LVFO Regional Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing ... · for the Management of Fishing...

LVFORPOA-Capacity

LAKE VICTORIA FISHERIES ORGANIZATION

LVFO Regional Plan of Actionfor the Management of Fishing Capacity in Lake Victoria

LVFORPOA-Capacity

Lake Victoria Fisheries OrganizationJinja, 2007

LVFO Regional Plan of Actionfor the Management of Fishing Capacity in Lake Victoria

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LVFO Regional Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity in Lake Victoria

Copyright @ Lake Victoria Fisheries OrganizationThe designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

The Parties to the Regional Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity (RPOA-Capacity) in Lake Victoria are the Governments of the Republic of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republic of Uganda which are the Contracting Parties of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization and the Partner States of the East African Community (EAC), hereinafter referred to as the Partner States.

The RPOA-Capacity was adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization on 30 March 2007 at Nairobi, Kenya.

This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without the prior permission in writing from the Executive Secretary, Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization.

For bibliographic purposes this document should be cited as:LVFO. 2007. Regional Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity in Lake Victoria (RPOA-Capacity); LVFO, Jinja.

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Contents

Foreword viPreamble viiiI. Definitions 1II. Background 2III. Nature and Scope of the RPOA-Capacity 3IV. Vision, Mission and Strategy of RPOA–Capacity 3V. Principles and Process 4VI. Current Efforts to Manage Fishing Capacity 5VII. Purpose and Overall Objective 6VIII. Strategic Interventions 8IX. Specific Actions 9X. Implementation and Monitoring of the RPOA-Capacity 17Annex 1 Regional Plan of Action for Management of Fishing Capacity 19

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Foreword

Fishing is a major income generating activity for the riparian communities of Lake Victoria. The fisheries of Lake Victoria has a beach value of over $600 million and contributes $300 million in annual fish export revenues to the economies of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda who share the lake. Nile perch is the major source of fish export to international markets, omena/dagaa/mukene and tilapia are the basis of regional trade and domestic markets.

After the upsurge of the Nile perch fishery in the 1980/90s, there has been a drastic decline in its contribution to the total fish catches from Lake Victoria. In 1999/2001, Nile perch provided about 59% of the lake’s catch, which dropped to 37% in 2005/06. Now there is great concern about the continuing increase in fishing effort and capacity targeting the major commercial fish species of Lake Victoria and, especially, the Nile perch. If not controlled this may lead to overcapacity and overfishing.

Despite the increase in wealth from the fisheries, there is a decline in incomes due to the increase in the fisheries dependent population in the lake basin. Individual incomes continue to decline as more people come to the lake to fish for Nile perch and other fish species. Fisheries census (Frame Surveys) conducted between 2000 and 2006 show major increases in the number of fishers, boats, engines, fishing nets and hooks. The use of illegal gears and methods has also increased fishing effort and the catching of immature fish. The fishing pressure on the lake calls for better management of the number of people catching Nile perch and the fishing practices and methods.

The Partner States acknowledged the need to control fishing effort, after recognizing the dangers of increasing fishing effort and capacity on the valuable fisheries resources and the impact on the livelihoods of the fisher communities of Lake Victoria.

In order to address the problem, a Regional Plan of Action for Management of Fishing Capacity (RPOA-Capacity) on Lake Victoria was developed by the Partner States through the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The process was spearheaded by a Regional Taskforce formed by the Partner States, which prepared a draft RPOA-Capacity document.

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The draft was reviewed through stakeholder consultations and a final RPOA-Capacity was produced and approved in March 2007 by the LVFO Council of Ministers for implementation by the Partner States.

The purpose of the RPOA-Capacity is to sustain the fisheries resource base for optimal economic growth, poverty reduction, food security, foreign exchange earnings, employment, gender equity and improved standards of living among fisheries dependent communities

Implementation of the RPOA-Capacity calls for commitment of all key stakeholders - especially, the BMUs; Local Authorities; fish traders, Industrial processors and exporters, fish factory supply agents; Civil Society and Central Government. All the stakeholders must work together to achieve optimum fishing capacity corresponding to the sustainable fisheries resources.

I call upon all stakeholders to support the efforts being made to manage fishing capacity on Lake Victoria by promoting wise use of the fisheries resources for sustainable individual and national incomes for the benefit of the riparian communities and Partner States sharing Lake Victoria.

Thomas Wanyika MaembeExecutive Secretary, LVFO

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Preamble

The Parties to this Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) on the Management of Fishing Capacity on Lake Victoria are: the Governments of the Republic of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Uganda which are the Contracting Parties of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) and the Partner States of the East African Community (EAC), hereinafter referred to as the Partner States;

Appreciating the efforts made by the Partner States to strengthen regional cooperation by signing the Convention for the establishment of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization on 30th June 1994 in Kisumu, Kenya to jointly manage the living resources of Lake Victoria;

Recognizing the efforts already made by the Partner States of Lake Victoria to strengthen regional cooperation in the spirit of the East African Community (EAC) Treaty signed in Arusha on the 30th November 1999;

Appreciating that Lake Victoria is a shared heritage and the EAC Treaty obliges the Partner States to cooperate in the management of natural resources which include the Lake Victoria fisheries in a sustainable manner for the benefit of present and future generations;

Noting that the Partner States have, through the EAC, designated the Lake Victoria basin as an economic growth zone, and formed a Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC);

Being Aware that LVFO is obliged to collaborate with LVBC and other institutions of the EAC in the management of the Lake Victoria basin;

Acknowledging that the Protocol for Sustainable Development of the Lake Victoria Basin states that the development and management of the fisheries resources shall be as stipulated in the Convention for the establishment of the LVFO;

Recalling that the Partner States are committed to implementing the relevant provisions of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) and the associated Technical Guidelines;

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Recognizing that the LVFO has developed, adopted and is implementing a Strategic Vision, a Fisheries Management Plan and the Regional Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing for Lake Victoria;

Acknowledging that Lake Victoria has important fisheries which are vital to the economies of the Partner States and activities undertaken in any part of Lake Victoria have impacts on the lake;

Noting that the fisheries Frame Survey results of 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 show that fishing effort measured by the number of fishing gears, fishing crafts and fishermen on the lake have increased considerably;

Being Aware that lack of capacity management can lead to increasing fishing effort and result in overfishing and depletion of commercial fish species, decline of biodiversity, reduced returns on investment and a decline in the quality of life of fishers;

Convinced that management of fishing capacity contributes to sustainable fish stocks and increased social and economic benefits;

Accepting that the Catch Assessment Surveys indicate declines in Nile perch size and catches, increases in Rastrineobola and Haplochromines catches and relative stability of Nile Tilapia catches;

Noting the need to determine the desired levels of capacity for individuals of capacity for individual of capacity for individual commercial fish species of Lake Victoria because the lake has finite fisheries resources;

Recognizing the value of accurate data and information to guide fisheries management and the need to take a precautionary approach in management in accordance with the CCRF based on best available information;

Being Aware that the Contracting Parties of the LVFO Convention, have agreed to develop, coordinate and implement a harmonized and effective RPOA-Capacity;

Reaffirming that this RPOA-Capacity supports the IPOA–Fishing Capacity; and

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Desiring to conclude the development of the RPOA-Capacity, and implementing it within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Now, therefore, the Partner States and Contracting Parties agree as follows:

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I. DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this RPOA–Capacity the terms below are defined as:

1. “Beach Management Units (BMUs)” means, an Organization of fisherfolk at the beach (boat crew, boat owners, managers, charterers, fish processors, fish mongers, local gear makers or repairers and fishing equipment dealers) within a fishing community;

2. “Capacity utilization” means the degree to which a fishing unit is utilized under normal working conditions within a specified period of time;

3. “Catch per unit effort” means average catch by a fishing unit over a specified period of time;

4. “Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries” (CCRF) means the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries as adopted by the 28th Session of the FAO Conference on 31 October 1995;

5. ”Contracting Parties” means the Governments of the Republic of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Uganda;

6. “Convention” means the instrument for the establishment of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation signed by the Governments of the Republic of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Uganda on 30th June 1994 in Kisumu, Kenya to manage the living resources of Lake Victoria;

7. “Excess capacity” means existence of unutilised, redundant fishing capacity;

8. “Fishing capacity” means the sum total of fishing effort applied by all fishing units on a fishery within a period of time if fully utilised;

9. ”Fishing effort” means a measure of application and efficiency of a fishing unit to catch fish;

10. “Fish Stock” means the abundance, distribution and composition of a fish species throughout its range in the lake.

11. “Fishing unit” means a defined single combination of the craft, crew, gear and means of propulsion;

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12. “IPOA-Capacity” means the FAO International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity;

13. “LVFO” means the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization;14. “RPOA–Capacity” means the LVFO Regional Plan of Action for

the Management of Fishing Capacity on Lake Victoria ;15. “RPOA-IUU” means the Regional Plan of Action to Prevent,

Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing;

16. “Overcapacity” means a situation whereby the current fishing effort is higher than required to ensure a target level of capacity commensurate with sustainable exploitation;

17. “Partner States” means the Republic of Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Uganda;

18. “Slot size” means lower and upper total length of a fish species allowed for capture, processing and marketing;

19. “Stakeholders” means all individuals, BMUs, fish processing establishments, public and private institutions, organisations, agencies, civil society organisations and all others interested in, benefiting from or impacting on the fisheries of Lake Victoria;

20. “Target level of fishing effort” means the optimum level of fishing effort that optimises economic returns from a fishery without compromising resource sustainability.

II. BACKGROUND

21. In the context of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) and its overall objective of sustainable fisheries, the issue of increasing fishing effort and overcapacity is of increasing concern. Overcapacity, if not managed in a timely manner, could contribute to overfishing, depletion of fish stocks and decline of socio-economic benefits.

22. The CCRF requires that States should take measures to prevent or eliminate overcapacity and to ensure that levels of fishing effort are commensurate with sustainable use of fisheries resources.

23. In 1999 the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) adopted the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity (IPOA-Capacity), which is elaborated within the framework of the CCRF.

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24. The IPOA-Capacity requires States and regional fisheries organizations to achieve equitable and transparent management of capacity not later than 2005. In pursuant to this the Partner States agreed to prepare a RPOA-Capacity for Lake Victoria.

25. The FAO and LVFO held a Regional Technical Workshop on Fishing Effort and Capacity on Lake Victoria in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania in December 2005. A Regional Taskforce (RTF) was formed to prepare the draft RPOA-Capacity. The RTF held its first meeting in Kisumu, Kenya from 11th to 12th April 2006, and subsequently in Bukoba, Tanzania on 1st and 2nd June 2006. The draft RPOA-Capacity was presented to the LVFO Council of Ministers who directed it be presented to the national and regional stakeholders’ consultative workshops, and the RTF incorporated comments from these workshops and prepared a final draft for submission to the LVFO Statutory Organs.

III. NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE RPOA-CAPACITY

26. This RPOA-Capacity is a further commitment of the Partner States to implement the CCRF and the IPOA-Capacity. Partner States shall apply this document consistently with measures adopted by the LVFO Council of Ministers.

27. This RPOA-Capacity constitutes an element of fisheries conservation and sustainable management. The provisions of Article 3 of the CCRF apply to the interpretation and application of this RPOA-Capacity and its relationship with other international, regional and national instruments.

IV. VISION, MISSION AND STRATEGY OF RPOA–CAPACITY

28. The Vision for the RPOA–Capacity is sustainably exploited fisheries accruing optimal socio-economic benefits.

29. The Mission is to manage fishing capacity so as to prevent, deter and eliminate overfishing on Lake Victoria.

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30. The Strategy for effecting the Vision and Mission is to set guidelines to determine and manage capacity at optimal levels for individual commercial species taking into consideration the endangered species.

V. PRINCIPLES AND PROCESS 31. The management of fishing capacity will be based on the

principles of participation, phased implementation, holistic approach, conservation, priority, new technologies, mobility, and transparency in accordance with the CCRF.

32. Participation: The RPOA-Capacity shall be implemented by Partner States directly, through the LVFO Institutions at grassroots (especially BMUs), local governments, national, and regional levels, and in collaboration with other stakeholders. The successful implementation of the RPOA-Capacity relies on consultation, cooperation and co-management as well as on close and effective coordination.

33. Phased Implementation: The management of fishing capacity on the basis of national and regional plans shall be achieved through assessment and diagnosis of the resource base, development and adoption of management measures and periodic monitoring and adjustment of adopted measures.

34. Holistic Approach: The management of fishing capacity should consider factors affecting capacity and fisheries at national and regional levels as well as the health of the lake’s catchment and its ecosystem.

35. Conservation: The management of fishing capacity will be designed to promote conservation and sustainable use of fisheries resources, protection of the biodiversity, critical habitats, and the environment of Lake Victoria consistent with the precautionary approach and other international, regional and national obligations. Capacity management policies and measures will be designed and implemented both to encourage the minimization of by-catch, waste, catching of immature fish and reduction of post-harvest losses and to encourage selective and environmentally sound fishing practices.

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36. Priority: Initially, priority shall be given to management of fishing capacity of the commercial species, especially, Lates niloticus (Nile perch), Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia), Rastrineobola argentea (Dagaa/Omena/Mukene) and the emerging fisheries such as Haplochromines.

37. New Technologies: The management of fishing capacity shall be designed so as to take into account the incorporation of environmentally sound and emerging technologies in all areas of capture fisheries and aquaculture. New fishing technologies shall be verified by research and approved by the LVFO before licensing by the relevant Authorities.

38. Mobility: The management of fishing capacity shall encourage efficient use of fishing capacity in areas where overcapacity does not exist. Where overcapacity exists encourage redistribution of fishing capacity within national boundaries. Discourage unauthorized movement of fishers and their gears to different fishing grounds and encourage diversification of sources of livelihoods in the basin to reduce pressure on the fisheries.

39. Transparency: The RPOA-Capacity shall be implemented in a transparent, accountable, and trustworthy manner.

40. All of the above principles and processes are intended to ensure good governance, equity, poverty focus, gender sensitivity, peaceful settlement of disputes, and good neighborliness at all levels.

VI. CURRENT EFFORTS TO MANAGE FISHING CAPACITY

41. The Partner States through LVFO are currently implementing the following measures which contribute to management of fishing capacity:

a. Implementing decisions adopted by the LVFO Council of Ministers, e.g. controlling access to the fishery through registration and licensing of fishing crafts and fishers; controlling the size of Nile perch harvested to a slot size of 50 – 85cm and Nile Tilapia to fish of not less than 25cm and

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setting a minimum mesh size of gill net at 127 mm (5”); b. Implementing the RPOA-IUU through Monitoring, Control,

Surveillance and other measures; c. Promoting co-management of the fisheries through formation

of Beach Management Units (BMUs) and involvement of other stakeholders;

d. Assessing and monitoring the fish stocks through acoustic, trawl, gillnet and other surveys;

e. Assessing the nature and magnitude of fishing effort through frame surveys;

f. Monitoring commercial fisheries through catch assessment surveys;

g. Considering suitable mesh sizes and fishing grounds for Dagaa;

h. Prohibiting the use of destructive fishing gears and methods including monofilament gill nets, beach seines, trawl nets, cast nets, beating/splashing water, and use of poisons;

i. Implementation of a closed season for Dagaa in the Kenyan part of Lake Victoria; and

j. Setting up closed areas and seasons to protect breeding and nursery grounds, pathways for migratory fishes, and biodiversity.

42. Despite the above management measures, the numbers of fishers, fishing crafts and fishing gears have increased and optimal numbers of fishers, fishing crafts and fishing gears need to be determined, agreed and managed.

VII. PURPOSE AND OVERALL OBJECTIVE

43. The Purpose of RPOA-Capacity is to sustain the fisheries resource base for optimal economic growth, poverty reduction, food security, foreign exchange earnings, employment, and gender equity and improved standards of living among fisheries dependant communities.

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44. The Overall Objective of RPOA-Capacity is to have an efficient, equitable and transparent system for management of fishing capacity on Lake Victoria for long-term sustainability of the fisheries resources.

45. The Specific Objectives of RPOA-Capacity are to:

a. Ensure that there is a clear policy and legal framework for management of fishing capacity

b. Ensure there are institutions and institutional mechanisms at national and regional level for management of fishing capacity

c. Collaborate and link with relevant international and regional bodies

d. Ensure political commitment to RPOA-Capacity implementation

e. Promote stakeholder participation in capacity management in a co-management arrangement

f. Ensure sustainable financing of implementation of RPOA-Capacity

g. Have information on the status of the fisheries resources and fishing capacity

h. Make information available to different stakeholdersi. Manage and maintain optimum capacity at a level that does

not compromise sustainability of the fisheries resource basej. Develop and implement species-specific strategies for

management of capacityk. Improve the socio-economic welfare of the fisheries dependent

communities through management of fishing capacity l. Explore economic incentives and develop alternative

livelihoods options to reduce overcapacitym. Improve human resource capacity for effective capacity

managementn. Improve infrastructure facilities for fishing capacity

managemento. Encourage mechanisms that address environmental issues

impacting fisheries

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VIII. STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS

46. The Partner States shall implement the following interventions to meet the above objectives:

a. Develop a regional harmonized policy and legal framework on fishing capacity management that ensures equitable access and distribution of benefits that accrue from the fisheries;

b. Identify institutions and define clear institutional structures and processes for management of capacity at regional, national, local government and village levels

c. Fulfill international obligations especially in relation to CCRF and IPOA–Capacity

d. Sensitize the political leadership especially Members of Parliament (MPs) and Local Government Councilors on RPOA-Capacity

e. Strengthen co-management institutions at all levels f. Develop and implement mechanisms for sustainable financing

of fisheries activities g. Review, assess and monitor the fish stocks and fishing

capacity h. Collate, design, store, manage, repackage, disseminate and

utilize information and databases i. Determine, set and manage optimal species–specific capacity

levels j. Take immediate actions for specific fisheries requiring urgent

remedial measures based on the assessments of the resource k. Identify and promote mechanisms that address socio-

economic welfare of the fisherfolkl. Review economic and social incentives and livelihood

strategies in fisheries sector;m. Develop sensitization, education and training programmes;n. Establish infrastructure facilities for fishing capacity

managemento. Identify environmental issues affecting fisheries and work

with lead agencies and institutions to address them.

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IX. SPECIFIC ACTIONS

��. Policy and Legal Framework

The Partner States through LVFO shall:

a. Review existing national policy and legal frameworks, develop and present a regional harmonized fisheries policy and legal framework on the management of capacity to the respective National Parliaments for ratification;

b. Develop, implement, monitor, publicize and periodically review regional, national and district plans of action for managing fishing capacity;

c. Examine and streamline policy and legislation relating to licensing in relation to target species, type of fishing gear, type and size of fishing craft and any other component relating to capacity;

d. Develop and implement a mechanism to ensure equitable distribution of benefits accruing from fisheries;

e. Encourage member states to minimize changing fisheries policies outside agreed RPOA-Capacity requirements;

f. Promote affirmative action to mainstream gender issues; andg. Ensure that there is equitable supply of fish products for exports

and local consumption.

��. Institutions and Institutional Processes


a. Identify key players and determine their roles in the management of fishing capacity; and

b. Develop and strengthen linkages within and between LVFO Institutions, relevant Ministries, Local Governments, Private Sector, Civil Society and Development Partners to address fishing capacity and related externalities.

��. Regional and International Collaboration


a. Participate in international agreements which relate to the

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management of fishing capacity; b. Promote technical cooperation to implement the RPOA-

Capacity;c. Improve co-operation in collection and exchange of information

regarding fishing capacity management among regional and international fisheries organizations; and

d. Regularly review information on implementation of RPOA–Capacity and inform EAC, FAO, the relevant Regional Institutions and the Development Partners of Lake Victoria.

�0. Political Issues

The governments and Legislative Assemblies of Partner States through LVFO shall:

a. Create channels for sensitizing the Members of Parliament (MPs) and Councilors on their roles for effective participation in the management of the Lake; and

b. Promote political commitment, goodwill and positive intervention at all levels for successful implementation of RPOA-Capacity.

��. Stakeholder Participation


a. Clearly define roles of all stakeholders in the management of fishing capacity;

b. Establish and build capacity of co-management institutions at different levels of governance including the participation of civil society and the private sector;

c. Support the effective participation of BMUs in determination and management of fishing capacity; and

d. Review the BMU Guidelines from time to time to strengthen their abilities in managing fishing effort.

��. Financing Capacity Management

Partner States through LVFO shall:

a. Seek sustainable financing mechanisms to support fisheries

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management, research and related environmental concerns; b. Establish Fish Levy Trust Funds (e.g. cost recovery from

processors, fish dealers and fishers in form of user fee, levies, royalties etc.);

c. Encourage Donors to channel their interventions for BMUs through LVFO institutions to achieve intended objectives;

d. Lobby for better fisheries sector budgets for implementing the RPOA-Capacity;

e. Urge Members of Parliament to consider using Constituency Development Funds for infrastructural development in fishing communities; and

f. Call upon Local Authorities to set up plough back arrangements for infrastructure development e.g. constructing fish landing sites and fish markets.

��. Information on Fisheries Resources


a. Review and analyze existing information and data on fish stocks, and fishing effort and suggest relevant recommendations for management of capacity;

b. Update the inventory of existing fish species in Lake Victoria;c. Ensure that Institutions doing research undertake demand driven

research relevant to the RPOA and work with BMUs and other relevant stakeholders;

d. Categorize fishing units and quantify their components; e. Carry out research on seasonal resource mobility (stock

migration) and breeding patterns in order to guide establishment of closed seasons and areas;

f. Determine the stocks of commercially important fish species, their composition, relative abundance and population structure and distribution by Limnological strata (or any other appropriate strata, e.g. district);

g. Determine fishable stocks and corresponding fishing effort especially the number, size and type of fishing gears, the number, type and size of fishing crafts, and the mode of craft propulsion;

h. Generate information and monitor the dynamics of commercial

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fisheries and the indicators of capacity;i. Set up and support mechanisms for collecting, processing, storing,

retrieving, packaging and disseminating information relevant to the RPOA-Capacity, by different stakeholders, especially BMUs;

j. Explore the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in data and information communication to speed up development among communities; and

k. Monitor the socio-economic impacts of capacity-related interventions.

��. Information Exchange and Dissemination


a. Assess information needs of stakeholders for fishing capacity management;

b. Repackage and disseminate information on capacity to fishers and other stakeholders;

c. Disseminate information on viable alternative livelihoods to fishers;

d. Develop, maintain and manage appropriate and compatible national and regional databases on fishing capacity;

e. Exchange information on fishing crafts that do not comply with conservation and management measures adopted by LVFO;

f. Translate the RPOA and CCRF into local languages (Kiswahili, Dholuo, Luganda);

g. Ensure research findings related to RPOA-capacity are verified, cleared, approved and adopted by LVFO Statutory organs; and

h. Ensure awareness creation for the stakeholders and the general public on policy, legal, conservation, resource sustainability and economic gains and environmental concerns.

��. Management of Fishing Capacity


a. Ensure that RPOA-IUU is implemented and monitored;b. Examine and use all relevant fisheries management tools in the

implementation of the RPOA-Capacity;

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c. Ensure that implementation of the RPOA- Capacity includes limitation of fishing access;

d. Gazette fish landing sites and register fishers, fishing crafts and gear;

e. Develop measures to manage capacity using a participatory approach;

f. Assess and manage the fisheries using the Fisheries Management Decision Support Tool;

g. Where overcapacity exists, the Partner States initially limit capacity at present levels and then set out and implement plans for the progressive reduction of capacity;

h. Where under capacity exists, promote measures to optimize utilization;

i. Consolidate efforts in the implementation of the LVFO regional strategy on cross-border fishing;

j. Manage transfer of capacity between countries and within national jurisdictions across water bodies;

k. Strive to minimize cross border conflicts through demarcation of boundaries on water;

l. Put in place a mechanism for regulating manufacture, importation and marketing of fishing nets allowable for Lake Victoria;

m. Negotiate and agree on the distribution of fishing capacity at different levels of governance (from grassroots to regional level);

n. Take collective measures to ensure that Partners States and Local Authorities/Districts fulfill their responsibilities under the RPOA-Capacity;

o. Employ appropriate conflict resolution mechanisms;p. Put in place mechanisms at all levels to fight corruption and

conflicts of interest in the process of implementing the RPOA-Capacity;

q. Promote the capture, documentation and use of indigenous knowledge in management of fishing effort and capacity;

r. Ensure adequate participation of all stakeholders in Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS);

s. Ensure that capacity management includes incentive systems for promoting reduction of IUU fishing;

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t. Strengthen MCS and encourage joint patrols with Security Agencies and Communities; and

u. Ensure that the fisheries legislations in the Partner States are amended to make trials speedy and conviction easier and have deterrent penalties.

��. Species-specific capacity management measures


a. Implement and enforce the decisions made by the Council of Ministers;

b. Initially limit fishing effort on Nile perch at the Frame Survey 2006 levels as a precautionary measure;

c. Agree on and implement mesh size and fishing grounds for Rastrineobola argentea (Dagaa/Omena/Mukene); and

d. Apply the precautionary approach, using the best available information for Nile tilapia.

��. Socio-economic Concerns


a. Streamline marketing channels that reduce exploitation of fishers;

b. Enforce child labour laws in fisheries;c. Promote credit facilities and mobile banks and encourage fishers

to have a saving culture;d. Encourage institutional collaboration and linkages to address

socio-economic issues including the existing provisions under the EAC Treaty;

e. Mainstream control of HIV/AIDS and other diseases such as malaria, TB and Bilharzia;

f. Encourage and support the actions of Inter-state Security Committee and national law enforcement agencies to address the issue of piracy and security of fishers on the lake; and

g. Promote mechanisms that address poverty alleviation among fishing communities.

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��. Incentives in the Fishing Sector


a. Assess the factors which contribute to overcapacity including subsidies and incentives as a first step to progressively reducing and eliminating all factors, including subsidies and economic incentives which contribute, directly or indirectly, to overcapacity, taking into consideration special requirements of small-scale marginalized fishers;

b. Assess, develop and promote alternative livelihood options, including aquaculture, and build the capacity of fisherfolk to adopt new options to reduce pressure on lake fisheries; and

c. Promote fish processing for value added fish products to maximize profits.

��. Human Resources Development


a. Build human resources capacity in fisheries management, research institutions and other stakeholders to determine, monitor and manage capacity;

b. Ensure sufficient personnel to address technical fisheries issues; and

c. Conduct awareness raising, sensitization and training programmes on capacity management.

�0. Infrastructure Development


a. Develop infrastructure for collecting, analyzing and disseminating information;

b. Procure relevant office and field equipment for capacity management;

c. Encourage infrastructure development in fishing communities (e.g. rural electrification, solar, wind power, cold storage) as part of encouraging diversification of livelihoods;

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d. Promote establishment of educational, health and sanitary facilities at beaches.

��. Environmental and Ecosystem Issues


a. Recognize the impacts of external environmental issues on fisheries, e.g. water abstraction, Water hyacinth and other invasive weeds, increasing population in the catchment, and encourage appropriate authorities to address them

b. Promote the conservation of the Lake Victoria ecosystem c. Promote culture of bait fish to reduce the catch of wild immature

fish; d. Identify, demarcate and conserve wetlands, buffer zones and

breeding grounds;e. Promote linkages and cross-references between fisheries and

environmental laws;f. Encourage relevant Authorities to mitigate the impact of boat

building industry and fish smoking on the forests including enhancement of afforestation programmes

g. Encourage relevant authorities to address the poor land use practices in the in the Lake Victoria basin;

h. Encourage urban authorities and lake side settlements to address and enforce uncontrolled domestic, municipal and industrial wastes;

i. Discourage use and disposal of plastic materials around the lake in fishing;

j. Understand and manage the impacts of declining water levels on fisheries and the ecosystem of the lake;

k. Encourage relevant authorities to undertake seismological studies to understand whether there is loss of water through underground seepage; and

l. Consider the inclusion of other Lake Victoria basin states (Rwanda and Burundi) in the management of RPOA-Capacity.

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X. IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING OF THE RPOA-CAPACITY

62. The RPOA–Capacity shall be implemented according to the LVFO institutional structure and mechanisms, ranging from the grassroots, local government, national and regional levels within the co-management framework

63. The Fisheries Authorities will be the lead institutions in policy, legislation and other fisheries management related issues.

64. The Fisheries Research Institutions will take the lead in the collection and provision of information for management of fishing capacity.

65. Stakeholders in the Lake Victoria fisheries will be involved in the implementation of the RPOA-Capacity.

66. Civil Society Organizations in the Lake Victoria basin will be involved in the monitoring of the implementation of the RPOA-Capacity

67. The LVFO Secretariat shall coordinate the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the RPOA-Capacity.

68. The Partner States through the LVFO shall ensure that the above activities are included in the Fisheries Management Plan for Lake Victoria.

69. The Partner States through the LVFO shall seek financial, technical and other assistance from Development Partners and other sources to implement the RPOA-Capacity.

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LVFO REGIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR MANAGEMENT OF FISHING CAPACITY ON LAKE VICTORIA

The Regional Plan of Action for Management of Fishing Capacity (RPOA-Capacity) on Lake Victoria was adopted by the LVFO Council of Ministers on 30th March 2007 as the LVFO RPOA-Management of Fishing Capacity for Lake Victoria.

This plan will be implemented by the EAC Partner States sharing Lake Victoria, whose authorized representatives have duly signed this Plan.

Done in Nairobi, Kenya on the Thirtieth Day of March, Two Thousand and Seven

----------------------------------------------------Hon. Prof. Jumanne Abdallah Maghembe MPMinister, Ministry of Natural Resources and TourismFor the United Republic of Tanzania

---------------------------------------------------Hon. Fred Mukisa, MPMinister of State for Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and FisheriesFor the Republic of Uganda

---------------------------------------------------Hon. Joseph Konzollo Munyao, EGH, MPMinister, Ministry of Livestock and FisheriesFor the Republic of Kenya

��


AN

NE

X 1

RE

GIO

NA

L P

LAN

OF

AC

TIO

N F

OR

MA

NA

GE

ME

NT

OF

FIS

HIN

G C

APA

CIT

Y

SPEC

IFIC

O

BJEC

TIV

ESST

RAT

EGIC

IN

TERV

ENTI

ON

SSP

ECIF

IC A

CTI

ON

S

a. E

nsur

e th

at

ther

e is

a cl

ear

polic

y an

d le

gal

fram

ewor

k fo

r m

anag

emen

t of

fishi

ng c

apac

ity

a. D

evel

op a

regi

onal

ha

rmon

ized

po

licy

and

lega

l fr

amew

ork

on

fishi

ng c

apac

ity

man

agem

ent

that

ens

ures

eq

uita

ble

acce

ss

and

dist

ribut

ion

of

bene

fits t

hat a

ccru

e fr

om th

e fis

herie

s;

Para

��

Polic

y an

d Le

gal F

ram

ewor

kTh

e Pa

rtne

r Sta

tes t

hrou

gh L

VFO

shal

l:a.

Re

view

exi

stin

g na

tiona

l pol

icy

and

lega

l fra

mew

orks

, dev

elop

and

pre

sent

a re

gion

al

harm

oniz

ed fi

sher

ies p

olic

y an

d le

gal f

ram

ewor

k on

the

man

agem

ent o

f cap

acity

toth

eto

the

resp

ectiv

e N

atio

nal P

arlia

men

ts fo

r rat

ifica

tion;

b.

Dev

elop

, im

plem

ent,

mon

itor,

publ

iciz

e an

d pe

riodi

cally

revi

ew re

gion

al, n

atio

nal a

nd d

istric

t pl

ans o

f act

ion

for m

anag

ing

fishi

ng c

apac

ity;

c. Ex

amin

e an

d st

ream

line

polic

y an

d le

gisla

tion

rela

ting

to li

cens

ing

in re

latio

n to

targ

et

spec

ies,

type

of fi

shin

g ge

ar, t

ype

and

size

of fi

shin

g cr

aft a

nd a

ny o

ther

com

pone

nt re

latin

g to

ca

paci

ty;

d.

Dev

elop

and

impl

emen

t a m

echa

nism

to e

nsur

e eq

uita

ble

dist

ribut

ion

of b

enefi

ts a

ccru

ing

from

fish

erie

s; e.

Enco

urag

e m

embe

r sta

tes t

o m

inim

ize

chan

ging

fish

erie

s pol

icie

s out

side

agre

ed R

POA-

Cap

acity

requ

irem

ents

;f.

Prom

ote

affirm

ativ

e ac

tion

to m

ains

trea

m g

ende

r iss

ues;

and

g.

Ensu

re th

at th

ere

is eq

uita

ble

supp

ly o

f fish

pro

duct

s for

exp

orts

and

loca

l con

sum

ptio

n.

�0


SPEC

IFIC

O

BJEC

TIV

ESST

RAT

EGIC

IN

TERV

ENTI

ON

SSP

ECIF

IC A

CTI

ON

S

b. E

nsur

e th

ere

are

inst

itutio

ns

and

inst

itutio

nal

mec

hani

sms a

t na

tiona

l and

re

gion

al le

vel f

or

man

agem

ent o

f fis

hing

cap

acity

b. Id

entif

y in

stitu

tions

and

de

fine

clea

r in

stitu

tiona

l st

ruct

ures

and

pr

oces

ses f

or

man

agem

ent

of c

apac

ity at

re

gion

al, n

atio

nal,

loca

l gov

ernm

ent

and

villa

ge le

vels

Para

��

Inst

itutio

ns a

nd In

stitu

tiona

l Pro

cess

esTh

e Pa

rtne

r Sta

tes t

hrou

gh L

VFO

shal

l:a.

Id

entif

y ke

y pl

ayer

s and

det

erm

ine

thei

r rol

es in

the

man

agem

ent o

f fish

ing

capa

city

; and

b.

Dev

elop

and

stre

ngth

en li

nkag

es w

ithin

and

bet

wee

n LV

FO In

stitu

tions

, rel

evan

t Min

istrie

s, Lo

cal G

over

nmen

ts, P

rivat

e Se

ctor

, Civ

il So

ciet

y an

d D

evel

opm

ent P

artn

ers t

o ad

dres

s fish

ing

capa

city

and

rela

ted

exte

rnal

ities

.

c. C

olla

bora

te

and

link

with

rele

vant

in

tern

atio

nal a

nd

regi

onal

bod

ies

c. Fu

lfill

inte

rnat

iona

l ob

ligat

ions

es

peci

ally

in

rela

tion

to C

CRF

an

d IP

OA–

Cap

acity

Para

��

Reg

iona

l and

Inte

rnat

iona

l Col

labo

ratio

nTh

e Pa

rtne

r Sta

tes t

hrou

gh L

VFO

shal

l:a.

Pa

rtic

ipat

e in

inte

rnat

iona

l agr

eem

ents

whi

ch re

late

to th

e m

anag

emen

t of fi

shin

g ca

paci

ty;

b.

Prom

ote

tech

nica

l coo

pera

tion

to im

plem

ent t

he R

POA-

Cap

acity

;c.

Impr

ove

co-o

pera

tion

in co

llect

ion

and

exc

hang

e of

info

rmat

ion

rega

rdin

g fis

hing

cap

acity

m

anag

emen

t am

ong

regi

onal

and

inte

rnat

iona

l fish

erie

s org

aniz

atio

ns; a

ndd.

Re

gula

rly re

view

info

rmat

ion

on im

plem

enta

tion

of R

POA–

Cap

acity

and

info

rm E

AC

, FA

O,

the

rele

vant

Reg

iona

l Ins

titut

ions

and

the

Dev

elop

men

t Par

tner

s of L

ake

Vic

toria

.

��


SPEC

IFIC

O

BJEC

TIV

ESST

RAT

EGIC

IN

TERV

ENTI

ON

SSP

ECIF

IC A

CTI

ON

S

d. E

nsur

e po

litic

al

com

mitm

ent t

o RP

OA-

Cap

acity

im

plem

enta

tion

d. Se

nsiti

ze th

e

polit

ical

lead

ersh

ip

espe

cial

ly

Mem

bers

of

Parli

amen

t (M

Ps) a

nd L

ocal

G

over

nmen

t C

ounc

ilors

on

RPO

A-C

apac

ity

Para

�0

Polit

ical

Issu

esTh

e go

vern

men

ts a

nd L

egisl

ativ

e A

ssem

blie

s of P

artn

er S

tate

s thr

ough

LV

FO sh

all:

a.

Cre

ate

chan

nels

for s

ensit

izin

g th

e M

Ps a

nd C

ounc

ilors

on

thei

r rol

es fo

r effe

ctiv

e pa

rtic

ipat

ion

in th

e m

anag

emen

t of t

he L

ake;

and

b. P

rom

ote

polit

ical

com

mitm

ent,

good

will

and

pos

itive

inte

rven

tion

at a

ll le

vels

for s

ucce

ssfu

l im

plem

enta

tion

of R

POA-

Cap

acity

.

e. Pr

omot

e st

akeh

olde

r pa

rtic

ipat

ion

in c

apac

ity

man

agem

ent i

n a

co-m

anag

emen

t ar

rang

emen

t

e. St

reng

then

co-

man

agem

ent

inst

itutio

ns at

all

leve

ls

Para

��

Stak

ehol

der P

artic

ipat

ion

The

Part

ner S

tate

s thr

ough

LV

FO sh

all:

a.

Cle

arly

defi

ne ro

les o

f all

stak

ehol

ders

in th

e m

anag

emen

t of fi

shin

g ca

paci

ty;

b.

Esta

blish

and

bui

ld c

apac

ity o

f co-

man

agem

ent i

nstit

utio

ns at

diff

eren

t lev

els o

f gov

erna

nce

incl

udin

g th

e pa

rtic

ipat

ion

of ci

vil s

ocie

ty a

nd th

e pr

ivat

e se

ctor

; c.

Supp

ort t

he e

ffect

ive

part

icip

atio

n of

BM

Us i

n de

term

inat

ion

and

man

agem

ent o

f fish

ing

capa

city

; and

d.

Revi

ew th

e BM

U g

uide

lines

to st

reng

then

thei

r cap

acity

in m

anag

ing

fishi

ng e

ffort

.

��


SPEC

IFIC

O

BJEC

TIV

ESST

RAT

EGIC

IN

TERV

ENTI

ON

SSP

ECIF

IC A

CTI

ON

S

f. En

sure

su

stai

nabl

e fin

anci

ng o

f im

plem

enta

tion

of R

POA-

Cap

acity

f. D

evel

op a

nd

impl

emen

t m

echa

nism

s fo

r sus

tain

able

fin

anci

ng o

f fis

herie

s act

iviti

es

Para

��

Fina

ncin

g C

apac

ity M

anag

emen

tPa

rtne

r Sta

tes t

hrou

gh L

VFO

shal

l:a.

Se

ek su

stai

nabl

e fin

anci

ng m

echa

nism

s to

supp

ort fi

sher

ies m

anag

emen

t, re

sear

ch a

nd re

late

d en

viro

nmen

tal c

once

rns;

b.

Esta

blish

Fish

Lev

y Tr

ust F

unds

(e.g

. cos

t rec

over

y fr

om p

roce

ssor

s, fis

h de

aler

s and

fish

ers i

n fo

rm o

f use

r fee

, lev

ies,

roya

lties

etc

.);c.

Enco

urag

e D

onor

s to

chan

nel t

heir

inte

rven

tions

for B

MU

s thr

ough

LV

FO in

stitu

tions

to

achi

eve

inte

nded

obj

ectiv

es;

d.

Lobb

y fo

r bet

ter fi

sher

ies s

ecto

r bud

gets

for i

mpl

emen

ting

the

RPO

A-C

apac

ity;

e. U

rge

Mem

bers

of P

arlia

men

t to

cons

ider

usin

g C

onst

ituen

cy D

evel

opm

ent F

unds

for

infr

astr

uctu

ral d

evel

opm

ent i

n fis

hing

com

mun

ities

; and

f. C

all u

pon

Loca

l Aut

horit

ies t

o se

t up

plou

gh b

ack

arra

ngem

ents

for i

nfra

stru

ctur

e de

velo

pmen

t e.g

. con

stru

ctin

g fis

h la

ndin

g sit

es a

nd fi

sh m

arke

ts.

��


SPEC

IFIC

O

BJEC

TIV

ESST

RAT

EGIC

IN

TERV

ENTI

ON

SSP

ECIF

IC A

CTI

ON

S

g. H

ave

info

rmat

ion

on th

e st

atus

of

the

fishe

ries

reso

urce

s and

fis

hing

cap

acity

g. R

evie

w, a

sses

s and

m

onito

r the

fish

st

ocks

and

fish

ing

capa

city

Para

��

Info

rmat

ion

on F

ishe

ries

Res

ourc

esTh

e Pa

rtne

r Sta

tes t

hrou

gh L

VFO

shal

l:a.

Re

view

and

ana

lyze

exist

ing

info

rmat

ion

and

data

on

fish

stoc

ks, a

nd fi

shin

g eff

ort a

nd su

gges

t re

leva

nt re

com

men

datio

ns fo

r man

agem

ent o

f cap

acity

; b.

U

pdat

e th

e in

vent

ory

of e

xist

ing

fish

spec

ies i

n La

ke V

icto

ria;

c. En

sure

that

Inst

itutio

ns d

oing

rese

arch

und

erta

ke d

eman

d dr

iven

rese

arch

rele

vant

to th

e RP

OA

and

wor

k w

ith B

MU

s and

oth

er re

leva

nt st

akeh

olde

rs;

d.

Cat

egor

ize

fishi

ng u

nits

and

qua

ntify

thei

r com

pone

nts;

e. C

arry

out

rese

arch

on

seas

onal

reso

urce

mob

ility

(sto

ck m

igra

tion)

and

bre

edin

g pa

ttern

s in

orde

r to

guid

e es

tabl

ishm

ent o

f clo

sed

seas

ons a

nd a

reas

; f.

Det

erm

ine

the

stoc

ks o

f com

mer

cial

ly im

port

ant fi

sh sp

ecie

s, th

eir c

ompo

sitio

n, re

lativ

e ab

unda

nce

and

popu

latio

n st

ruct

ure

and

dist

ribut

ion

by L

imno

logi

cal s

trat

a (o

r any

oth

er

appr

opria

te st

rata

, e.g

. dist

rict);

g.

Det

erm

ine

fisha

ble

stoc

ks a

nd co

rres

pond

ing

fishi

ng e

ffort

esp

ecia

lly th

e nu

mbe

r, siz

e an

d ty

pe o

f fish

ing

gear

s, th

e nu

mbe

r, ty

pe a

nd si

ze o

f fish

ing

craft

s, an

d th

e m

ode

of cr

aft

prop

ulsio

n;h.

G

ener

ate

info

rmat

ion

and

mon

itor t

he d

ynam

ics o

f com

mer

cial

fish

erie

s and

the

indi

cato

rs o

f C

apac

ity;

i. Se

t up

and

supp

ort m

echa

nism

s for

colle

ctin

g, p

roce

ssin

g, st

orin

g, re

trie

ving

, pac

kagi

ng

and

diss

emin

atin

g in

form

atio

n re

leva

nt to

the

RPO

A-C

apac

ity, b

y di

ffere

nt st

akeh

olde

rs,

espe

cial

ly B

MU

s;j.

Expl

ore

the

use

of IC

Ts i

n da

ta a

nd in

form

atio

n co

mm

unic

atio

n to

spee

d up

dev

elop

men

t am

ong

com

mun

ities

; and

k.

Mon

itor t

he so

cio-

econ

omic

impa

cts o

f cap

acity

-rel

ated

inte

rven

tions

.

��


SPEC

IFIC

O

BJEC

TIV

ESST

RAT

EGIC

IN

TERV

ENTI

ON

SSP

ECIF

IC A

CTI

ON

S

h. M

ake

info

rmat

ion

avai

labl

e to

di

ffere

nt

stak

ehol

ders

h. C

olla

te, d

esig

n,

stor

e, m

anag

e, re

pack

age,

diss

emin

ate

and

utili

ze in

form

atio

n an

d da

taba

ses

Para

��

Info

rmat

ion

Exch

ange

and

Dis

sem

inat

ion

The

Part

ner S

tate

s thr

ough

LV

FO sh

all:

a.

Ass

ess i

nfor

mat

ion

need

s of s

take

hold

ers f

or fi

shin

g ca

paci

ty m

anag

emen

t;b.

Re

pack

age

and

diss

emin

ate

info

rmat

ion

on c

apac

ity to

fish

ers a

nd o

ther

stak

ehol

ders

;c.

Diss

emin

ate

info

rmat

ion

on v

iabl

e al

tern

ativ

e liv

elih

oods

to fi

sher

s;d.

D

evel

op, m

aint

ain

and

man

age

appr

opria

te a

nd co

mpa

tible

nat

iona

l and

regi

onal

dat

abas

es

on fi

shin

g ca

paci

ty;

e. Ex

chan

ge in

form

atio

n on

fish

ing

craft

s tha

t do

not c

ompl

y w

ith co

nser

vatio

n an

d m

anag

emen

t mea

sure

s ado

pted

by

LVFO

;f.

The

RPO

A a

nd C

CRF

shou

ld b

e tr

ansla

ted

into

loca

l lan

guag

es (K

iswah

ili, D

holu

o, L

ugan

da);

g.

Rese

arch

find

ings

rela

ted

to R

POA-

capa

city

shou

ld b

e ve

rified

, cle

ared

, app

rove

d an

d ad

opte

d by

LV

FO S

tatu

tory

org

ans;

and

h.

Ensu

re aw

aren

ess c

reat

ion

for t

he st

akeh

olde

rs a

nd th

e ge

nera

l pub

lic o

n po

licy,

lega

l, co

nser

vatio

n, re

sour

ce su

stai

nabi

lity

and

econ

omic

gai

ns a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tal c

once

rns.

��

LVFO Regional Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity in Lake VictoriaSP

ECIF

IC

OBJ

ECTI

VES

STR

ATEG

IC

INTE

RVEN

TIO

NS

SPEC

IFIC

AC

TIO

NS

i. M

anag

e an

d m

aint

ain

optim

um

capa

city

at a

le

vel t

hat d

oes

not c

ompr

omise

su

stai

nabi

lity

of th

e fis

herie

s re

sour

ce b

ase

i. D

eter

min

e, se

t and

m

anag

e op

timal

sp

ecie

s–sp

ecifi

c ca

paci

ty le

vels

Para

��

Man

agem

ent o

f Fis

hing

Cap

acity

The

Part

ner S

tate

s thr

ough

LV

FO sh

all:

a.

Ensu

re th

at R

POA-

IUU

is im

plem

ente

d an

d m

onito

red;

b.

Exam

ine

and

use

all r

elev

ant fi

sher

ies m

anag

emen

t too

ls in

the

impl

emen

tatio

n of

the

RPO

A-C

apac

ity

c. En

sure

that

impl

emen

tatio

n of

the

RPO

A- C

apac

ity in

clud

es li

mita

tion

of fi

shin

g ac

cess

d.

G

azet

te fi

sh la

ndin

g sit

es, a

nd re

gist

er fi

sher

s, fis

hing

craft

s and

gea

r;e.

Dev

elop

mea

sure

s to

man

age

capa

city

usin

g a

part

icip

ator

y ap

proa

ch;

f. A

sses

s and

man

age

the

fishe

ries u

sing

the

Fish

erie

s Man

agem

ent D

ecisi

on S

uppo

rt T

ool;

g.

Whe

re o

verc

apac

ity e

xist

s, th

e Pa

rtne

r Sta

tes i

nitia

lly li

mit

capa

city

at p

rese

nt le

vels

and

then

se

t out

and

impl

emen

t pla

ns fo

r the

pro

gres

sive

redu

ctio

n of

cap

acity

;h.

W

here

und

er c

apac

ity e

xist

s, pr

omot

e m

easu

res t

o op

timiz

e ut

iliza

tion;

i. C

onso

lidat

e eff

orts

in th

e im

plem

enta

tion

of th

e LV

FO re

gion

al st

rate

gy o

n cr

oss-

bord

er

fishi

ng;

j. M

anag

e tr

ansf

er o

f cap

acity

bet

wee

n co

untr

ies a

nd w

ithin

nat

iona

l jur

isdic

tions

acr

oss w

ater

bo

dies

; k.

St

rive

to m

inim

ize

cros

s bor

der c

onfli

cts t

hrou

gh d

emar

catio

n of

bou

ndar

ies o

n w

ater

;l.

Put i

n pl

ace

a m

echa

nism

for r

egul

atin

g m

anuf

actu

re, i

mpo

rtat

ion

and

mar

ketin

g of

fish

ing

nets

allo

wab

le fo

r Lak

e V

icto

ria;

m.

Neg

otia

te a

nd a

gree

on

the

dist

ribut

ion

of fi

shin

g ca

paci

ty at

diff

eren

t lev

els o

f gov

erna

nce

(fro

m g

rass

root

s to

regi

onal

leve

l);

n.

Take

colle

ctiv

e m

easu

res t

o en

sure

that

Par

tner

s Sta

tes a

nd L

ocal

Aut

horit

ies/

Dist

ricts

ful

fill

thei

r res

pons

ibili

ties u

nder

the

RPO

A-C

apac

ity;

o.

Empl

oy ap

prop

riate

confl

ict r

esol

utio

n m

echa

nism

s;p.

Pu

t in

plac

e m

echa

nism

s at a

ll le

vels

to fi

ght c

orru

ptio

n an

d co

nflic

ts o

f int

eres

t in

the

proc

ess

of im

plem

entin

g th

e RP

OA-

Cap

acity

; q.

Pr

omot

e th

e ca

ptur

e, do

cum

enta

tion

and

use

of in

dige

nous

kno

wle

dge

in m

anag

emen

t of

fishi

ng e

ffort

and

cap

acity

; r.

Ensu

re a

dequ

ate

part

icip

atio

n of

all

stak

ehol

ders

in M

onito

ring,

Con

trol

and

Sur

veill

ance

;s.

Ensu

re th

at C

apac

ity m

anag

emen

t inc

lude

s inc

entiv

e sy

stem

s for

pro

mot

ing

redu

ctio

n of

IUU

fis

hing

;t.

Stre

ngth

en M

CS

and

enco

urag

e jo

int p

atro

ls w

ith S

ecur

ity A

genc

ies a

nd C

omm

uniti

es; a

ndu.

En

sure

that

the

fishe

ries l

egisl

atio

n in

the

Part

ner S

tate

s are

am

ende

d to

mak

e tr

ials

spee

dy

and

conv

ictio

n ea

sier a

nd h

ave

dete

rren

t pen

altie

s.

��


SPEC

IFIC

O

BJEC

TIV

ESST

RAT

EGIC

IN

TERV

ENTI

ON

SSP

ECIF

IC A

CTI

ON

S

j. D

evel

op a

nd

impl

emen

t sp

ecie

s-sp

ecifi

c st

rate

gies

for

man

agem

ent o

f ca

paci

ty

j. Ta

ke im

med

iate

ac

tions

for s

peci

fic

fishe

ries r

equi

ring

urge

nt re

med

ial

mea

sure

s bas

ed o

n th

e as

sess

men

ts o

f th

e re

sour

ce

Para

��

Spec

ies-

spec

ific c

apac

ity m

anag

emen

t mea

sure

sTh

e Pa

rtne

r Sta

tes t

hrou

gh L

VFO

shal

l:a.

Im

plem

ent a

nd e

nfor

ce th

e de

cisio

ns m

ade

by th

e C

ounc

il of

Min

ister

s;b.

In

itial

ly li

mit

fishi

ng eff

ort o

n N

ile p

erch

at t

he F

ram

e Su

rvey

�00

� le

vels

as a

pr

ecau

tiona

ry m

easu

re;

c.

Agr

ee o

n an

d im

plem

ent m

esh

size

and

fish

ing

grou

nds f

or R

astr

ineo

bola

arg

ente

a (D

agaa

/O

men

a/M

uken

e); a

ndd.

A

pply

the

prec

autio

nary

app

roac

h, u

sing

the

best

ava

ilabl

e in

form

atio

n fo

r Nile

tila

pia.

k. Im

prov

e th

e so

cio-

econ

omic

w

elfa

re o

f th

e fis

herie

s de

pend

ent

com

mun

ities

th

roug

h m

anag

emen

t of

fishi

ng c

apac

ity

k. Id

entif

y an

d pr

omot

e m

echa

nism

s tha

t ad

dres

s soc

io-

econ

omic

wel

fare

of

the

fishe

rfol

k

Para

��

Soci

o-ec

onom

ic C

once

rns

Part

ner S

tate

s thr

ough

LV

FO sh

all:

a.

Stre

amlin

e m

arke

ting

chan

nels

that

redu

ce e

xplo

itatio

n of

fish

ers;

b.

Enfo

rce

child

labo

ur la

ws i

n fis

herie

s;c.

Prom

ote

cred

it fa

cilit

ies a

nd m

obile

ban

ks a

nd e

ncou

rage

fish

ers t

o ha

ve a

savi

ng c

ultu

re;

d.

Enco

urag

e in

stitu

tiona

l col

labo

ratio

n an

d lin

kage

s to

addr

ess s

ocio

-eco

nom

ic i

ssue

s in

clud

ing

the

exist

ing

prov

ision

s und

er th

e EA

C T

reat

y;

e. M

ains

trea

m co

ntro

l of H

IV/A

IDS

and

othe

r dise

ases

such

as m

alar

ia, T

B an

d Bi

lhar

zia;

f. En

cour

age

and

supp

ort t

he a

ctio

ns o

f Int

er-s

tate

secu

rity

com

mitt

ee a

nd n

atio

nal l

aw

enfo

rcem

ent a

genc

ies t

o ad

dres

s the

issu

e of

pira

cy a

nd se

curit

y of

fish

ers o

n th

e la

ke; a

ndg.

Pr

omot

e m

echa

nism

s tha

t add

ress

pov

erty

alle

viat

ion

amon

g fis

hing

com

mun

ities

.

l. Ex

plor

e ec

onom

ic

ince

ntiv

es

and

deve

lop

alte

rnat

ive

livel

ihoo

ds

optio

ns to

redu

ce

over

capa

city

l. Re

view

eco

nom

ic

and

soci

al

ince

ntiv

es a

nd

livel

ihoo

d st

rate

gies

in

fishe

ries s

ecto

r;

Para

��

Ince

ntiv

es in

the

Fish

ing

Sect

orTh

e Pa

rtne

r Sta

tes t

hrou

gh L

VFO

shal

l:a.

A

sses

s the

fact

ors w

hich

cont

ribut

e to

ove

rcap

acity

incl

udin

g su

bsid

ies a

nd in

cent

ives

as a

firs

t st

ep to

pro

gres

sivel

y re

duci

ng a

nd el

imin

atin

g al

l fac

tors

, inc

ludi

ng su

bsid

ies a

nd e

cono

mic

in

cent

ives

whi

ch co

ntrib

ute,

dire

ctly

or i

ndire

ctly,

to o

verc

apac

ity, t

akin

g in

to co

nsid

erat

ion

spec

ial r

equi

rem

ents

of s

mal

l-sca

le m

argi

naliz

ed fi

sher

s; b.

A

sses

s, de

velo

p an

d pr

omot

e al

tern

ativ

e liv

elih

ood

optio

ns, i

nclu

ding

aqu

acul

ture

, and

bui

ld

capa

city

of fi

sher

folk

to a

dopt

new

opt

ions

to re

duce

pre

ssur

e on

lake

fish

erie

s; an

dPr

omot

e fis

h pr

oces

sing

for v

alue

��


SPEC

IFIC

O

BJEC

TIV

ESST

RAT

EGIC

IN

TERV

ENTI

ON

SSP

ECIF

IC A

CTI

ON

S

m.

Impr

ove

hum

an re

sour

ce

capa

city

for

effec

tive

capa

city

m

anag

emen

t

m.

Dev

elop

se

nsiti

zatio

n,

educ

atio

n an

d tr

aini

ng

prog

ram

mes

Para

��

Hum

an R

esou

rces

Dev

elop

men

tTh

e Pa

rtne

r Sta

tes t

hrou

gh L

VFO

shal

l:a.

Bu

ild h

uman

reso

urce

s cap

acity

in fi

sher

ies m

anag

emen

t, re

sear

ch in

stitu

tions

and

oth

er

stak

ehol

ders

to d

eter

min

e, m

onito

r and

man

age

capa

city

; b.

En

sure

suffi

cien

t pe

rson

nel t

o ad

dres

s tec

hnic

al fi

sher

ies i

ssue

s; an

dc.

Con

duct

awar

enes

s rai

sing,

sens

itiza

tion

and

trai

ning

pro

gram

mes

on

capa

city

man

agem

ent.

n. Im

prov

e in

fras

truc

ture

fa

cilit

ies f

or

fishi

ng c

apac

ity

man

agem

ent

n. ; E

stab

lish

infr

astr

uctu

re

faci

litie

s for

fis

hing

cap

acity

m

anag

emen

t

Para

�0

Infr

astr

uctu

re D

evel

opm

ent

The

Part

ner S

tate

s thr

ough

LV

FO sh

all:

a.

Dev

elop

infr

astr

uctu

re fo

r col

lect

ing,

ana

lyzi

ng a

nd d

issem

inat

ing

info

rmat

ion;

b.

Proc

ure

rele

vant

offi

ce a

nd fi

eld

equi

pmen

t for

cap

acity

man

agem

ent;

c. En

cour

age

infr

astr

uctu

re d

evel

opm

ent i

n fis

hing

com

mun

ities

(e.g

. rur

al el

ectr

ifica

tion,

sola

r, w

ind

pow

er, c

old

stor

age)

as p

art o

f enc

oura

ging

div

ersifi

catio

n of

live

lihoo

ds;

d.

Prom

ote

esta

blish

men

t of e

duca

tiona

l, he

alth

and

sani

tary

faci

litie

s at b

each

es.

��


SPEC

IFIC

O

BJEC

TIV

ESST

RAT

EGIC

IN

TERV

ENTI

ON

SSP

ECIF

IC A

CTI

ON

S

o. E

ncou

rage

m

echa

nism

s th

at a

ddre

ss

envi

ronm

enta

l iss

ues i

mpa

ctin

g fis

herie

s

o. Id

entif

y en

viro

nmen

tal

issue

s affe

ctin

g fis

herie

s and

wor

k w

ith le

ad a

genc

ies

and

inst

itutio

ns to

ad

dres

s the

m;

Para

��

Envi

ronm

enta

l and

Eco

syst

em Is

sues

Part

ner S

tate

s thr

ough

LV

FO sh

all:

a.

Reco

gniz

e th

e Im

pact

s of e

xter

nal e

nviro

nmen

tal i

ssue

s on

fishe

ries,

e.g.

wat

er a

bstr

actio

n,

incr

easin

g po

pula

tion

in th

e ca

tchm

ent,

and

enco

urag

e ap

prop

riate

auth

oriti

es to

add

ress

th

em

b.

Prom

ote

the

cons

erva

tion

of th

e La

ke V

icto

ria e

cosy

stem

c.

Prom

ote

cultu

re o

f bai

t fish

to re

duce

the

catc

h of

wild

imm

atur

e fis

h;

d.

Iden

tify,

dem

arca

te a

nd co

nser

ve w

etla

nds,

buffe

r zon

es a

nd b

reed

ing

grou

nds;

e. Pr

omot

e lin

kage

s and

cros

s-re

fere

nces

bet

wee

n fis

herie

s and

env

ironm

enta

l law

s;f.

Enco

urag

e re

leva

nt A

utho

ritie

s to

miti

gate

the

impa

ct o

f boa

t bui

ldin

g in

dust

ry a

nd fi

sh

smok

ing

on th

e fo

rest

s inc

ludi

ng e

nhan

cem

ent o

f affo

rest

atio

n pr

ogra

mm

es

g.

Enco

urag

e re

leva

nt au

thor

ities

to a

ddre

ss th

e po

or la

nd u

se p

ract

ices

in th

e in

the

Lake

V

icto

ria b

asin

;h.

En

cour

age

urba

n au

thor

ities

and

lake

side

settl

emen

ts to

add

ress

and

enf

orce

unc

ontr

olle

d do

mes

tic, m

unic

ipal

and

indu

stria

l was

tes;

i. D

iscou

rage

use

and

disp

osal

of p

last

ic m

ater

ials

arou

nd th

e la

ke in

fish

ing;

and

j. U

nder

stan

d an

d m

anag

e th

e im

pact

s of d

eclin

ing

wat

er le

vels

on fi

sher

ies a

nd th

e ec

osys

tem

of

the

lake

k.

Enco

urag

e re

leva

nt au

thor

ities

to u

nder

take

seism

olog

ical

stud

ies t

o un

ders

tand

whe

ther

th

ere

is lo

ss o

f wat

er th

roug

h un

derg

roun

d se

epag

e l.

Con

sider

the

incl

usio

n of

oth

er L

ake

Vic

toria

bas

in st

ates

(Rw

anda

and

Bur

undi

) in

the

man

agem

ent o

f tra

nsbo

unda

ry e

nviro

nmen

tal c

once

rns s

uch

as in

vasiv

e aq

uatic

wee

ds.

This Publication was produced with support from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)-Rome

LAKE VICTORIA FISHERIES ORGANIZATIONPlot No. 2 Oboja Road P.O. Box 1625, Jinja, Uganda.

Phone: +256 434 120205/6. Fax: +256 434 123123.Email: [email protected]. Website: www.lvfo.org

The Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) is a regional organization formed in �� by the three East African Partner States of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, to jointly coordinate and manage the fisheries resources of Lake Victoria. In �� LVFO became a specialised institution of the East African Community in charge of the fisheries of Lake Victoria. The objective of the LVFO is to foster cooperation among the Partner States by harmonizing, developing, adopting and coordinating management measures for sustainable and optimal utilization of the fisheries resources of Lake Victoria for maximum socio-economic benefits. The Partner States adopted the Regional Plan of Action for Management of Fishing Capacity (RPOA-Capacity) in Lake Victoria, in March �00�, to ensure that mechanisms are put in place to achieve equitable access and sustainable utilisation of the fisheries resources.

LVFO Regional Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing ... · for the Management of Fishing...

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Transcript of LVFO Regional Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing ... · for the Management of Fishing...