Lakeshore habitat restoration with Lake Tanganyika Fishermen’s Collective / Collectif des pêcheurs du lac Tanganyika (COPETANG)

 

 

The community/organization and local perspectives on conservation and stewardship

 

Fishing is done on the coast of Lake Tanganyika (D.R.CONGO) in urban and rural areas. Fishing is done at a range of intensities, small-scale traditional and semi-industrial as the case may be.  The Lake Tanganyika Fishermen’s Collective (COPETANG) is a provincial umbrella organization which brings together all the artisanal fishermen of the province of Tanganyika who fish in Lake Tanganyika, the Congo River and the many rivers scattered across the province. Women fishmongers and men are very active in this sector. The city of Kalemie, capital of Tanganyika province, is built on the coast of Lake Tanganyika, and fishing drives the city’s economy. It should be remembered that Lake Tanganyika is shared between 4 countries, representing a common heritage between DR Congo, Burundi, Zambia and Tanzania.

 

Nature conservation is a crucial issue for the community as the environment is being destroyed on a large scale … The community is aware that once the environment is destroyed, the consequences will be bad on the whole plan. Ensuring fisheries in the lake are sustainable is important to maintain local livelihoods and to support good nutrition. 

 

Stewardship experience: Restoring vegetation and habitat on the coast of Lake Tanganyika

 

The issue or problem being addressed

Global warming and the disappearance of fish species from the lake.

 

The activities

COPETANG organizes awareness sessions through the media, as well as workshops and conferences and other activities such as reforestation on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and the rivers.

 

The benefits/impacts including sustainability/environmental effects

Increased awareness of environmental issues and potential impacts on the local people helps the community understand that the marriage between man and nature is very important and the two live in interaction.  When the environment is well protected, it generates benefits for food security, poverty reduction and above all the fight against climate change.

 

Some lessons learned or words of wisdom

To tame nature, you have to respect it and manage it well.

 

 

 

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Fishery Facts

(Below are the applicable categories of fisheries, environment, species, gear type and livelihood role.)

 

Fishery characteristics:

• Inland capture fishery (e.g. river/lake/reservoir)
• Subsistence fishery
• Multi-species 

The environment where fishing takes place: 

• Freshwater – riverine / lake / reservoir
• Nearby areas: Urban areas (coastal)

Main species targeted:

• Marine – Large pelagics (finfish) – e.g. tuna/sharks
• Marine – Small pelagics (finfish) – e.g. reef fishes/herring/mackerel/sardines
• Crustaceans (e.g. shrimp/prawn/lobster)

Gear types/ methods used:

• Gillnet
• Longline
• Beach seine
• Line

Role of the fishery in local livelihoods:

• Main source of employment
• Seasonal
• Occasional