ALCOMGCP/INT/555/SWE
Aquaculture for Local Community Development ProgrammeGCP/RAF/273/JPN

ALCOM Field Document No. 21

Cover
Socio-Economic Study of
Fishing Communities along
Lake Mweru, Luapula Province, Zambia
CONTENT


by Tilleke Kiewied

Consultant Sociologist
Gender Planning Section, Provincial Planning Unit
Luapula Province, Zambia


Funding Agencies:

SWEDISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
JAPAN INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION AGENCY


Executing Agency:

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Harare, Zimbabwe, January 1994


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CONTENTS

1.   INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background
1.2   Survey objectives
1.3   Scope of the study
1.4   Research methods

2.   GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE AREA

2.1   The area
2.2   Infrastructure
2.3   Services
2.4   Development Activities

3.   POPULATION

3.1   Permanent Settlement
3.2   Temporary Settlement
3.3   The household
3.4   Nutrition

4.   ACTIVITY PROFILE

4.1   Productive activities

4.1.1   Fishing
4.1.2   Agriculture
4.1.3   Other activities

4.2   Reproductive activities
4.3   Community Activities

5.   RESOURCES PROFILE

5.1   Land
5.2   Fishing grounds
5.3   Labour
5.4   Capital
5.5   Technology and skills
5.6   Equipment and crew
5.7   Benefits

6.   SOCIAL ORGANIZATION

6.1   Kinship
6.2   Cooperation and support
6.3   Stratification
6.4   Gender ideology
6.5   Leadership

6.5.1   Traditional leaders
6.5.2   Local leaders

7.   EFFECTS OF HIGH IMMIGRATION ON THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF THE FISHING CAMPS

7.1   Catches
7.2   Pressure on land and firewood
7.3   Erosion of control and management

8. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

8.1   Impact of high population influx on socio-economic characteristics of fishing camps
8.2 Survey methods

9.   REFERENCES

ANNEXES

1:   Checklist for socio-economic studies in inland fisheries

2:   List of research team members

3:   Brief description of the NSV/NDO proposals on the programmes in Fishery and Health in Luapula

4:   Additional information on Lake Mweru fisheries

MAPS

1:   Luapula province

2:   Lake Mweru — Strata and research areas

3:   Kafulwe - Infrastructure Locations

Preface

This document is the result of a study carried out in several phases between February and October 1992, by the gender planning section of the provincial planning unit in Luapula Province, Zambia, It was sponsored by “Enhancement of the role of women inland fisheries and aquaculture”, a project funded by Japan and implemented during 1991–92 partly through ALCOM.

The study has been carried out in the context of a comprehensive programme for development of fisheries in Luapula Province, particularly Lake Mweru, executed by the Department of Fisheries, Zambia, with assistance from the Netherlands Development Organization. It is hoped that this document on the socio-economics of fishing communities along Lake Mweru will help in the formulation of a development and management plan for fisheries in Lake Mweru.

A specific objective of the survey was to help the department to take into consideration the socio-economics of fisheries in the Lake Mweru area while planning fisheries development and management. Another objective was to identify key indicators which will help in monitoring and impact assessment of development interventions and management regimes on lake fisheries.

The survey was conducted mainly by two research teams that visited two sites — Kasembe along the northern coastline, and Kafulwe/Kansungwa, 80km north of Nchelenge along the west coast — and conducted interviews with different groups of people at Lake Mweru.

ALCOM is a regional aquaculture and fisheries programme of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Based in Harare, Zimbabwe, it covers all the member-countries of SADC (Southern African Development Community) -- Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The aim of ALCOM is to assist member-countries improve the living standards of rural populations through the practice of aquaculture. Toward this end, pilot activities are conducted in member-countries to demonstrate new techniques, technologies or methodologies. Successes achieved, ideas derived, lessons learnt, are applied on a wider scale by member--governments.

The aim of “Enhancement of the role of women in inland fisheries and aquaculture” was to provide guidelines for fisheries and aquaculture planners on the type of information they need to ensure that gender issues are taken note of in fisheries and aquaculture planning.

ALCOM is funded by Sweden and Belgium. Its preparatory phase began in 1986, and its first implementation phase in 1990.

Abstract
A survey was carried out of fishing communities along Lake Mweru in Luapula Province, Zambia. The survey consisted of three elements: discussions with fisheries officials; a literature review; monitoring and research activities. Two research teams of three each, assisted by government personnel, surveyed two research sites: Kasembe along the northern coastline, and Kafulwe/Kasungwa along the west coast.
The survey yielded information about the infrastructure, services and development activities in the area. Socio-economic data on the population was obtained. An activity profile and a resources profile were drawn up. Information was obtained about the social organization of fishing camps, and the effects of high immigration on this social organization.

Abbreviations

SNV/NDONetherlands Development Organization
DOFDepartment of Fisheries
IFADInternational Fund for Agricultural Development
IRDPIntegrated Rural Development Programme