163
9 Poverty in Lake Victorian Fisheries – Understanding Governability
Using the interactive governance perspective as a basis, in this chapter we argue
that in order to understand the pervasive poverty among the fi sher groups on Lake
Victoria’s shores, it is important to accept that these poor fi sher groups are complex,
diverse and dynamic, and operate at different scales. In Lake Victoria, understanding
one group of poor fi shers requires a wider lens. For instance, some gear owners are
also crewmembers, in the same way that some gear menders are both gear owners
and crewmembers. That is to say, the boundaries of each group may overlap.
Nevertheless, gear owners, crewmembers and gear menders are highly dissimilar
groups with differing interests.
Secondly, Lake Victoria fi shers have sub-groups within each group. Among
crewmembers, for example, there are fi shers who target happlochromine, Nile
perch, Tilapia and Dagaa species. The Nile perch fi shers use a range of different
gear and are subdivided accordingly. There are those who use long lines and gillnets, as well as those who use outboard engines, wind and hand-paddled boats.
The same holds true for Tilapia fi shers; some use hand lines, while others opt for
gillnets. Each group has its own unique set of needs and concerns. For example,
happlochromine and local fi shers have always complained about restrictions on
using 5 in. mesh-size for fi shing. This is because there are some fi sh species whose
total size at maturity can still not be caught by those nets. This therefore means
that they cannot catch such species and, consequently, their livelihood concerns
are not optimally addressed.
The Nile perch fi shers also have their concerns. Although this species has generated
considerable earnings, due in large part to its export to, among others, European and
Middle Eastern markets, the fi shers have not been taken out of poverty. Their daily life
is characterized by intensive labor, while their living conditions have only experienced
minimal change for a sustained period of time. The proliferation of Nile perch fi sheries
in the Lake has brought with it incomes that has not matched fi shers living conditions.
In particular, local fi sheries authorities have reported that fi sheries generate between
USD 2–4 per day per fi sher (Odongkara et al. 2009 ) , which may not equate to extreme
poverty according to of fi cial de fi nitions, but do not constitute more than a meager livelihood either. This holds true especially where fi shers continue to live in conditions in
which their ability to access health and school services, good roads, adequate clean and
safe water, sustainable sources of energy, among others, is found wanting.
The Governing System
This system consists of various institutions that can be traced back to 1908, the year
in which the Fish Protection Ordinance was enacted (Geheb 1997 ) . In 1947, a Lake
Victoria Fisheries Service (LVFS) was formed. The LVFS was focused in particular
on the enforcement of fi sheries laws and regulations. It was later transformed into the
East Africa Fresh Water Fisheries Research Organization (EAFFRO). In the 1990s,
a joint management arrangement for the Lake was proposed, and, consequently, the
Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) (See Fig. 9.2 ) was formed.
9 Poverty in Lake Victorian Fisheries – Understanding Governability
Using the interactive governance perspective as a basis, in this chapter we argue
that in order to understand the pervasive poverty among the fi sher groups on Lake
Victoria’s shores, it is important to accept that these poor fi sher groups are complex,
diverse and dynamic, and operate at different scales. In Lake Victoria, understanding
one group of poor fi shers requires a wider lens. For instance, some gear owners are
also crewmembers, in the same way that some gear menders are both gear owners
and crewmembers. That is to say, the boundaries of each group may overlap.
Nevertheless, gear owners, crewmembers and gear menders are highly dissimilar
groups with differing interests.
Secondly, Lake Victoria fi shers have sub-groups within each group. Among
crewmembers, for example, there are fi shers who target happlochromine, Nile
perch, Tilapia and Dagaa species. The Nile perch fi shers use a range of different
gear and are subdivided accordingly. There are those who use long lines and gillnets, as well as those who use outboard engines, wind and hand-paddled boats.
The same holds true for Tilapia fi shers; some use hand lines, while others opt for
gillnets. Each group has its own unique set of needs and concerns. For example,
happlochromine and local fi shers have always complained about restrictions on
using 5 in. mesh-size for fi shing. This is because there are some fi sh species whose
total size at maturity can still not be caught by those nets. This therefore means
that they cannot catch such species and, consequently, their livelihood concerns
are not optimally addressed.
The Nile perch fi shers also have their concerns. Although this species has generated
considerable earnings, due in large part to its export to, among others, European and
Middle Eastern markets, the fi shers have not been taken out of poverty. Their daily life
is characterized by intensive labor, while their living conditions have only experienced
minimal change for a sustained period of time. The proliferation of Nile perch fi sheries
in the Lake has brought with it incomes that has not matched fi shers living conditions.
In particular, local fi sheries authorities have reported that fi sheries generate between
USD 2–4 per day per fi sher (Odongkara et al. 2009 ) , which may not equate to extreme
poverty according to of fi cial de fi nitions, but do not constitute more than a meager livelihood either. This holds true especially where fi shers continue to live in conditions in
which their ability to access health and school services, good roads, adequate clean and
safe water, sustainable sources of energy, among others, is found wanting.
The Governing System
This system consists of various institutions that can be traced back to 1908, the year
in which the Fish Protection Ordinance was enacted (Geheb 1997 ) . In 1947, a Lake
Victoria Fisheries Service (LVFS) was formed. The LVFS was focused in particular
on the enforcement of fi sheries laws and regulations. It was later transformed into the
East Africa Fresh Water Fisheries Research Organization (EAFFRO). In the 1990s,
a joint management arrangement for the Lake was proposed, and, consequently, the
Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) (See Fig. 9.2 ) was formed.