Zambia is a major producer of Lake Tanganyika sprat and sardine. These fish are commercially important small pelagics, locally known as kapenta, found in various water bodies in the country, including in Lake Tanganyika, the second largest lake in Africa shared by Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia.

Most kapenta in Zambia are harvested by small-scale fishers and sold at markets across the country or exported to neighboring countries such as DR Congo and Angola. Kapenta are an important source of fish protein for all levels of society and make up the major share of animal protein consumed in the country.

FISH4ACP aims to tackle some major constraints of the Lake Tanganyika kapenta sector, including overfishing, post-harvest losses and low profitability, by supporting innovative solutions to make the kapenta value chain more productive and sustainable.

FISH4ACP will work to enhance the incomes and livelihoods of Zambian small-scale fishers, processors and traders and contribute to poverty reduction, food and nutrition security and the conservation of aquatic resources.

Given that FISH4ACP also supports the small pelagics sector on the Tanzanian side of Lake Tanganyika, there are opportunities for cooperation between both countries, which the project aims to stimulate.