Lake Kivu (2700 km2) is one of the African Great Lakes in the Albertine Rift shared between the DRC
(58%) and Rwanda (42%). The fish diversity of the lake is very low compared to its great neighbours
in the region with only 29 species of fish described among which 5 have been introduced (Snoeks
et al., 2012). The majority of the remaining native species are Cichlids (tilapiines and
haplochromines). Species with economic value include the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), the
African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Haplochromis sp. Other species found in the lake are
introduced Stolothrissa tanganicae and endemic Barbus sp. The introduction in 1959 of Limnothrissa
miodon, a clupeid endemic to lake Tanganyika known as the Tanganyika sardine and locally called
Isambaza, resulted in a progressive colonisation of the lake and the development of a productive
pelagic fishery in the 70’s, particularly due to the promotion of fishing techniques by a UNDP/FAO
project in the Rwandan part of the lake. Following this introduction, the sardine has gained substantial
economic and nutritional importance for the lakeside human population.
The fishery of Limnothrissa miodon and Haplochromis species dominates at >99% on Lake Kivu and
contributes to over 70% of the national inland fishery production. Nowadays the future of the sardine
fishery of the lake is endangered by the expansion of Lamprichthys tanganicanus, an invasive species
of fish from Lake Tanganyika with niche overlap (Snoeks et al. 2012; Muderhwa and Matabaro, 2010).
L. miodon is essentially zooplanktivorous in its early life but becomes omnivorous at the adult stage,
feeding on diverse prey: zooplankton, insect larvae and adults, other small fishes, including their
larval and juvenile stages (Isumbisho et al., 2004). Lamprichthys feeds mainly on mesozooplankton
offshore, whatever its body size. There are also indications of overfishing on Lake Kivu. The highest
production records were registered in the 1990s but since then production has fallen. Although fishing
regulations including a periodic ban on fishing to allow fish to breed are reinforced in Rwanda,
fishermen from Congo continue with unregulated fishing using illegal gear that catches premature fish.
Besides the sardine fishery on Lake Kivu, other important fisheries in the country are of tilapia and
catfish in the lakes of the Akagera National Parc and the Bugesera lakes (Fisheries Statistics 2008-
2011). The fishery production in the Rwamagana zone has significantly declined from a total annual
production of 3,316 tonnes in 2008 to 492 tonnes in 2011. As a consequence of unregulated fishing,
fish stocks in most lakes have collapsed. Practices included the use of under sized mesh nets and
destructive gears, striking of water surface (typhooning), use of chemical attractants, poison fishing
and beach seining. To many fishermen, illegal, unregulated, non-reported fishing were also observed
before regulation measures were taken
Fish are also caught in big rivers such as the Nyabarongo river, especially the lung fish, Protopterus
aethiopicus and the African catfish Clarias gariepinus, and sold directly on the fish market in Kigali.
Lake and river fishery alone cannot supply the needs in fishery products of the country and for export
to Eastern DRC. Intensive aquaculture is the solution. Fishermen are organising themselves in cage
fish farmer cooperatives or fishermen associations. To achieve the target of a fish production of
112,000 tons in 2020 predicted by the national master plan for fisheries and aquaculture, the Vision
2020 and the EDPRS 2008 – 2012, recommended the profound transformation of the fish sector from
subsistence into a productive high value, market oriented sector including intensification of sustainable
fish production systems. Given the present situation, it is doubtful if this is a realistic target.
