Researchers to benefit from Lake Victoria Basin resource centre

By Peter Atsiaya

Researchers with interests on Lake Victoria have a reason to smile following the establishment of a resource centre that would enable them find data dating back to 1897.

The centre at the Lake Victoria Basin Commission offices in Kisumu is open to scientists from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.

The Commission’s Executive Secretary Tom Okurut said the centre, the first ever in the lake basin, would facilitate research for scholars interested in the lake.

Updated data

"We have data dating back to 1897 about the lake which would be vital to researchers and citizens," said Dr Okurut.

He added: "The centre will soon go online to facilitate easy access of information."

He said the data would be updated to ensure users get the right information.

"The initiative would simplify the work of researchers and other institutions working on innovations aimed at improving the livelihood of people depending on the lake and conserving the water resource," he said.

Okurut was speaking at Kenya Marines and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) in Kisumu on Tuesday where Fisheries PS Micheni Ntiba launched two programmes to enhance fish trade.

KMFRI will undertake the Lake Victoria Basin Biodiversity Information Project and Enhanced Fish Marketing Information Service.