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Illegal Fishing on Lake Victoria How Joint Operations Are Making an Impact December 2016

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Illegal Fishing on Lake Victoria How Joint Operations Are Making an Impact December 2016 STOP ILLEGAL FISHING CASE STUDY SERIES 12 Illegal fishing on Lake Victoria How joint operations are making an impact December 2016 Background Many initiatives have been undertaken – especially in the Lake Victoria is an important source area of monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) – to of freshwater fish, contributing address the challenges of illegal fishing on Lake Victoria. significantly to the economies of For example, community-based Beach Management Units Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and the 3 livelihoods and nutrition of three million (BMUs) have been established to legally represent each people. fishing community and undertake MCS activities; an MCS Nile perch, introduced in the 1950s, Regional Working Group (RWG-MCS) has been established became the most important species in to coordinate MCS activities; and the industrial fish the lake decimating the endemic fish processors exercise self-regulation in order to sustain their and, creating a lucrative commercial exports. However the problem continues, to an extent due fishery. Over-fishing and the use of destructive fishing gear has reduced to a lack of equipment and financing as well as technical the stock of larger, legal sized Nile capacity to implement MCS operations. perch1, resulting in the illegal trade of undersized fish. The Chinese market Faced with a continuing decline in the Nile perch stocks, for dried swim bladders has removed the LVFO Council of Ministers asked the SmartFish spawners from the stock, further Programme to work with all three member states to affecting its ability to recover. strengthen MCS of the lake fisheries. This took the form of The Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization capacity building in the first year, to develop professional (LVFO) was formed in 1994, but illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) MCS teams, followed by practical operations for the fishing continues to have a severe remaining three years. These were initially joint operations impact on Nile perch2 reducing its with all three member states taking part, and in the last biomass from 2.3 million tonnes in year nationally in Uganda and Tanzania. 1999 to less than 300 000 tonnes in 2008. Current estimates of illegal fishing in Lake Victoria vary from 40% to 60%, amongst the highest rates in the world. STOP ILLEGAL FISHING CASE STUDIES aim to: Define best practice by analysing practical examples of different approaches in the fight against IUU fishing. They also demonstrate the magnitude of activities and partnerships underway to stop illegal fishing and provide the basis for policy advice. Drivers The main driver to reduce and eliminate the illegal fishing was the A series of MCS training workshops continuing decline in Lake Victoria’s Story were held, focusing on operational fish stocks. The lack of effective control continued planning for multilateral MCS measures in place to address the operations. This was followed by problem and the failure of previous operational exercises, with each initiatives prompted the SmartFish exercise following the same pattern: an intervention. ‘Exercise Warning Order’ was issued two weeks prior to the start date in order to encourage a pre-training fishing fleets. SmartFish also evaluated operational mind set. This was followed the Standard Operating Procedure for by a one-day refresher training session Joint Operations Training developed to reinforce previous lessons; a by the LVFO to ensure that it was planning session with the Operation effective, harmonized and efficient. Commander, Section Commanders and BMU representatives; and Recognising the importance of the presentation of this plan to all publicity, in 2013 the SmartFish participants. The Joint Operation was Programme invited about 20 journalists typically a nine-day exercise using from Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda a local vessel as a ‘mothership’ to and Tanzania to take part in an transport the personnel to target information workshop on IUU fishing locations around the lake where and how it impacts the region’s fish support vessels then transported the stocks. Journalists even joined MCS teams to shore. officials at a roadblock to inspect trucks for undersized and unlicensed fish, as After the operational exercises, well as on lake patrols to observe the SmartFish conducted additional confiscation of illegal gear. training for senior management and fisheries officers to further strengthen Finally, in 2015, six national operations operations in the region. This included took place. National teams planned, reviewing the challenges and solutions coordinated and executed operations for fisheries management, both for using formal procedures, supported by offshore fleets and local small-scale SmartFish experts. Key features and outcomes Training and capacity building by experts in MCS planning and execution has resulted in fully trained, professional MCS leaders and teams with the ability to plan and carry out national and joint patrols where and when required. Carrying out operational exercises resulted in the confiscation and destruction of a large amount of illegal fishing gear and boats. For example, during the first two days of one exercise, 48 beach seines, 252 undersize gill nets, 193 monofilament nets and 3 dagaa nets were confiscated and burned, along with illegal boats and large quantities of undersized fish. Capitalising on the media potential of the operations was key to informing a wider audience of the issue of IUU fishing as well as of the MCS operations, serving as a further deterrent. For example, after one exercise, a ceremony was held for the presentation of certificates to the participants. At this ceremony, attended by Uganda’s Minister of State for Fisheries, confiscated fishing gear was burned in order to stimulate news stories in the local press that actions were being taken to stop IUU fishing. Protesting against the patrols, local fishers sometimes responded with extreme hostility, including physical violence, throwing stones and even using bows and arrows. This level of protest indicates how important fishing is as a source of food and livelihood; as resources become scarcer, fishers resort to illegal methods to ensure they still can maintain a living and provide for their families. Lessons learned The results of the joint operations demonstrate that when working together to share expertise and to ensure wider coverage Challenges of operations, the LVFO partner States can Lack of supplies such as spare parts for the organise and implement effective regional MCS outboard motors, life jackets, torches, cameras, GPS operations. devices, uniforms and protective gear compromised safety and the professional appearance of the team. Refresher training of the operational team is essential prior to departing on a joint MCS Hostility shown by the local fishers towards operation to ensure everyone is fully prepared the MCS teams made the operations difficult and and engaged in the operation. challenging and at times threatened the safety of the teams. Night operations are effective as they incorporate an added element of surprise, Illegal fishing gear is easy to obtain so whatever is catching illegal fishermen off guard. confiscated is easy to replace. There is a need to ban the import and sale of undersized mesh and to train Involvement of senior officials and customs officials to spot and confiscate illegal gear politicians boosts the operational team’s at borders. morale and brings increased exposure to the MCS efforts and the issue of IUU fishing. Current low levels of financial commitment are Involvement of local fishers and their insufficient to meet the operational costs of required communities in developing and enforcing MCS operations. fisheries regulations is key to ensure lasting Open access nature of the fishery facilitates a results. However, MCS efforts alone will not 7% annual growth in number of fishers and vessels be enough to save Lake Victoria’s fish stocks. and in all likelihood is unsustainable without the Until the issues of dwindling fish resources implementation of MCS and effort reduction and the provision of alternative livelihoods are mechanisms. addressed, illegal fishing is likely to continue. Players involved Policy implications The EU-funded and IOC-implemented SmartFish LVFO decisions remain ineffective unless they programme provided funding, training and expertise are adopted in national legislation, implemented for the project. and enforced4; failure to enforce a decision in one The LVFO provided a framework for the operations or more member states leads to inconsistency to sit within. within the LVFO area. National heads of fisheries MCS spearheaded the A licensing scheme is needed to limit fisheries operations. access, protect the livelihoods of long-time resident fishers and control the influx of migrant Local government authorities provided the day to fishers. A licensing scheme would also fund day management of the resources. MCS operations5 and assist in providing fisheries Local political leaders supported the operations in and intelligence data for management purposes. the three countries. A major increase in sanctions, including Beach management units operated at grass increased compounding of sanctions, is required roots levels to explain the importance of fisheries so that all those involved in IUU fishing are seen management and resource management to fishers to be brought to justice and sanctioned at a and traders. meaningful level. Industry organisations (such as UFPEA) improved controls at factories and
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