The archipelago of 7 islands in Kipili Bay (Tanzania, Rukwa Region) is an ecosystem of exceptional biodiversity. Nature exhibits incredible beauty and richness. Different fish species are endemic to these specific islands, but they are overfished to be sold in Europe, America, and Asia as ornamental fish for aquariums.

The Latawama project and the Tanzanian Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) conducted, in April 2022, an identification and feasibility mission to establish a new research environmental monitoring centre in the southern part of Lake Tanganyika.

Biodiversity protection, water quality, lake level monitoring, supervision of endemic fish exploitation activities, understanding of climate change, and support to improve local populations’ livelihood will be part of this high-level technical and scientific centre’s missions.

This new Centre will be a sub-station of TAFIRI-Kigoma aiming to monitor, study and protect the southern part of Lake Tanganyika in cooperation with our Zambian and Congolese partners.

The development of this centre will integrate high construction and landscape integration standards to limit its environmental impact. The concepts of eco-construction and autonomous renewable energy building will be favoured.

This strategic extension of the lake’s environmental monitoring network could be financed through the Latawama2 project currently being identified. It will be a challenging project to protect and manage the future of Lake Tanganyika’s southern part.

Thanks to Ismael Kimirei, TAFIRI DG, for his support and involvement in this joint mission.
The Latawama project is funded by the European Union and implemented by #Enabel