Depletion of Fish Resource in Lake Kitangiri, Tanzania: Poverty - Resource Overexploitation Nexus

Abstract

Lake Kitangiri in Singida, Tanzania is facing enormous pressure as a result of overfishing, illegal fishing, and environmental degradation. The increase in population and climate change have caused a shift from dependency on economic activities such as crop cultivation and livestock keeping to fishing. The limited fish resources are over utilized and have been depleted due to increased fishing activities. In order to determine trends of fish production at Lake Kitangiri and the associated effects of overexploitation, a study was carriedout. Data were collected using household questionnaires, focus group discussion and key informants interviews. fish production, output of farming activities in Lake Kitangiri were found to have been decreasing over years. More importanly, fishing activities in the area have intensified due to influx of people to the area. Illegal fishing activities at the habitat for fish breeding have led to the depletion of fish in the lake. The findings suggest that the depletion of fishery resources has negative effects to the income of the households surrounding the Lake. The government has been trying to combat illegal fishing activities without involving the community or the community based organizations. It is therefore recommended that the government should involve the community in the conservation of the resoures. The introduction of high value crops in the area will reduce the number of people that look at  fishing as the only viable livelihood activity thereby reducing pressure to the lake. It is also recommended that aquaculture be introduced to the area.