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.

Ends