The Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization was established by a Convention signed on 30 June 1994, in Kisumu, Kenya by the "Contracting Parties" who consist of the Governments of the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.
The objectives of this association are:
To foster co-operation amongst the Contracting Parties in matters regarding Lake Victoria;
To harmonise national measures for the sustainable utilisation of the living resources of the Lake;
To develop and adopt conservation and management measures to assure the health of the Lake's ecosystem and the sustainability of its living resources.
In order to achieve the main objectives, LVFO has function and responsibility to:
Promote the proper management and optimum utilisation of the fisheries and other resources of the lake;
Enhance capacity building of existing institutions and develop additional institutions dedicated to, or likely to contribute to, the purposes of the Convention in co-operation with existing institutions established in or by the Contracting Parties and with such international, regional or non-governmental organisations as may be appropriate;
Provide for the conduct of research concerning the waters of Lake Victoria, including without limitation the quality of such waters, in particular with respect to supporting the living resources of the Lake and the nature, extent and pathways of its pollution and other forms of environmental degradation;
Encourage, recommend, co-ordinate and, as appropriate, undertake training and extension activities in all aspects of fisheries;
Consider and advise on the effects of the direct or indirect introduction of non-indigenous aquatic animals or plants into the waters of Lake Victoria or its tributaries and to adopt measures regarding introduction, monitoring, control or elimination of any such animals or plants;
Serve as a clearing-house and data bank for information on Lake Victoria fisheries and promote the dissemination of information without prejudice to industrial property rights, by any appropriate form of publication;
In respect of any or all of the foregoing, adopt budgets, seek funding, formulate plans for financial manage-ment and allocate funds to activities of the Organization, or to such activities of the Contracting Parties as it may determine to be in furtherance of the purpose of Organization Convention; and
Undertake such other functions as it may determine to be necessary or desirable in order to achieve the purpose of the Convention.
