Photo essay: Fishing the Tanganyika

The following is taken from Wikipedia:

Lake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia; it is also the world's longest lake. The lake is divided among four countries – Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Zambia, with the DRC (45%) and Tanzania (41%) possessing the majority of the lake.

It is estimated that 25–40% of the protein in the diet of the approximately one million people living around the lake comes from lake fish.Currently, there are around 100,000 people directly involved in the fisheries operating from almost 800 sites. The lake is also vital to the estimated 10 million people living in the basin.

Lake Tanganyika fish can be found exported throughout East Africa. Commercial fishing began in the mid-1950s and has had an extremely heavy impact on the pelagic fish species; in 1995 the total catch was around 180,000 tonnes. Former industrial fisheries, which boomed in the 1980s, have subsequently collapsed.

The Zambian fishing crew. This is one of two commercial fishing companies left in Zambia on Lake Tanganyika. According to the captain it is estimated that there were 11 commercial fishing companies in the 60s. However, due to over fishing only 2 commercial fishing companies operate today.

Riding into the open waters. The fishing will not begin for another 5 hours.

Other fisherman delivering not one but three boats.

When the sun sets the work begins. The crew essentially drink sugar water for energy.

On the lookout for Buca fish. Full spectrum lights are used to spot and draw fish to the surface.

Looking for buca fish on the surface.

Light boats. The full spectrum lights are used to attract fish to the surface. These boats wait up to three hours for the return of the fishing vessel with the nets. The system appears to be purse seine fishing.

Ship engineer.

Pulling in and securing the anchor.

The real work begins around midnight.

Pulling in the lead lines.

Victory salute as the sun begins to come up on the horizon.

Zambian fisherman.

The rising sun is reflected in the li

Pulling in the nets before beginning to 4 hour journey home.

Fishing crew at work. This is around 5 am.

The light boats being towed.

Captain.

Ready for the journey home.

Another day at the office driving home.