East Africa moves to harmonise Lake Victoria fishing rules

EAST AFRICA – Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania are pushing forward with plans to implement a shared fishing licence for Lake Victoria to resolve long-running territorial disagreements and create uniform fishing guidelines across the region.

The initiative is designed to eliminate jurisdictional confusion that has frequently led to the arrest of fishers operating near border areas, including the contested Migingo Island.

With more than 40 million people depending on Lake Victoria for their livelihoods, the lack of consistent fishing rules has triggered repeated disputes among communities and national authorities.

Under the proposed arrangement, verified fishers from any of the three countries would gain equal access to the lake, provided they comply with a set of mutually agreed-upon rules.

Kenyan President William Ruto confirmed that a delegation led by Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has begun discussions with officials in Uganda and Tanzania to resolve ongoing disagreements and create a unified licensing system.

Tackling unregulated fishing and resource loss

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing continues to deplete fish populations in Lake Victoria, with current estimates showing that between 40% and 60% of fishing activity on the lake falls into this category.

Authorities believe a joint licence would help streamline monitoring efforts, allowing the three countries to share data and enforce fishing regulations more efficiently.

The hope is that coordinated oversight will slow the decline of commercially important species such as Nile perch and tilapia, which have been severely affected by unregulated fishing.

Efforts are also underway at the county level in Kenya, where five counties bordering the lake, Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Busia, and Migori, have drafted a bill to oversee fishing operations and discourage illicit practices jointly.

The bill proposes standardising fish prices across landing sites and markets, which could reduce revenue-related conflicts among local authorities and beach operators.

Stakeholders, including fishermen, processors, exporters, and beach management units, are expected to review the draft before it is presented to county assemblies for formal approval.

Dr. Stephen Orot, who chairs the Lake Victoria Riparian Counties Fisheries Committee, said the bill could help counties work together to eliminate illegal gear and fishing techniques.

Unresolved issues could delay implementation

Despite strong political backing, concerns remain over how licensing revenue will be shared and how enforcement will be handled across different legal systems.

Some beach management units have faced criticism for allegedly being involved in illegal activity, raising questions about their role in the new system.

Environmental factors, such as pollution, climate change, and invasive species, also continue to impact fish populations beyond what regulation alone can address.

Still, the coordinated efforts by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania point to a shift toward regional cooperation in managing Lake Victoria’s fisheries, a sector valued between US$500 million and US$800 million annually.

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