Lake Tanganyika is the world’s second-deepest lake, with a surface area of 32,000 km² and a basin that supports more than 10 million people. For decades, its biodiversity—over 2,000 species, including 250 cichlids—was under threat from overfishing, habitat loss, and illegal practices. Through the Ecofish Programme and the LATAFIMA Project, the Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA) and its Member States (Burundi, DR Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia) launched coordinated actions to reverse this decline.

Rebuilding Fish Stocks

In 2021, Member States adopted the Regional Charter on Sustainable Fisheries, introducing a three-month biological rest period each year (15 May–15 August).

The impact was immediate and striking:

  • Catches tripled after the ban was lifted.
  • In Zambia, landings surged, with fishermen reporting incomes high enough to build new houses.
  • Species previously considered extinct began to reappear.

This was not just ecological recovery—it was social transformation. Communities directly felt the benefits of conservation, reinforcing trust in the system.

Strengthening Fisheries Governance

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing has long undermined sustainable management. To tackle this:

  • Six new patrol boats were procured for Member States.
  • By 2024, 884 illegal gears were confiscated and 1,359 fish seized and donated to communities.
  • 53 Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) officers were trained and equipped.

This strengthened cross-border enforcement, though challenges remain with coordination and funding.

Empowering Women in Fisheries

LATAFIMA also recognized the role of women in the fish value chain. A women’s group of 24 members received deep freezers (200 kg capacity), a cutting machine for large fish, and sausage-making equipment.

Within one year, they had reinvested profits to add two more freezers and an additional cutting machine. Training in business management enabled them to diversify, reduce workload, and secure faster sales. This highlights how targeted investment creates ripple effects in local economies.

Regional Cooperation & Outreach

Beyond enforcement and livelihoods, the programme expanded awareness:

  • Over 10 million people were sensitised via radio, TV, and WhatsApp.
  • A harmonised Fisheries and Aquaculture Information Management System (FAIMS)was adopted by all four Member States, ensuring data sharing and transparency.

Key Lessons

  • Biological rest periods work: stocks recover rapidly when given a chance.
  • Community buy-in is critical: fishermen and women’s groups now see conservation as profitable.
  • Regional cooperation delivers results: joint charters and patrols curb destructive practices.

Looking Forward

With €2 million invested via FAO funding, Ecofish and LATAFIMA have proven that science-based governance, community empowerment, and regional cooperation can restore one of the world’s most important freshwater ecosystems. Yet challenges remain: securing long-term funding, strengthening post-harvest infrastructure, and scaling innovative monitoring like drones.

Still, the story is clear: Lake Tanganyika’s recovery is not just possible—it is happening, measured in houses built, species restored, women empowered, and millions of people reached.