Rehabilitation of Lake Jipe Ecosystem: Alternative Fisheries: Fish Farming at Jipe Location (KEN-GEF-04-017)

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Project Details & Results

Situated on the Kenya Tanzania boundary in Taita Taveta district, the 30 sq km Lake Jipe is dying. The lake has lost about 50 % of its water mass within the last 10 years, due to siltation caused by destruction of the water catchment are and farmlands, proliferation of the typha weed, and diversion of fresh water recharge from river Lumi. The lake has increasing salinity, decreasing depth and biodiversity. Hippos and crocodiles have migrated upstream due to salinity. The lake is of global importance and the only place in the world where the fish Oreochromis jipe is found, and which is on the verge of extinction. In a joint effort to salvage the situation, the UNDP GEFSGP and the Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BCP) of the European Union have committed US$416,000 (US$250,000 from the GEFSGP and US$166,000 from the BCP) for the rehabilitation of the lake. The two funds and other partners are working together thorough the local communities for:

1. Site wide baseline data collection and an EIA will preceed implementation of rehabilitation projects.
2. De-siltation and restoration of the original course of river Lumi.
3. Removal of illegal water abstraction canals.
4. Rehabilitation of an existing water project to provide drinking water to the community.
5. Introducing agro-forestry.
6. Fish farming - raising endemic and other fish species in ponds.
7. Capacity building for sustainable fishing including right size of nets.
8. Protection of Njoro Springs
9. Bringing the communities from both sides of the boundary to hold consultations to reduce conflict.
This project part is undertaken to protect the lake from overfishing by introducing alternative fisheries like fish farming in 6 ponds near the lake. The activities are: to clear and desilt the Muguru canal for water provision, to clear 6 fish ponds, to repair inlets and outlets, to strengthen dykes, to purchase fertilizer and fingerlings, to conduct a market research and to develop marketing strategies, to purchase storage facilities (ice boxes) and to train the community on fish farming, finance and benefit sharing.

Notable Community Participation
Community members are involved in the pond clearence and all the work to establish fish farming (e.g. filling ponds, fertilizing etc.)

Capacity - Building Component
Community members will learn how to raise indigenous fish, hwo to store and market it.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
Community members will eventually sell the raised fish and generate income which will partly be used to maintain the farming efforts.

Gender Focus
Several women groups are the implementers of this project. They will be able to increase their income and their livelihood through selling fish. The earned money can be used to pay the school fees for their children and to enhance the living standard of the entire family.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
N/A

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Lake Jipe is transboundary water mass of international importance. The Lake serves an essential environmental function, being a permanent water reservoir for wildlife in two National Parks (Tsavo West in Kenya and Mkomazi Game Reserve in Tanzania). It has been a major source of livelihood as it has been supporting a thriving fishing industry and water transport business enterprises. The project is taking pressure from the lake which needs time to recover to enhance the fish stock for a future sustainable usage.

Tilapia at Jipe