Founded in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff with over 1,000 scientists globally, we impact conservation in 81 countries and territories. Looking towards the future, TNC’s 2030 Goals aim to address the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss through three primary pathways: protecting oceans, lands, and freshwater; tackling climate change; and providing food and water sustainably.
Lake Tanganyika, an ancient rift lake in the East African Rift Valley, harbors an extraordinary ichthyofaunal diversity, with approximately 250 documented cichlid species, 98% of which are endemic. The lake serves as a natural water body for evolutionary biology, showcasing unparalleled adaptive radiation, where cichlids have diversified to exploit a broad spectrum of ecological niches, ranging from rocky littoral zones to sandy substrates and pelagic waters. The riparian community around Lake Tanganyika relies heavily on the freshwater resources for their livelihoods, serving as a main source of animal protein and contributing to about 60% of their protein source. However, fish production from the Lake has decreased by 18% in the past four years due to many factors including overharvesting of wild populations and climate change.
The current population of Lake Tanganyika is more than 12 million people and is growing at a rate of 2-3% per year. The most recent official annual catch estimates were less than 100,000 tons against 150,000 - 200,000 tons three decades ago. The rates of malnutrition in the Lake Tanganyika community are currently above 40% which are associated with increased risk of all-causes of mortality. Given the fast population growth and dwindling fish catches, aquaculture is expected to augment the growing deficit in fish supply and reduce the increasing rates of malnutrition among children aged 1-5 years.
As part of ongoing efforts with key stakeholders and building on past projects in the Lake Tanganyika basin, we aim to (1) work with the Lake Tanganyika Authority to ensure implementation of the newly created Protocol on Aquaculture Development; (2) build capacity through trainings with the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute and to maintain and update siting tool; and (3) collaborate with the Government to ensure siting analyses are applied to incoming permit considerations. Through these efforts, TNC is committed to advancing sustainable aquaculture practices that benefit both the environment and local communities, contributing to our overarching goal of a sustainable and resilient future.
Keywords: Lake Tanganyika, Aquaculture, The Nature Conservancy