perch conducted by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization {LVFO].’Te total biomass of fish in the lake was estimated at two million tones in 2007 of which 30 per cent were Nile Perch, which had declined to 15 per cent in 2008, a total of 91,000 tones of fish species valued at USD 319.4 million were exported, but in 2009, this figure had dropped to 81,000tones valued at USD 310 million.

Kenyan Fisheries Minister Dr.Otuoma said sad other effect of this decline include closure of some fish processing plants, while many are operating below their production capacity

Other effects said the Minister include re-emergence of cross border conflict such as the on-going dispute between his country and Uganda over Migingo Island, loss of income by fishermen employees and traders.

These issues, the Minister said highlights un-sustainability of the fish stocks and unacceptable status of the Lake Victoria fisheries.

“Scientists’ evidence has positively identified the root cuase of this steady decline in the un-sustainability of the fish stocks which by nature are predetermined.”

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Kenya and Uganda: Ugandan government has refuted Kenya Foreign Minister Wetangula’s story on Migingo

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Kenya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Moses Wetangula, last week treated his countrymen to one of the worse hoaxes ever witnessed in the recent past.

The Minister on Wednesday last week made an impromptu announcement while speaking in the Western Kenya Town of Kakamega to the effect that the dispute between Kenya and Uganda over the tiny and rocky one acre fishing Migingo Island has been resolved amicably.

The announcement caused the over 2000 Kenyan fishermen, fish traders and kiosk owners there, to go into ecstasy of beer drinking sprees, dances, and all sort of celebrations.

As all the celebration was going for the whole day and night, the more than 30 Uganda marine police men posted to the island to provide security, and an official from the Uganda Revenue Authority, watched in disbelief.

On Friday last week, the first reaction of the Ugandan government left Kenyan fishermen and residents of the island not only puzzled but in a state of shock.

Kampala for the first time reacted to Minister Wetangula’s premature announcement and made it publicly clear that there was no such agreement.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ugandan Foreign Affairs Ministry, James Mugume, asserted that perhaps the Kenyan Minister was misquoted by the local media. He told the government owned NEWVISION that the report attributed to Minister Wetangula is misleading because only last week Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila visited Uganda, and had a lengthy discussion with President Museveni over wide ranging important issues affecting the two neighboring countries.

During the visit the Ugandan authorities agree with Kenya that the survey to determine the boundaries and ownership of Migingo Island must be re-done.

“The two governments had agreed that the survey must be re-done, starting at River Sio to Llemba Islands, and going all the way to the Pyramid islands’, Mugume said. He added that the Ugandans are still waiting for their counterparts in Kenya to agree when the re-survey work would commence.

The PS said the Minister could have been misquoted by the Kenyan media. “There are many islands in Lake Victoria and quite often journalists misquote leaders when they talk of an island other than Migingo,” he said, adding that President Museven himself was once misquoted when he was talking about another island not Migingo.

Mugume’s statement was the first reaction from a senior Ugandan government official ever since Minister Wetangula made the announcement last week.

A dispute flared up in February last year when Kenyan fishermen operating in Migingo Island were kicked out by the Ugandan security personnel. URA kicked them out after refusing to pay annual fees or taxes each for their operations in what was then deemed as Ugandan territorial waters. The Ugandan Revenue authorities were asking for Kshs 50,000 for each boat owners per annum. Close to 400 Kenyan was expelled. The few Kenyan policemen stationed on the Island were disarmed and taken into custody by their Ugandan counterparts for the best part of the day, but were later released and expelled from the island. Ugandan authorities hosted their national flag on the island virtually taking over its administration control.

Kenyan authorities protested and sent several high level ministerial delegations to Kampala in vain attempts to have the matter resolved diplomatically. It was deemed as threatening to the East African integration under the auspice of the East African Community {EAC}.

Ugandan authorities proposed that the matter be resolved by a survey, using the boundaries set by the Kenya Colony and Protectorate in 1927. The two countries agree on a budget of Kshs 140 million to be shared equally for the survey work. It was later agreed that the fishermen from both sides of the disputed boundaries be allowed to continue conducting business until the boundary issue was resolved by the joint team of surveyor from both countries.

It was further agreed that Uganda withdrew 48 marine police officers it had deployed and stationed on the Island. It was further agreed that the Ugandan national flag be pulled down while the exercise of survey work is going on.

Presidents Mwai Kibaki and President Yoweri Museveni agree that the matter be resolved amicably and peacefully.

Wetangula statement came in the wake of a claim made by a British researcher John Donaldson of the UK based Boundaries Research Unit, which made it quite clear that Migingo is in Kenya.

Ugandan security personnel, previously numbering about 22, but who have of late been beefed up to 32. They remained non-committal, saying they were not about to leave unless they received order and instructions from their superiors in Kampala.

The Friday news came after an incident in which two Kenyan fishermen were thrown into the lake by their Ugandan counterparts for unclear reasons raising tensions on the island.

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Kenya closes its borders temporarily with Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia

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SOLDIERS MOVED TO THE BORDERS AS KENYA TEMPORARILY CLOSES ITS FRONTIERS WITH UGANDA, SUDAN AND ETHIOPIA IN AN EFFORT TO MOP UP ILLEGAL GUNS.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

KENYAN Troops were at the weekend moved with their heavy artillery and guns to secure and seal the country’s international borders with Sudan and Ethiopia, ahead of the planned exercise to mop up illegal guns.

The measurers are temporary and aimed at preventing border crossings by the pastoralist communities, known to be crossing for the purpose of hiding their illegally acquired guns with their kins across the common border, each time there is such exercises launched by the government for the purpose of seizing illegal firearms.

The arrival of the officers has caused a lot of panic in the North Rift where cattle rustling has been the order of the day, a menace blamed on the existence of unlicensed firearms.

Hundred of troops were spotted taking positions at Suam forest area on the Kenya-Uganda border, while some trucks were seen in Kitale and Kapenguria towns, dropping off the soldiers.

It was also learnt that the Uganda Peoples Defense {UPDF} were also on high alert on the other side of the common border. The Ugandan soldiers are said to have received firm instruction from their superiors to seize Kenyans fleeing and sneaking into their country with guns.

“The soldiers have been stationed between a radius of 5 and 10 kilometers apart with express instructions to ruthlessly deal with illegal gun handlers.

“Our men are on high alert and have been instructed to disarm or arrest any person with illegal firearms,” an UPDF soldier said on the phone. The soldier, however, sought for his anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press on security matters.

On the Kenyan side of the border, security forces scaled up security at Kabolet, Mt Elgon and Suam forests in North Rift, where rustlers plan and execute raids.

Regular police, Administration Police, and General Service Unit {GSU} personnel have been mobilized from various districts to back up the disarmament exercises expected to take weeks.

During a recent meeting between security agencies from Kenya and Uganda held in Kitale, the countries resolved to conduct joint disarmament to enhance development along the border.

Ugandan delegation, led by Brigadier Patrick Kankiribo, the commander of UPDF 3rd division, had complained of Kenya’s reluctance to retrieve guns from the Pokots and Turkanas pastoralist communities.

NakapirIpIri Resident District Commissioner, RDC Andrew Napaja told the Kitale meeting that over 27,000 guns have been recovered from communities living on Eastern part of Uganda.

At the same time, the Provincial Administration from Western Kenya and Easter Uganda met at another border town of Busia to lay plans and logistics for the operation. Upper Western Regional Commissioner Rashid Mohammed said the cooperation would ensure security and eliminate illegal trade.

“We will tighten our security surveillance to ensure the arms are not smuggled into the two countries unnoticed.”

Busia Uganda DC, Emily Aluku, who led her country’s delegation, said more similar meetings would enhance collaborations in investigations and arresting of suspects. The meeting comes barely weeks after a terror suspect arrested in Busia mysteriously disappeared from police custody.

In another important development, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, and Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Amolo OIdinga, held a crucial meeting at the State House, Entebbe at the weekend.

The meeting between the two gave an impression that the row over the ownership of the controversial Migingo fishing islands would soon end in a happy note once the joint survey by Kenya and Uganda is completed.

During the talks between the two last Friday, they called for a speedy completion of the joint survey work, which has stalled off and on for sometime, since it was launched early last year.

President Museveni said his country had temporarily called off the exercise to consult with his government on certain descriptive details appearing on earlier documkents describing the location of the island.

The Prime Minister arrived in Uganda on Good Friday for a working Easter holiday, and went into a lengthy discussion with the Ugandan leader. The talks focused on cross border security and trade issues, ranging from the controversy over Migingo, to cattle rustling.

The two leaders also agreed to initiate joint sensitization exercises along the border to educate patrol communities on alternative economic activities. Cattle rustling, the leaders said, have impeded development among the community on both sides of the border. They said an agreement for either government to pursue and extradite rustlers, who have fled across the border, would bring the menaces to an end.

President Museveni, according to the government owned NEWVISION, had emphasized that through a joint initiative, Kenya and Uganda could end the cattle rustling menace along their common border, then jointly appeal to Sudan and Ethiopia to do the same.

Museveni said he was keen to see an end to the tribulation of fishermen struggling to earn a living out of the lake. “ I am determined to ensure Kenyans fish legally, even if they are on the Ugandan side of Lake Victoria, and that will be ensured once we finish this survey work.”

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KENYA: THE FUTURE OF LAKE KANYABOLI NATIONAL RESERVE IS AT STAKE AS COUNCILORS LOCK HORNS OVER MANAGEMENT

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By Dickens Wasonga,

The fate of the just gazetted Lake Kanyaboli national reserve in the expansive Yala swamp now hangs in the balance- thanks to a bitter row which has emerged, pitting two groups of councilors at the Siaya county council, over its proposed management.

One camp, led by cllr. Leonard Oriaro, in whose ward the lake exists, has vehemently opposed the conservation efforts being fronted by the council chairman, cllr. Aggrey Onyango, whom they claim was undermining the local leadership, who feel they were never consulted before the project was mooted.

Those opposing the conservation of the lake argue that the plight of the over 200,000 people, who will be displaced by the project, was not being addressed adequately, and want the entire process carried out afresh.

They allege the proponents of the project are rushing it to serve their own vested interests, and in total disregard to the alternative views and opinions of the local communities who live around the lake.

Speaking on behalf of the people of Lake Kanyaboli , the Boro west ward councilor said they were not opposed to efforts to save the lake, but want the council to follow the due process, before it eventually takes over the management of the reserve.

“Can the chairman of Siaya county council show us and the community the minutes of a full or a special council meeting that approved this project? As far as I know, the council has never sat and resolved anything about this project even though it could be a noble one”, he said.

The community, according to the leader, now demand that the whole process be nullified, before they can sign a memorandum of understanding between them and the council, on how the entire project will be managed.

The civic leaders said, as it is , there is no agreement that spells out roles to be played by either of the two parties and how, for example, the revenue generated from the reserve-if fully conserved, will be shared out to benefit both the local authority and the community.

“Whoever came up with such an idea, to have the lake conserved and managed by the county council of Siaya, contravened the ideals to the realization of Vision 2030 in the region. This is because the locals are not in the picture, thereby making the social Pillar aspect not being visible at all”, he said.

But those for the project have dismissed as false assertions by the opposing camp that they were pushing their own agenda through the project.

“These people are only seeking cheap publicity at the expense of a noble project. They must stop playing politics with a project that will create jobs and empower the locals economically”, said the chairman.

According to the chairman, the project will not only give jobs to several youths from the area, but will also earn revenue to the council, part of which will be ploughed back into the community.

Soon after it was gazetted to the status of a national reserve, a section of the community, who included 26 councilors from Siaya county council, were taken on a three day exposure and educational tour, which saw the participants visit Masai Mara national park, and got the opportunity to learn how communities around the Mara have benefited from the reserve.

However, if the bickering, that almost derailed the Mara trip, and current bitter fall out between the civic leadership at the council is anything to go by, then the over sh.500,000 which the Kenya Wildlife Service put onto the tour may be as good as a wasted cash.

Even as they continue fighting, what is at stake is the existence of the lake, whose water levels is understood to be receding very fast due to uncontrolled human activities, which include farming. Various fish species that once provided a lifeline to the area residents have become almost extinct.

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Kenya: Nyatike Constituency on the move as power and water supplies are on the way to the villagers

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RESIDENTS OF NYATIKE CONSTITUENCY MAY SOON ENJOY MASSIVE SUPPLIES OF CLEAN WATER AND ELECTRICITY IN SCHOOLS, INSTITUTIONS AND TRADING CENTERS.

Rural News Feature By Leo Odera Omolo In Muhuru-Bay Town.

NYATIKE constituency, which lies extremely to the south of the greater Southern Nyanza region, and bordering Tanzania on the mainland and on Lake Victoria, is soon going to enjoy massive supplies of clean water for life.

The region, which was for many years considered as the most backward area in Southern Nyanza, has also been earmarked for electricity connection and supplies to all secondary schools, health centers and other important public institutions.

For the residents to enjoy close administration, the government has created two more administrative Divisions, and posted district officers {DOs} to Othoch Rakuom and Got Kocholla.

Othoch Rakuom Division is covering the far southern ends, and ends at the Kenya-Tanzania border. The area include Kaler Location which is the area bordering Tanzania on the mainland .

The Nyatike MP, Edick Omondi Anyanga, hailed the government move as progressive, and aimed at enhancing administration of the area, by bringing the administration close to the people.

Two more administrative location have also been created in East and Central Kadem, as well as two more sub-locations, known as Thim Lich and Kogelo Orago sub-locations.

All these new developments will give the resident the sense of belonging. Their sons and daughter would be employed as administrators and in other fields related to Provincial Administration.

A visit to the area by this writer over the weekend showed water pipes being laid all over the places in anticipation of massive water supplies to the interior part of the constituency.

Works are also in progress for the drilling of boreholes and sinking of shallow boreholes in some other parts of the constituency, where getting fresh and clean water for health has always been a nightmare in the region.

Fishing and fish trade is the economic mainstay of the region. For that reason, the MP, Omondi Anyanga, wanted the government to do everything in its disposal to restore the ownership of the disputed Migingo Island, which he maintains is part and parcel of Kenya. “The Island belongs to the resident of Nyatike”, said the MP.

Between 500 and 600 fishermen operating in the island are residents of Nyatike. For many years, the Migingo Island was administered from Migori district before Nyatike was created as a district. And even during the colonial administration that ended in 1963, these small Fishing islands close to Kenya shorelines of Lake Victoria were under the administration of the old South Nyanza district.

The MP added that nearly 250 fishing boats operating on Migingo Island belong to the residents of Nyatike and so are the fishermen. “And my people are being forced to pay heavy levy penalties to the coffers of a foreign power with the full knowledge of our government. The Ugandan government has now threatened to evict all those Kenyan fishermen and traders, who are unable to pay the Kshs 500 levy per day”.

“It is time the Kenya government look for a quick solution to the Migingo saga. It appears as if diplomatic contacts and negotiations have failed, therefore the government must consider other options to have the issue resolved once and for all”, said the MP.

The MP was adamant that the Kenya government owes Nyatike people an explanation a s to why it has allowed foreign occupation forces on Migingo Isand, which is part and parcel of Kenya. “These forces should be driven out as they have become the source of harassment and embarrassment to the Kenyan people. Kenya citizens are being forced to pay excessive levy to forces of occupation in their own country. This is a big challenge to our government, which must act decisively, otherwise all the islands in Lake Victoria would be seized by our neighbors”, said MP Omondi Anyanga.

In communication and other infrastructures, Nyatike constituency is on the move. The MP wants the government to get rid of criminal elements in the area, who are hindering trades and business expansion by traders and businessmen. Nyatike, being close to the border of both Tanzania and Uganda, is potentially an important trade route to the entire East Africa region.

Disbursement of government revolving funds, namely CDF, School Bursary Funds, Road Maintenance Funds and HIV/Aids funds are visibly well distributed, covering many projects located in sub-locations and locations.

Nyatike, which is a multi-ethnic rural constituency, housing people from various Luo sub-clans and other communities, is potential for cotton production, and the MP is working round the clock to ensure that he sources more tractors, which could be hired at lowest cost to the local farmers, for the cultivation of the land for cotton growing.

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East African Community: New fisheries research boats for Kenya and Uganda to boost Lake Victoria studies

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TWO NEW BOATS TO BE DEPLOYED IN LAKE VICTORIA BY KENYA,UGANDA AND TANZANIA TO
BOOST FISHERIES STUDIES

Fisheries News By Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City.

RESEARCH program project being carried out by the three members of the East African Communities, namely Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda has received three new boats valued at USD 2 million.

The three ultra-modern vessels fitted with sophisticated research gadgets will aid scientific fisheries studies in the lake.
Under the European Union-funded Fisheries Management Plan, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and Uganda’s National Fisheries Research Institute will each receive a new research boat fitted with an in-built laboratory, with the ability to determine fish populations, as well as the quality of waters in the Lake. The two vessels will cost USD 1.9 million.

Tanzania Fisheries Research institute will have a research vessel that it already owns refurbished and fitted with the latest equipment to improve its research capabilities. This includes fitting it with a new engine at a cost of USD 102,682.

The fisheries plan has been implemented through the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization, over the past seven years.

The project manager, Samson Abura, said the new vessels are expected to cut down on the cost and time on studies.

The three vessels also play a major role in the management of Lake Victoria as they have modern equipment for assessing fish stocks. The lake is currently grappling with dwindling fish stocks, precipitated by intense fishing pressure, as well as infiltration of illegal and destructive fishing practices, such as the increased use of unauthorized fishing nets.

The Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute assistant director in charge of inland waters, Dr. Richard Abila, said that the new vessel is fitted with echo-sounders that will aid hydro-acoustic surveys that determine the quantity and distribution of fish in the lake. The surveys are conducted quarterly.

Dr. Abila explained that the equipment functions using sound waves that are sent into the water and a signal recorded when fish is detected. Scientists conduct three surveys in a year to give a representation of the fish population trends.
The research boats also have advanced facilities for analyising water quality.

Now researchers going on expeditions in the lake no longer have to carry equipment with them, nor do they have to carry samples back to laboratories as they can analyze them on board.

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