| LTR Project |
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Execution: FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations) |
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Duration: started in 1992 , its operational phase ended at the end of January 2000. From then on, a national execution phase started (up to 31.12.2001) and still funded by Finland, to execute the Lake Tanganyika Fisheries Monitoring Programme (LTFMP) |
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Funding: FINNIDA (Finnish International Development Agency) |
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Scientific Coordination: the Institute of Applied Biotechnology at the University of Kuopio (http://www.hytti.uku.fi/laitokset/sovel/). Several other Finnish scientists (Universities of Turku, Helsinki, Joensuu and Lappeenranta; Regional Environmental Agency of Häme, Tampere; and the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute) were also closely involved in different researches. |
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Activities: for the first time, multidisciplinary research (limnology, hydrodynamics, zooplankton studies, fish biology, fisheries statistics, remote sensing, fish genetics, carbon-energy budget, hydro-acoustics, etc.) was carried out lake-wide in a standardised way. |
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Field work: was mainly coordinated out of 3 major field stations (Bujumbura, Burundi together with Uvira, Zaïre; Kigoma, Tanzania and Mpulungu, Zambia) where international FAO staff was posted. All research was done in close collaboration with the staff of the Fisheries Departments and/or Research Institutes of the riparian states involved. A follow-up (national execution) Monitoring Programme by the riparian states has been implemented as from 01.02.2000. This phase is now coordinated by Mr. D.B/R. Chitamwebwa, Regional (National) Coordinator (ltfmp-kig@africaonline.co.tz ) while the responsibility for its execution at different research stations is assumed by the following Officers-in-Charge: in Bujumbura (Burundi) by Mr. Saidi BADENDE (ltfmp-bdi@cbinf.com); in Uvira (D.R.C.) by Mr. MULIMBWA N'Sibula (c/o ltfmp-bjm@cbinf.com); in Kigoma (Tanzania) by Mr. CHITAMWEBWA (ltfmp-kig@africaonline.co.tz) and, finally, in Mpulungu (Zambia) by Mr. Leonard MWAPE (ltfmpmp@zamserve.zamtel.zam ). The scientific coordination of the LTFMP continues to be to be assured by the University of Kuopio (Hannu.Molsa@uku.fi ). |
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Research vessel: the major research vessel "Tanganyika Explorer" (25.3 m long stern trawler) became operational mid-95 and carried out 20 lake-wide, multidisciplinary research cruises since; LTR' lease expired at the end of April 1998 which means that the vessel also can be rented by other research teams........ |
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Research results: being published in project Technical Documents and Manuals and other international scientific publications. Recently, the 100th Technical Document was finalized and they were all - together with other relevant info - put on 1 CD-ROM which now can be ordered by all interested: all Lake Tanganyika Research documents and publications are available in CD-ROM format from the University of Kuopio, Finland. |
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The purchase price per CD-ROM is $60 USD [ $40 US per CD-ROM + 22%VAT + $10 US for shipping & handling ] . Available in English and French language. |
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Orders may be placed directly through: |
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All the above LTR results, including primary data and preliminary analyses, were published between 1992-1999. Publications of LTR were issued in two series: |
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a) Field Guides and Manuals (GCP/RAF/271/FIN-FM) provide background on sampling methodologies and procedures; |
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b) Technical Documents (GCP/RAF/271/FIN-TD) report the results of different research components, meetings and missions. |
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A total of 20 Field Guides and Manuals and 100 Technical Documents have been published, all of which are preserved electronically as Adobe Acrobat Reader files (.pdf). They can be consulted / downloaded online at the official LTR site (see above).Some of their abstracts are also available in the updated list of Technical Documents, Field Manuals and Other Publications within this site. |
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Final objective: based on its research results and taking into consideration the views of the riparian authorities and fishermen, the final goal of the project is to establish a lake-wide Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) for the rational and optimum exploitation of the fish stocks of Lake Tanganyika |
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Recent major activities: |
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the project finally has its own "official" website residing at the Fisheries Department in FAO Headquarters in Rome |
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upcoming major activities for 1999: (1) implementation of the Scientific Monitoring Programme and the FMP; (2) publication and distribution on CD-ROM of all LTR reports |
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an ABD/FAO feasibility study of the LTR Management Plan for Lake Tanganyika which, in future, might lead to some $40-50 million worth of fisheries development projects for the four lacustrine countries. |