Lake Victoria fishermen among
Dec 13, 2006
DESPITE the fish boom in the export trade, 90 per cent of fishing communities within the Lake Victoria basin are among the poorest in the world, with an average per capita income of less than a dollar a day.
By Vision Reporter
DESPITE the fish boom in the export trade, 90 per cent of fishing communities within the Lake Victoria basin are among the poorest in the world, with an average per capita income of less than a dollar a day.
“From the equity perspective, these communities are not getting a fair share of national resources,†said Seremos Kamuturaki, the executive director of Uganda Fisheries and Fish Conservation Association (UFFCA).
The low-income level is reflected by high infant and child mortality rates, as well as the declining life expectancy of 45 years.
There are also serious problems of food insecurity, inaccessibility to safe water, non-availability of healthcare facilities and services, and very low levels of education.
The Lake Victoria basin has a population of over 30 million with a gross economic product of $5b. It boasts of an estimated catch of 0.5 million tonnes of fish, annually valued at $600m locally and exports were estimated at $300m in 2005. Fish export earnings from each of the three countries around the lake, average about $100m annually.
“When it comes to management of the fisheries resources in the lake basin, there is still an evident gap between policy and implementation.†Kamuturaki said.
There is still lack of capacity building at government level, lack of skilled officials to implement plans and lack of understanding of the circumstances of the fishermen and their needs.
There are increasing conflicts about inter-district and cross-border resource exploitation robbery and theft of fishing equipment and property on the lakes. These have had a direct bearing on the socio-economic status of the fishing community.
UFFCA was thus formed in 1993 and registered in 1994 as an NGO to address the issues of poverty, gender and high levels of corruption that were leading to depletion of fisheries resources, endangering the future of the industry.
“Since then, we have provided the people with managerial skills and micro-finance through workshops. We have enlightened them about national fisheries sector policies and capacity building,†says Kamuturaki.
“Once policies are bad, we ask the Government to change them.â€
The Beach Management Units’ policy of empowering fishermen to manage resources started in 1993 and it was later legalised by the Government.
This has been UFFCA’s biggest achievement.
Kamuturaki added that Uganda was the first country to legalise beach management units, followed by Kenya and Tanzania.
Lake Victoria is the second largest fresh water lake in the world and is shared between Tanzania (51%), Uganda (43%) and Kenya (6%). It is a paramount socio-economic significance to the people of East Africa.
UFFCA addresses the needs of the lake basin communities. It addresses the issue of poor health and sanitation facilities, lack of clean water supply and poor road communication networks to the fish landing sites.
DESPITE the fish boom in the export trade, 90 per cent of fishing communities within the Lake Victoria basin are among the poorest in the world, with an average per capita income of less than a dollar a day.
“From the equity perspective, these communities are not getting a fair share of national resources,†said Seremos Kamuturaki, the executive director of Uganda Fisheries and Fish Conservation Association (UFFCA).
The low-income level is reflected by high infant and child mortality rates, as well as the declining life expectancy of 45 years.
There are also serious problems of food insecurity, inaccessibility to safe water, non-availability of healthcare facilities and services, and very low levels of education.
The Lake Victoria basin has a population of over 30 million with a gross economic product of $5b. It boasts of an estimated catch of 0.5 million tonnes of fish, annually valued at $600m locally and exports were estimated at $300m in 2005. Fish export earnings from each of the three countries around the lake, average about $100m annually.
“When it comes to management of the fisheries resources in the lake basin, there is still an evident gap between policy and implementation.†Kamuturaki said.
There is still lack of capacity building at government level, lack of skilled officials to implement plans and lack of understanding of the circumstances of the fishermen and their needs.
There are increasing conflicts about inter-district and cross-border resource exploitation robbery and theft of fishing equipment and property on the lakes. These have had a direct bearing on the socio-economic status of the fishing community.
UFFCA was thus formed in 1993 and registered in 1994 as an NGO to address the issues of poverty, gender and high levels of corruption that were leading to depletion of fisheries resources, endangering the future of the industry.
“Since then, we have provided the people with managerial skills and micro-finance through workshops. We have enlightened them about national fisheries sector policies and capacity building,†says Kamuturaki.
“Once policies are bad, we ask the Government to change them.â€
The Beach Management Units’ policy of empowering fishermen to manage resources started in 1993 and it was later legalised by the Government.
This has been UFFCA’s biggest achievement.
Kamuturaki added that Uganda was the first country to legalise beach management units, followed by Kenya and Tanzania.
Lake Victoria is the second largest fresh water lake in the world and is shared between Tanzania (51%), Uganda (43%) and Kenya (6%). It is a paramount socio-economic significance to the people of East Africa.
UFFCA addresses the needs of the lake basin communities. It addresses the issue of poor health and sanitation facilities, lack of clean water supply and poor road communication networks to the fish landing sites.