By Dick Nyeko E executive Secretary Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization

Management themesResearch themes  Fisheries Co-Management  Monitoring Control and Surveillance  Fisheries Policy Legislation, Institutions and Processes  Human Resources – capacity building  Information and databases  Information Communication and Outreach  Fish quality assurance, safety and product development  Infrastructure capacity building  Fish relative abundance monitoring (trawl surveys)  Fish biomass monitoring (hydro- acoustic surveys)  Catch Assessment and Frame Surveys  Socio-economic research and monitoring  Fisheries pollution and environmental monitoring  Database development and management Management and research themes covered by current Regional Working Groups Source: The institutional structure and programs of the Organisation (LVFO, January 2005)

Other Stakeholders in Co-Management Groups dependent on fishing and related activities, boat owners, traders, processors, gear producers and boat builders are included in co-management. Fish consumers are all target beneficiaries who gain from a more secure resource base and improved facilities and services at fish landings. There are other beneficiaries who provide various services to fisheries stakeholders, these include credit providers, shop- keepers and government services involved in the sector. Private industry associated with fish processing and export is are major stakeholder in fisheries resources management, fish quality and market efficiencies but also by being integrated into decision-making management structures.

Landed volumes and values from Lake Victoria, (tonnes, m$)

Exports of Nile perch from Lake Victoria, (‘000 tonnes and $‘000,000)

Other Challenges Cross-boarder Conflicts - Lake Victoria Fisheries is multi-State, multi-jurisdiction with harmonized but differing legal requirements of who may fish, where, when and for how long. Conflicts abound but have been dampened in scope and frequency. Fishers are required to obey laws and access regulations of the waters the fish. In this regard, LVFO provided summarized legal requirements of each partner states to concerned cross boarder fishers and organized meeting of boarder co-management concerns to de- escalate tension exacerbated by increased Piracy and theft. Climate change and Environmental Externalities