Sustainable Fisheries Management in African Great Lakes

The African Great Lakes region—including Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika, Malawi, Edward and Albert—supports one of the world’s most productive inland fisheries. Sustainable management in these systems requires the reconciliation of ecological conservation with the socio-economic needs of riparian communities. Key pressures comprise overexploitation of iconic species such as Nile perch and haplochromine cichlids, nutrient enrichment from agricultural runoff, habitat alteration and the spread of invasive plants and animals. Contemporary strategies prioritise co-management arrangements in which local fishers and government agencies share responsibility for setting quotas, enforcing gear restrictions and designating seasonal closures. Advances in high-resolution bathymetric mapping and real-time environmental monitoring now inform the spatial configuration of no-take zones and restocking efforts. Socio-economic research has also illuminated trade-offs between conservation efficiency and social equity, illustrating the importance of adaptive management that can respond to shifting resource availability and community livelihoods. Furthermore, the integration of sustainable aquaculture techniques—such as recirculating systems powered by renewable energy—offers a complementary pathway to relieve pressure on wild stocks. Holistic, multidisciplinary approaches that couple hydrological modelling, stock assessment and stakeholder engagement are essential to maintain fishery yields, preserve biodiversity and secure food-security benefits under future climatic and demographic changes.

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Sustainable Fisheries Management in African Great Lakes publication trend

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Technical terms

Ecosystem services: Benefits provided by ecological processes, including fishery production, water purification and nutrient cycling.

Co-management: A governance approach in which local stakeholders and authorities share decision-making and enforcement responsibilities.

Adaptive management: An iterative framework that adjusts policies and practices based on monitoring outcomes and evolving conditions.

Bathymetry: The measurement and mapping of underwater depths to characterise lakebed morphology and inform habitat assessments.

References

1. Inherent Dilemma: Balancing conservation efficiency and social equity in natural resource governance. World Development (2024).
2. High-resolution bathymetries and shorelines for the Great Lakes of the White Nile basin. Scientific Data (2022).
3. Innovative Technologies to Promote Sustainable Recirculating Aquaculture in Eastern Africa—A Case Study of a Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Hatchery in Kisumu, Kenya. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management (2020).
4. Adaptation Strategies to a Changing Resource Base: Case of the Gillnet Nile Perch Fishery on Lake Victoria in Uganda. Sustainability (2022).