The Baro-Akobo-Sobat River Basin—shared between Ethiopia and South Sudan—and Omo-Turkana Basin—shared between Ethiopia and Kenya—serve as lifelines for the local communities that live along these basins. For generations, they have relied on the fishing within the rivers and Lake Turkana for sustenance.
However, with time, a looming threat emerged – unsustainable fishing practices.
A much-needed call for action
For the communities that line these basins, fisheries have always been a source of nourishment, employment, and stability. They were a refuge for those displaced by adversity, offering stability in an otherwise turbulent existence.
A survey by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) revealed a critical gap in fisheries management across the two basins. These vital resources were being exploited unsustainably. Localised overfishing and use of illegal fishing gears are destroying the delicate ecosystems and depleting the vital fish stocks. This would not only threaten food security but also the very way of life for these communities.
Understanding that the fish stocks that span across the borders of these countries are interconnected, IGAD thoroughly discussed with the three countries and developed fisheries co-management plan for each basin to form a united front to ensure the future of these resources and the ecosystems. The pilot fisheries co-management implementation exercises conducted by IGAD have highlighted the need to redefine the future of transboundary river basin fisheries management. The project introduced Bilateral Fisheries Coordination Platforms for each basin and provided an opportunity to make discourses about the shared fish resources management. The coordination platform discussions between Ethiopia and Kenya contributed a lot to the recent signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Fisheries Sector development cooperation.
Cultivating resilience
The focus was clear: to develop strategies for a future resilient to the whims of climate change and to ensure that the fisheries’ resources would be used sustainably. The Ecofish Programme became IGAD’s best ally to achieve this goal. It has empowered women, youth, and families from communities that were most reliant on the basins. The project also equipped them with the knowledge and tools needed to manage the fisheries sustainably.
At the heart of this endeavour were training and capacity building works. These provided the local leaders, experts and fishing communities with the necessary skills to implement fisheries co-management, involving both the resource users and government officials throughout the process. Indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms were also implemented, ensuring that peace prevails even when interests might differ.
The ripple effect of IGAD and Ecofish
The IGAD-ECOFISH partnership has taken the lead in numerous initiatives to ensure the sustainable use of Baro-Akobo-Sobat and Omo-Turkana basins. Many fishing communities reaped the benefits of initiating communication through the establishment of discussion platforms. Furthermore, by investing in the training of over 300 fisheries community leaders and experts, they have laid a strong foundation for the effective stewardship of the fisheries.
The success of this initiative hinges on collaboration. Stakeholders from various sectors came together to lay down a framework for the future and to create commissions and policies. Enforcing regulations has ensured that everyone thinks in the same direction, while developing plans and mechanisms has equipped communities to adapt to the threats of climate change.
The achievements of the IGAD-ECOFISH project have showcased the power of collective effort. From the establishment of coordination platforms and building of capacities of fisheries experts and community leaders, each step forward is a stride towards a more sustainable future.
