The meeting between fishermen in Lake Kivu and the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) on Tuesday the 9thJuly 2013 confirmed that Lake Kivu will be closed off to encourage the growth of fish in September and October instead of August and September 2013 as earlier announced.
Karongi fishing project drying place
The representatives of fishermen in five districts neighboring Lake Kivu of Rubavu, Rutsiro, Karongi, Nyamasheke and Rusizi reached an agreement with RAB to always close off the lake for fishing for 2 months of September and October every year.
This agreement was reached after along time of debates between fishermen and RAB in the western Province of Rwanda explained Dr Samson Ntegebirizaza who is in charge of farming in RAB.
Fidele Nizeyimana the president of fishermen union in the Western Province of Rwanda says closing the lake in August and September would not be of any help in the growth of the fish. This is so because it does not rain in those months and fish do not get enough fish and cannot grow as expected, this is different in September and October.
Jean Bosco Sibomana the coordinator of Karongi fishing project says though Lake Kivu was closed for august and September last year and the quantity of the fish increased, the quality was not the best.
The strategy to close Lake Kivu off fishing for 2 months every year was implemented first in 2012 after RAB, the Western Province of Rwanda, and fishermen of Lake Kivu realized the decreasing quantity of fish. They agreed that fish need to be given space to grow and reproduce at least for 2 months every year if not they will depreciate.