Lake Edward

Bio-physical and demographic characteristics

Basin home to ~ 81 fish species, 60 of which are cichlids of which 92% are endemic
Fish yield in both riparian countries is about 16,900 tons per year
Fishery employs ~1,000 fishers in DRC and ~1,100 in Uganda
Lake edged by national parks (i.e. Virunga and Queen Elizabeth) important for tourism
Lake is a source of water for domestic uses and is important for climate moderation
Prospects for cage fish farming and salt mining
Climate is favorable for cash crops like tea, coffee, cotton, and food crops such as beans, maize and banana

Ecosystem services threatened by high population growth, overexploitation of natural resources, invasive species, habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change
Fish stocks are declining due to increased fishing pressure
Oil exploration in the Albertine Rift region poses a threat of pollution
Reported conflicts on fishery exploitation along national borders

National policies and regulations to guide development and management of water resources, fisheries, wildlife, and tourism
While there is a regional organization (NBI) in place, it does not just consist of countries of the AGL region
Research, management and community institutions exist but are not well coordinated and facilitated
Limited funding from national governments and international groups

Clarify the role of NBI as a regional institution that can coordinate harmonization of resource management efforts
Need for creation, standardization and implementation of management policies, generation and sharing of information, and promotion of community participation