Authored by Brad Czerniak
LVFO

The Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) _is a regional organization under the East African Community (EAC) that is responsible for coordinating and managing fisheries and aquaculture resources of the East African Community. The organization was formed through a Convention signed in 1994 by the three EAC Partner States of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and has since been revised to accommodate all partner states of the EAC.

The objective of the LVFO is to foster cooperation among the partner states by harmonizing national measures, developing and adopting conservation and management measures for the sustainable utilization of living resources of Lake Victoria for maximum socio-economic benefits. The functions of the LVFO are to:

  • Promote the proper management and optimum utilisation of fisheries and other resources of the lake
  • Enhance the capacity of existing fisheries institutions 
  • Provide a forum for discussion of the impacts of initiatives on the lake
  • Provide for the conduct of research on the living resources of the lake and its environment
  • Coordinate and undertake training and extension in all aspects of fisheries
  • Consider and advise on the impact of introductions of non-indigenous organisms into the Lake Victoria 
  • Serve as a clearinghouse and a data bank for information on the fisheries of the lake
  • Promote the dissemination of information.

The LVFO is committed to developing and maintaining effective working relationships with other agencies, institutions, and individuals involved with the Lake Victoria. The LVFO collaborates with international and regional, governments, private sector, NGOs, CBOs and projects working on fisheries on Lake Victoria. The partnerships and collaborations aim at ensuring a healthy ecosystem and sustainable fisheries resource utilization and socio-economic development of the Lake Basin communities.

The programs and activities of the LVFO are funded by Partner States and Development Partners. Development Partners currently supporting LVFO are the European Union, NORAD, Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) and FAO.

Resource Type
Partnership
Theme
Governance and Financing
Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Management
Geography
Kenya
Rwanda
Tanzania
Uganda
Lake Victoria
Contact
LVFO

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