The inland fisheries are supported by three main fish stocks. These are sardines (Limnothrissa miodon) introduced from Lake Tanganyika, also called “Lake Tanganyika sardines”, endemic mouth brooding cichlids (Haplochromis spp.) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Lake Tanganyika sardines cover two third of the total catch (FAOSTAT 2014). Most of the country’s inland fisheries production takes place in Lake Kivu. In 2013, over 75% (18,000 tonnes) of the inland fisheries production came from this lake. Lakes of the Gisaka and the Bugesera zones covered respectively 7% (almost 2,000 tonnes) and 5% (over 1,000 tonnes) of the Rwandan inland fish production. According to Fisheries Statistics, the annual volume of tilapia production from capture fisheries in three important fishing zones (Kivu, Ruhengeri and Rwamagana) declined from 913 tons in 2008 to 238 in 2011 (MINAGRI Fisheries Statistics 2008-2011). The fish farms in Rwanda are small-scale and primarily produce tilapia. Aquaculture production amounted to about 1,500 tonnes in 2013 (around 500 tonnes in 2012 (FAOSTAT 2014 and MINAGRI 2013)). The fish were raised in ponds (55%), cages (36%) and in dams (9%). Most of the ponds are found the Southern province of Rwanda. The cages are mainly placed in Lake Burera, Lake Kivu and Lake Ruhondo (see Annex 7). 4.1.3 Fish imports and exports Figure 14 shows the import and export quantities for Rwanda. There’s a growing trend for fish import into Rwanda, mostly from Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi. In 2010, Rwanda imported nearly 6000 tonnes of fish: 4200 from Tanzania, 1400 from Uganda, 300 from Burundi and only 22 from Kenya. In the same period, Rwanda imported fish from China, European countries such as Belgium, Netherlands and Germany in low quantities. However, in 2012 around 12,000 tonnes of, mostly dried, fish was imported from above mentioned countries. This represents an increase of 100% of fish imports in 2 years. Figure 14 Import and Export quantities Rwanda (tonnes). Only 2010-2013 data available. Source: Comtrade. 2010 import quantity comes from Jean Bosco Kabagambe). According to the official trade statistics Rwanda is predominantly a fish importer and not a fish exporter. However, up to 80% of the Rwandan fish production (20,000 tonnes in 2013) goes through the border of DRC unregistered. The wild caught fish are brought to the DRC border by trucks. The fish are unloaded from the truck in Rwanda and transported unregistered to DRC in baskets and buckets. This makes the country in fact a net exporter of fish. 4.1.4 Fish availability The total production of fishery products was around 25,000 tonnes in 2013 (Figure 13). However, up to 80 per cent of this quantity is exported (mainly unregistered) to the DRC where producers get a better price for their products. Figure 14 shows that in 2012 only 400 tonnes of registered seafood products were exported and an additional 12,000 tonnes of seafood products were imported. Assuming import and export (including unregistered export to DRC) didn’t change for 2013 around 16,500 tonnes of seafood were consumed domestically. 4.1.5 Competition and development scenarios In Rwanda there’s no competition in the fish market between domestic and imported fish products. People prefer to eat imported fish, because these fish are frozen and can be hold for a longer period. Most of the fish caught and farmed goes to DRC (registered and unregistered). In Rwanda also Pangasius from Vietnam is imported by Alpha Choice Ltd. and sold in butcheries and the retail market. As inland capture fisheries remain under pressure it is not expected that the production will grow. An increase in the supply of fish products has to come from imports or aquaculture. With a per capita fish consumption of 1.4 kg per year (taking into account the unregistered export to DRC of about 80% of the production) and a population growth of 2.6%, the additional production volume required in order to maintain the present level of fish consumption can be estimated for different years for different consumption averages. Table 6 shows the expected scenarios for increasing consumption per capita per year, indicating the growth potential for aquaculture in Rwanda. To realise a fish consumption level of 2 kg per capita in 2018 total annual fish production has to increase by approximately 10,000 tonnes. This means that each year aquaculture needs to increase with around 2,000 tonnes. In 2018 aquaculture production will need to be almost 2 times the production in 2013. To increase the consumption per capita to 4 kg per capita per year, total production in 2023 has to be approximately 45,000 tonnes. To reach this amount of fish with aquaculture, production should be 4 times as high as the production in 2013. To increase fish production to the expected scenario quantities, considerable investments in aquaculture are essential.
