Overview

The Darwin Initiative: Pairing Community Conservation Areas (CCAs) with Sustainable Aquaculture in Lake Victoria project cultivates a new model for responsible aquaculture that safeguards native species, while ensuring long-term benefits for local communities and engaging women to serve as entrepreneurs and leaders in the fishing industry.

In collaboration with Conservation International, Victory Farms, and Fauna and Flora, Pathfinder has been working with the communities surrounding Lake Victoria to foster sustainable fishing practices through a five-pronged approach. 

1. Demarcation and protection of fish breeding areas.  
2. Promotion of cage aquaculture to alleviate pressure on the wild fish population. 
3. Introduction of alternative livelihoods to mitigate pressure on lake resources. 
4. Re-Introduction of endangered fish species, such as the Oreochromis esculentus tilapia, into breeding sites for multiplication and growth. 
5. Promotion of sustainable fishing practices—such as encouraging the use of selective fishing gear to allow smaller fish to escape, ensuring the survival of juvenile fish. 

As the fisheries of Lake Victoria make strides toward sustainability, the Darwin Initiative also seeks to cultivate another underutilized resource—the leadership potential of women in the fisheries sector.    

To foster greater gender equity in the fisheries sector, the Darwin Initiative works to equip women with the tools they need to take steps toward economic independence and reshape traditional roles within the fishing community. 

Project Activities

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Training and Skills Building

• Holding empowerment sessions to enhance women’s agency and autonomy. 
• Equipping women with the skills to manage resources, make strategic decisions, and adapt to changing market dynamics.

Enhancing Access to Finances

• Enabling women to initiate income-generating activities, support their families, and reduce financial vulnerability. 
• Instilling a culture of savings among women through education and encouragement. 
• Linking women to affordable sources of financing to enhance and support their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Awareness Campaigns

• Sensitizing communities about women’s issues, gender equality, and the consequences of discrimination. 
• Championing women’s involvement in leadership positions within beach management units—ensuring that women have a meaningful role in decision-making processes.

Social Support and Networking

• Building strong support networks among women and their communities to overcome vulnerability. 

Project Results

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The project identified and demarcated over 1,000 hectares of community fisheries conservation areas, which were stocked with tilapia fingerlings. This initiative led to a significant increase in the harvest of native species, benefiting the local communities by enhancing food security and supporting sustainable fisheries management. 

In March 2023, 155 women living in fishing communities along Lake Victoria were trained and mentored on entrepreneurship and agency. This led to a 200% increase in women leaders on Homabay County Beach Management Unit’s executive teams, giving them greater authority about how conservation decisions are made and how resources from fishing are used.