GGGI Small Grant (2025) - Blue Victoria (Tanzania)
Project Summary
Blue Victoria is a youth-led nonprofit organization dedicated to freshwater biodiversity conservation and the promotion of sustainable fisheries in the Lake Victoria Basin. With the support of the GGGI’s small grants program, Blue Victoria led a ghost gear cleanup operation in Lake Victoria’s Mwanza Gulf Key Biodiversity Area. The team worked alongside volunteers, Beach Management Units, and fisheries officers to remove more than 200 kilograms of ALDFG. This effort contributed to reducing ghost fishing pressures, restoring nearshore habitats and improving the ecological health of the Gulf. The organization also organized a multi-stakeholder workshop to raise awareness about ghost gear and sustainable fishing practices. The session strengthened local knowledge, built partnerships, and enhanced community-driven strategies to prevent gear loss and reduce ALDFG in Lake Victoria among fishers, fish traders, Ministry of Fisheries representatives, regional administrators, and local NGOs.
