How community fish Farming is transforming livelihoods and saving Akagera NP
The partnership between Akagera National Park and surrounding communities continues to demonstrate that biodiversity conservation can go hand in hand with improving local livelihoods.
While many national parks face challenges caused by human activities, Akagera National Park has chosen a community-centered approach, offering sustainable solutions to challenges related to food security and household income.
Fish Farming as a Solution to Livelihoods and Food Security
Through engagement in fish farming projects, community members have found solutions to malnutrition, economic hardship, and overall well-being.
The initiative was introduced to provide sustainable income-generating opportunities, thereby discouraging illegal activities such as poaching, farming within park boundaries, and setting traps that harm biodiversity.
Community members received technical training and skills in fish farming, including proper feeding, management, and modern aquaculture practices.
As a result, they gained access to nutritious food,particularly protein and increased their income-generating capacity.
Innocent Mfitumukiza, the leader of the COPECO Gishanda fish farming cooperative, says the project has significantly transformed the lives of its members while strengthening their understanding of conservation.
“Before, we lacked sufficient food, and some people considered entering the park illegally to survive. Today, fish farming has transformed our lives,children eat well, and we earn income that allows us to pay for community health insurance and school fees.”
He further explained that the cooperative provides fish at affordable prices, helping households meet their nutritional needs while preventing illegal entry into the park.
“Vulnerable community members receive fish free of charge, while others buy it at a subsidized price ranging between 1,500 and 2,000 Rwandan francs. This enables families to improve nutrition, pay for health insurance and school fees, and develop a stronger sense of responsibility for protecting the park.”
Mfitumukiza added that operating as a cooperative has reduced disorderly fishing practices and significantly lowered the risk of drowning accidents previously caused by untrained individuals entering the lake.
Decline in Harmful Activities and Increased Community Participation
Income generated from fish farming has enabled many families to access community-based health insurance (Mutuelle de Santé), pay school fees, and meet other essential health and education needs. This improvement in livelihoods has eased pressure on the park.
As living conditions improved, environmentally harmful activities declined. Illegal trapping significantly decreased, and wildlife populations began to recover due to reduced human disturbance.
Nelly Nshimirimana, Community Development Manager at Akagera National Park, stated:“We have learned that conservation cannot succeed without community involvement. When people benefit directly, they become partners in protecting the park rather than seeing it as an enemy.”
Today, community members actively report illegal activities and unauthorized entry into the park, and Akagera is increasingly viewed as a shared national asset that benefits both local communities and the country at large.
The Park’s Role in Strengthening Fish Farming and Local Economies
Jean Paul Karinganire, a funding and reporting manager, cooperation between the park and local communities,explained that the park plays a key role in improving nutrition and economic resilience among surrounding communities.
“Akagera National Park supports neighboring cooperatives by providing fish fingerlings to enhance food security and economic development. Nine cooperatives with ten ponds received a total of 201,200 fish fingerlings.”
He added that the park also ensures fish is accessible at affordable prices. “Residents living near the park can buy fish at 2,000 Rwandan francs per kilogram, compared to about 4,000 francs elsewhere. This helps improve nutrition while supporting cooperative growth.”
Karinganire further noted that in 2025, a cooperative fishing within park waters harvested 246,484 kilograms of fish, of which 17,199 kilograms were sold to nearby communities, generating over 37 million Rwandan francs. Meanwhile, fish farmers operating outside the park harvested 34,205 kilograms, earning more than 68 million Rwandan francs.
In addition, Akagera National Park provides annual training to fish farming cooperatives, promoting professional and environmentally sustainable aquaculture practices. The park also encourages surrounding communities to act as guardians by reporting any illegal activities or threats to the park.
