While Turkana Pastoralism is the dominant livelihood in Turkana, fishing provides important livelihood diversification and protein sources for Turkana and neighboring communities, particularly the El Molo people who fish Lake Turkana intensively. Fishing occurs primarily in Ferguson's Gulf on the western (Kenyan) side of the lake, where fish populations are concentrated and accessible.
The El Molo and Fishing Communities
The El Molo are a small community (historically numbering several hundred, with some contemporary estimates of 500 to 2,000 individuals) living primarily on the southern shores of Lake Turkana. They are traditionally fisher-hunter-gatherers, with fishing being their primary occupation and source of protein and income. The El Molo speak their own Turkana Language (also called El Molo, distinct from Turkana), though many younger El Molo speak Turkana as well.
Some Turkana pastoralist communities, particularly those living near the lake shores, have adopted fishing as a supplement to or alternative to pastoralism. These communities often combine seasonal fishing (during dry seasons when Turkana Pastoralism resources are stressed) with pastoral production, or have gradually shifted toward fishing as a primary livelihood.
Fish Species and Fishery
Lake Turkana supports several fish species adapted to alkaline conditions. The primary commercial species is the tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a cichlid fish that can tolerate the lake's alkaline chemistry. Tilapia is relatively abundant and supports the primary commercial fishery. The lake also contains Nile perch (Lates niloticus), though this species is less commonly caught than tilapia.
The tilapia fishery has fluctuated significantly based on fish population levels and fishing pressure. Major fish population collapses have occurred periodically (sometimes following droughts or environmental changes), requiring multi-year recovery periods. Managing the fishery to balance sustainability and livelihood needs has been an ongoing challenge.
Ferguson's Gulf
Ferguson's Gulf, on the western (Kenyan) side of Lake Turkana, is the primary fishing ground for commercial and subsistence fishing. The gulf is shallower and more productive than other parts of the lake, with higher fish concentrations. Most fishing camps, fish markets, and fish processing activities are concentrated around Ferguson's Gulf, particularly at small trading centers along the coast.
The gulf is also closer to pastoral communities in the surrounding areas, making fish more accessible to pastoral populations who may exchange pastoral products (milk, livestock) for fish or engage in seasonal fishing themselves.
Fishing Technology and Methods
Traditional Turkana and El Molo fishing uses relatively simple technology: handmade fishing nets, baskets, and lines. Fishing is labor-intensive, typically conducted from dugout canoes or inflatable boats. Modern fishing (increasingly common) uses motorized boats and commercial fishing nets, allowing larger catches but also contributing to overfishing concerns.
Fishing is typically a male occupation, though Turkana Women often participate in fish processing and marketing. Fish are caught, dried, smoked, or salted for preservation and transport to markets. Fish processing facilities (smoking racks, drying areas) are scattered along the lakeshore.
Fish Marketing and Trade
Fish from Lake Turkana are marketed both locally and regionally. Small quantities are consumed locally by fishing and pastoral communities. Larger quantities are dried, smoked, or salted and transported to markets in Lodwar, Kakuma Refugee Camp (the refugee camp), and other regional towns. Some processed fish reaches distant markets (Nairobi, other regions of Kenya).
The fish trade has been disrupted periodically by fish population collapses, which reduce the volume available for marketing and can devastate fishing community incomes. Environmental changes, particularly the lake level decline caused by Gibe Dam construction, have also reduced fish populations and fishing community incomes.
Economic and Nutritional Importance
For fishing communities, fish income is critical. Fishing may generate higher incomes than pastoral production during good years but is subject to dramatic fluctuations based on fish availability and market prices. For pastoral communities, fish provides important protein supplementation to pastoral diets dominated by milk, blood, and meat.
Fish from Lake Turkana is a significant protein source for populations in northwestern Kenya, and its availability (or lack thereof) has nutritional implications for the region.
Environmental Threats to the Fishery
The lake level decline caused by upstream dam construction (particularly the Gibe III dam on the Omo River in Ethiopia) has reduced fish habitat and fish populations. Lower lake levels mean reduced littoral zone (shallow water zone) where tilapia spawn and grow. This has generated declining fish catches and reduced fishing community incomes.
Overfishing concerns have also been raised, though management of fishing effort has been difficult given limited Turkana County Government capacity and the open-access nature of much of the fishery.
See Also
Sources
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Ferguson, A. J. D. (Ed.). (1994). The Lake Turkana: A Report on the Findings of the Lake Turkana Project (1972-1991). ODNRI, University of London. https://www.soas.ac.uk/
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Kolding, J., & van Zwieten, P. A. M. (2012). The Fisheries of the Rift Valley Lakes: A Challenge for Food Security and Livelihood. In D. Stiassny & P. Skelton (Eds.), Fishes of the East African Rift Valleys. Academic Press. https://www.elsevier.com/
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Odada, E. O., Ochagi, R., & Olago, D. O. (Eds.). (2003). East African Rift Valleys: A Systemic Perspective. Woodhead Publishing. https://woodheadpublishing.com/
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Getnet, B., & Dessie, G. (2015). Impact of Climate Change and Pastoralism on Fish Production in the East African Lakes: The Case of Lake Turkana. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 31(S1), 133-141. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/