LAKE VICTORIA FISHERIES ORGANIZATION

The Joint Communiqué of the Council of Ministers of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization issued in Kampala, Uganda on 29th October 2008.

We, the Participants of the LVFO Regional Stakeholders Conference held at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala, Uganda from 27th-29th October, 2008 with the theme "Fish for All is Everyone's' Responsibility":

Concerned that the Stocks of Nile Perch is in danger of collapse if urgent regional action is not taken on implementing the recovery plan;

Recognize fishing communities and households in the Region are more vulnerable than others in the event of collapsed fishery and the need for concerted plan of action by all stakeholders and member states to find solutions;

Cognizant of the need for political will to define priorities, give broad acceptance to the plan of action;

Aware that the problem is regional and all states concerned should be behind the solutions which should include an incentive plan for alternative livelihood and not only retaliatory punishment of errant fishers;

Now launch an appeal and a call to action by all and particularly the governments to take concerted actions to sustain the fisheries as follows:

1. Reduce both point and non-point pollution that impact negatively on fish stocks;

2. Reduce illegalities by implementing the Regional Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) Fishing;

3. Reduce fishing capacity by implementing the Regional Plan of Action on Fishing Capacity;

4. Provide adequate budget to support Monitoring Control and Surveillance of the respective fisheries agencies and strengthen fisheries governance;

5. Plan for targeted intervention to address the issue of human health, safety, access to services and livelihood assets that lead to vulnerability of fishing households;

6. Gazette some areas of the lake as Lacustrine Protected Areas (LPAs) closed to fishing to allow regeneration of stocks;

7. Call for the LVFO and partner states to move forward actively implementing Entebbe Declaration measure "o" (Reducing transboundary conflict by supporting ongoing initiatives and interactions to address the root causes of these conflicts where they occur [amicably and in support of East Africa Oneness]);

8. Call upon the governments to create a mechanism for resolving fishing conflicts.

9. Call for the governments to develop mechanisms for shared resource exploitation and shared-management, including the limitation of access and the use of user rights

10. Recommends the establishment of an endowment/revolving/trust fund at the LVFO secretariat where processors and other stakeholders can contribute funds for sustainable management of Lake Victoria and BMU activities.

11. Call for continued strengthening of BMUs on the ground, especially in terms of capacity building of all BMU members regarding their roles, good governance (accountability, transparency), and the rights of members.

12. Note that the decline in fish supply is likely to continue as the gap between supply and demand widens in East Africa if aquaculture is not given due consideration.  In that Regard, call on partner states In accordance with the Joint Communique of the Council of Ministers of the LVFO , of 27 May 2004, Decision 2 b) to  "practice responsible aquaculture in the lake"

13. Call upon States to give priority, expertise and funding to develop a regional strategic plan for aquaculture development, by the end of December, 2008.

14. States recommit to implementing all other Decisions of Council and Communiques agreed upon in previous meetings and conferences.

Issued in Kampala, Uganda on 29th October 2008

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Hon. John Pombe Magufuli, (MP),

Minister,
Chairperson, Council of Ministers, LVFO,
Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries,
United republic of Tanzania

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Hon. Eng. Hilary Onek (MP),

Minister,
Vice Chairman of Council of Ministers, LVFO,
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries,
Republic of Uganda.

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Hon. Dr. Paul Nyongesa Otuoma (MP), Minister

Member of Council of Ministers, LVFO,
Member, Council of Ministers, LVFO,
Ministry of Fisheries Development,
Republic of  Kenya.