Issue 2/2025, News
Fewer fish in lake Tanganyika
Jan
Located within the borders of four African countries, Lake Tanganyika has been a source of livelihood and food for millions of people for centuries. Unfortunately, fish catches between 2020 and 2024 have decreased by as much as 18%, threatening the economic and humanitarian situation in the region. In response, the government has introduced periodic fishing bans to restore fish stocks.
Significant decline in fish production
Lake Tanganyika is the world’s longest freshwater body and the second-largest by volume. It spans the territories of Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, and Zambia. Thousands of people in the region rely on fishing, processing, and selling fish, which are a crucial part of the diet for at least 12 million residents. However, fish production has drastically declined—from 104,000 tons in 2020 to 85,000 tons in 2024. The Tanzanian Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has reported a 45% drop in fish catches within Tanzania’s portion of the lake. In contrast, three decades ago, annual catches from the entire lake ranged from 150,000 to 200,000 tons.
To counteract overfishing, all four bordering countries agreed to implement a three-month fishing ban from May to August 2024. When fishing resumed, catch levels temporarily improved. However, critics argue that the long-term effects remain uncertain. They point out the lack of proper monitoring of fish resources— the last comprehensive study of the lake’s fisheries was conducted in 1996, with the next one planned for this year.
Population pressure and aquaculture prospects
Tanzanian authorities believe that the challenges facing Lake Tanganyika are complex, with illegal fishing playing a significant role. According to the UNHCR, Tanzania has received more than 200,000 refugees from Burundi and the DRC over the past decades, many of whom have settled along the lake’s shores. As demographic pressure increases, demand for fish in Tanzania is expected to double by 2030, according to a WorldFish report.
To mitigate fish shortages, the government launched a loan and training program for fish farming during the fishing ban period. Commercial fish farms have been operating on Lake Tanganyika for several years, offering a potential solution to reducing dependence on natural resources while combating hunger and poverty. However, not all fishers have the financial means to invest in aquaculture, and many fear failure, which is common in the early stages of fish farming. In 2021, aquaculture accounted for only 4% of Tanzania’s fisheries sector.
How climate change affects lake Tanganyika
One of the biggest uncertainties in the future of fisheries in Tanzania and neighboring countries is global warming. A study published in 2016 by American scientists found that up to 38% of natural fish and mollusk habitats in Lake Tanganyika have been affected by reduced water circulation due to rising temperatures and weakening local winds. As a result, the nutrient cycle in the water column has been disrupted, leading to a decline in algae production, which, in turn, has caused a food shortage for fish.
The continued effects of climate change could undermine efforts to restore local fisheries through fishing restrictions. Pelagic habitats are shrinking continuously, reducing populations of sardines, sprats, perch, and other commercially valuable species. This is not only an economic issue but also an ecological one—Lake Tanganyika is one of the most biodiverse aquatic ecosystems in the world.
Main image: wirestock / freepik
