RUMONGE May 23rd (ABP) – The Lake Tanganyika Authority (ATL) proceeded on Friday, May 20, 2022 in Rumonge, to the official awareness-raising launch for the popularization of the regional charter on measures for the sustainable management of fisheries in Lake Tanganyika.
In his speech for the occasion, TUSANGA Sylvain, executive director of the Lake Tanganyika Authority, pointed out that the regional charter on sustainable fisheries management measures has been adopted by the governments of Burundi and the DR. Congo, the Republic of Zambia and the United Republic of Tanzania dated December 16, 2021.
He also indicated that the studies carried out by groups of national researchers have, within the framework of the implementation of the said charter, demonstrated that the fish stock of Lake Tanganyika is threatened by overfishing and by the use of fishing gear and practices. destructive fisheries that are dangerously leading to the depletion of fish stocks in Lake Tanganyika.
Thus, as specified by TUSANGA, fisheries managers, local and governmental authorities as well as other players in the fishing sector of the four LTA countries have come together to take measures to preserve the fish stock in Lake Tanganyika and thus make the fishing sector more productive and more attractive to investors in order to guarantee food and nutritional security as well as the supply of the living conditions of the riparian communities.
Mr. TUSANGA also assured fishermen and other actors in the fishing industry that the measures contained in this charter should in no way cause fishermen feelings of moral suffering, grief or affliction. For him, they must be seen as saving measures for fishing and improving the contribution of the fishing sector to the local and national economy.
Taking the floor, Déo Nsanganiyezu, Director General of Fisheries at the Ministry responsible for the environment, confirmed that the production of fishery products has fallen significantly in the past 20 years according to studies carried out by the FAO and the LATAFIMA project. Those studies have shown that the 4 countries constituting the Lake Tanganyika Authority register more than 200 million USD as a result of the practice of prohibited fishing.
He therefore underlined that a team of 23 members had been formed to popularize this charter within three months in all the fishing ports.
He challenged the fishermen to welcome them and facilitate their task. The governor of Rumonge province, Comforter Nitunga, in his speech raised his concerns, regretting that the measures taken for the whole region are exceptionally put into effect in Rumonge and the locality abounding in more fishing ports.
He took this opportunity to ask the director of the Lake Tanganyika Authority to ensure that this charter is in force in all countries. On that request of the governor, Mr. TUSANGA specified to him that the aforementioned charter will be applied without distinction in the four countries.