NEWSLETTER No 2 ● DECEMBER 2018

Dear Readers and IMLAF Partners,

We are proud and delighted to welcome to the second

newsletter of the IMLAF project. This edition illustrates our

activities and achievements demonstrated during the

implementation of this project for the benefit of the people

whose livelihood depend in one way or another on Lake Victoria

fisheries.

The newsletter will provide you with information

about the progress, recent achievements, and important

forthcoming activities related to Innovations and Markets in the

Lake Victoria fisheries. Our main target are scientists and

policy makers working to promote Innovations and Markets of

fisheries in Lake Victoria. We hope the newsletter will keep you

informed on spectra of activities implemented in support of

research, training and outreach services.

Welcome and have an enjoyable reading.

Prof. Robinson Mdegela,

Project Leader

DANIDA-IMLAF PROJECT

Annual meeting in Arusha 2017

The 2017 annual meeting of IMLATF project was

held in Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science

and Technology from 04th to 05th December, 2017.

It was the 3rd Annual meeting since the Project

started in 2015. The meeting highlighted the

project progress on the capacity building and

market potentials of the fisheries sector in

Tanzania through implementation of main objective

of catalyzing socio-economic growth through

expansion of markets for Nile perch and sardine

quality products and employment opportunities.

Research carried by students under the project

were presented and deemed satisfactoryto

promote quality and safety of fish and fish products

through innovative methods of processing, for

strengthening food security to fisher folks.

Annual meeting, Copenhagen 2018

During 3-5 October 2018, IMLAF project members

and students had a meeting in Denmark to review

the project, scholars progress and share the plan

for training 1000 fisher folks in Lake Victoria

Tanzania. At this meeting,students presented

theirprogress reports. The project principal

investigator presented the plan for training 1000

fisher folks as per the project objectives.

Thereafter, students had meeting with their

supervisors to discuss the way forward for the

remaining work. Finally yet importantly, the project

management team had a meeting at the Technical

University of Denmark (DTU) to discuss options

and strategies for preparation of proposals future

projects and strategic interventions in relation to

the current IMLAF project.

Prof Anders Dalsgaard (standing) giving welcome remarks during the 4th project Annual Meeting, in Copenhagen,

Denmark

Prof Grethe Hyldig (Standing) giving presentations on activities related to QIM analysis implemented at Danish

Technical University (DTU)

Visibility and dissemination

As a strategy for increasing visibility of the project

and dissemination of the results and project

findings, One of IMLAF’s PhD student participated

in the 48th West European Fish Technologists

(WEFTA) conference in Lisbon-Portugal.The

conference is an annual networking platform for

international experts in seafood research and

development, industry and associated service

providers. It is a communication platform for

innovations, opportunities, product and process

improvements to meet changing consumer and

market demand. Themes for this conference

spanned from valorization through Innovative

processing, Biotechnology and bio prospection,

Health and nutrition, Food integrity to Aquaculture.

Delivery composed of keynote speakers, fully,

short oral and poster presentations of research

across themes. Mr. Davis (IMLAF PhD student)

had an opportunity to share to the audience his

research findings by giving a full oral presentation.

His presentation titled: “Effect of clove water

extracts pre-treatment on lipid oxidation in sun

dried sardines (Rastrineobola argentea) from Lake

Victoria, Tanzania” was under the theme

innovative processing. The key message in this

presentation was that clove water extracts can be

used as a natural antioxidant to protect oxidation of

health promoting omega-3 fatty acids in sun-dried

sardines.

Mr Davis Chaula (IMLAF PhD student) at the WEFTA conference, Lisbon 2018

IMLAF at Tanzania Veterinary

Association (TVA) conference,

2017

During 5-7 December 2017, all PhD students of

IMLAFT project and the PI attended and presented

their findings at the 35th TVA conference in Arusha

Tanzania at the International Conference Center in

Arusha Tanzania. The main theme of the 35th

Tanzanian Veterinary Association (TVA)

Conference was “The role of livestock sector in

building an industry-based economy in Tanzania”.

EachIMLAF student gave an oral presentation

based on their studies and the PI Prof Mdegela,

had a keynote presentation on Antimicrobials in the

livestock sector including fisheries in Tanzania.

Ms Eva Moshiro (IMLAF MSc student) presenting her research findingsat TVA conference, Arusha 2017

International contributions:

Global One Health course 2016

The International One Health Summer Course was

held at the University of Copenhagen, Department

of Food Resource Economics in 2016. Four PhD

Students under the IMLAF Project (Josephine

Mkunda, Zebedayo Baniga, Davis Chaula and Alex

Wenaty) attended the course and were awarded

Certificates of attendance.

The Principal Investigator for IMLAF Project

(Professor Robinson Mdegela) served as one of

the Key Resource Persons and Facilitator during

the course.

IMLAF Field works and visits

In March 2018, delegates of the Danish Ministry of

Foreign affairs, as well as representatives from

Danida Fellowship Centre (DFC) and

representatives from the Tanzanian Government to

the FFUhad a positive and very fruitful field visit to

Lake Victoria IMLAF project study sites. The team

observed and studied the evolution of IMLAF

project, strategies in place for optimal

implementation of planned project activitiesand

how researchers are prepared to solve emerging

challenges as well as turning them to opportunities

while continuing with implementation of research

activities smoothly. Some photos here illustrate

their filed visits and working sessions.

In September 2018, a stakeholders meeting was

held in Mwanza. The purpose was toplan, organize

and implement training of fisher folks and planning

for capacity building of BMUs. The team was able

to identify the gaps to be considered for training of

fisher community. Moreover, students, and

stakeholders provided their inputs based on their

field experiences for a widely acceptable and

impactful training by IMLAF.

Innovation by IMLAF:

Greenhouse drying of Dagaa

Lake Victoria Fisheries has enormous contribution

to capture fisheries inTanzania with Nile perch

(Sangara), Nile tilapia (Sato) and Restreneobola

argentia (Dagaa) being the most important

commercial fish species. Dagaa contributes 72% of

total landings by weight in Lake Victoria.

Traditionally, dagaa are preserved by open sun

drying which exposes the product to dirt, dust,

insects, microorganism, animals and birds.The

process result into sandy, low quality product with

characteristic off flavors which discourage its

consumption. Dagaa contains higher amounts of

health promoting omega-3 fatty acids than

Sangara and Sato, quality proteins and minerals

(calcium, zinc, phosphorous and iron).Thus, there

is urgent need to develop new drying technique to

improve product quality for the sub-sector to tape

the expanding domestic and regional market.The

greenhouse drying technique can be introduced in

the dagaa sub-sector to reduce losses and

improve product quality as compared to the

traditional open sun drying. Greenhouse dryer is

an enclosed structure having transparent walls and

roofs, made up of glass or polyethylene film.The

transparent cover material allows short wave solar

radiation to enter and is partially opaque to the

long wave radiation leading to a greenhouse

effect.The product is placed in trays receiving the

solar radiations through the plastic cover and

moisture is removed by natural convection or

forced convection. In good sunny days our trials

have registered up to 10°C temperature difference

between inside and outside the greenhouse which

may reduce drying time. This technology improves

the product quality by preventing access to product

by insects, birds, animals, dust and

microorganisms as opposed to open sun drying.

Furthermore, we have observed physical

differences between the greenhouse and open sun

dried products. Greenhouse dried product retain its

silvery “Shiny” color, is clean, free from sand soft

and straight for good look in packages. These

product characteristics and good packaging opens

up an opportunity to reach into market

segments/outlets (e.g min-supermarkets,

supermarkets) and increased profit margins which

the existing open sun dried products would not.

Bravo DANIDA-IMLAF project team for this kick-off

towards improved dagaa handling and processing

for nutritional quality maintenance, product

diversification and enhanced market value.

IMLAF’s Greenhouse dryer innovatively designed by IMLAF PhD student, Mr. Davis Chaula.

Lake Victoria Sardine Processing

and Marketing Constraints

Based on focus group discussions, interviews and

observations and empirical research it has been

shown that the peak period for Sardines production

in Lake Victoria is from November- April in every

year. However, this period is usually the rainy

season in all regions surrounding the lake. Sardine

processors largely depend on sun drying

technologies. The high dependency on the sun for

processing sardines around Lake Victoria in

Tanzania is the main cause of huge post-harvest

losses. Limited access to formal business loan,

unreliable markets and imperfect market

information are the main constraints limiting most

of fishers to adopt into modern sardines processing

technologies for quality products to fetch better

prices. As a result most producers are price takers

and hence the income and market shares

inequalities among market participants exists. Poor

access to information related to weather forecast

contributes to the losses. Improved processing

technologies and provision of right meteorological

information are potential mechanisms to reduce

the post-harvest loses and increase the income of

market participants. Collective marketing will be

the immediate solution as marketers will be able to

increase their bargaining powers and access

formal business loans through their registered-

associations.

Sun-drying of Sardines on Sand

Challenges with Nile Perch by-products

Nile perch is one of the most important fish species

from Lake Victoria for fisher folks as well as for the

nation at large due to its economic and health

benefits. They are source of animal protein and

other essential elements of health importance and

have been widely accepted. Currently, the Nile

perch fish market is growing domestically and

regionally due to its products diversification e.g.

salted sun-dried fish products used for human

consumption. Salting and sun-drying as an ancient

processing technology has been applied in fish as

one of common preservative method. The sun-

drying of fish is a simple, cheap and affordable

processing method, but is totally weather-

dependent. The other main challenges of this

method of preservation is, during the winter season

where the process becomes complicated and

products not dried well and undermine the quality

and hence low price in the markets.

Development of Quality Index

Method (QIM) for sardines of Lake

Victoria

For the first time in Lake Victoria fisheries IMLAF

project has developed a draft of Quality Index

Method (QIM) for fresh sardines. QIM is a tool for

determination of fish freshness. It is based upon

objective evaluation of certain attributes of raw fish

(skin, eyes, gills etc) using a point scoring system.

The scores for all attributes are then summed to

get an overall sensory score referred to as quality

index. In the first stage of developing QIM for fresh

sardines, a checklist of quality parameters was

prepared with their respective descriptions. The

first draft of QIM was developed and tested for

sardines stored under ice. Expected developments

in the sardine sub-sector for industrial processing

of sardines necessitate secure ways to measure

quality of raw material. QIM is an ideal tool for

determination of sardine freshness

Dr. Ofred Mhongole and Prof Grethe having Fresh dagaa for sensory quality evaluation using QIM

Investigations on Microbial

hazards

For effective decision making for the improvement

of the safety of fish products from Lake Victoria,

IMLAF project has been conducting a number of

hazard identification and characterization studies.

On the microbial contaminants part, various

Salmonella enterica serovars have been identified

including mainly Salmonella Salamae and

Salmonella Waycross from fishing grounds and

fish products from local markets. Antimicrobial

resistant E. coli have also been identified to some

extent as well as the causative agent of cholera,

Vibrio cholerae O1. However, appropriate

measures and innovations from the IMLAF project

such as the strengthening and expanding HACCP

system that would accommodate domestic

markets, as well as the greenhouse drying

technologies expected to minimize the levels of

microbial contaminants in these products to an

acceptable level in order to ensure good quality

and safe fish products from Lake Victoria.

Chemical hazards in fish from

Lake Victoria

One of the specific objectives of IMLAF project is

to identify chemical hazards that are as result of

human anthropogenic activities in fish, fishery

products and the aquatic environment.The

chemicals have the ability to accumulate in water,

sediments and fish. Human beings are likely to be

exposed to hazardous chemicals such as Heavy

metals, PCBs, Pesticides and flame-retardants

when drink water and eat the fish.During the 3

years of its implementation, IMLAF through its

MSc. and PhD students has successfully identified

a range of hazardous chemicals including

pesticides, PCBs, Flame Retardants and heavy

Metals in fish, fishery products such as trims,

Kayabo, smoked and deep fried products.In all

these products the identified chemicals were very

low and within ranges. THUS, Chemical Hazards in

fish from Lake Victoria is NOT alarmingbut requires

close monitoring.

Mr Alex Wenaty, PhD fellow (Chemical analysis)

IMLAF’s current graduates

On 11 April 2018, Ms Maria Thomsen became the

first IMLAF project supported student to graduate.

She defended her MSc thesis on Heavy Metals in

Sardine from Lake Victoria in the University of

Copenhagen. She had impressive findings as her

research explored both analytical chemistry and

parasitology with interesting correlations between

heavy metals and cestodes found in sardine gut.

Ms. Maria Thomsen (in yellow) with Anders Dalsgaard and other supervisors after her defense

On 23 November, two other MSc students from

IMLAF project namely Ms Eva Moshiroand Mr

Dulla Pastory graduated from Sokoine University of

Agriculture. They completed their Master’s degree

as part of the project with excellent findings being

some of the outputs of the IMLAF project. Eva

worked on challenges related to Beach

Management Units. Her findings serve as baseline

for IMLAF’s most important objective of training

1000 fish folks through BMUs.MrDullaworked on

Brominated flame retardants in Nile perch, making

IMLAF the first project to ever conduct research on

these carcinogenic chemicals in food products

from Tanzania.

Ms Eva Moshiroon her MSc graduation day next to Prof Robinson Mdegela (Project Leader)

Mr Dula Pastory on his MSc graduation day at SUA

More good news: Approval of

IMLAF midterm

In December 2018, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

and the Consultative Research Committee for

Development Research along with the DFC

Research Management Team approved the

midterm report of IMLAF Project. Overall, the

report concluded that the project has made

impressive achievements based on outputs.

Academic Publications

Three impressive publications have been made in

peer review journals through the support of IMLAF

Project. More than 10 are expected to appear in

the first trimester of 2019 in International peer

review journals.

Fun-facts: Maria first visited and worked in

Africa throughIMLAF project in Tanzania.

“I started my journey from Denmark to Tanzania on

the 2nd of August. I had never been to Africa

before so I was very excited and curious about

what I was going to experience for the next three

months during my stay. Upon arrival in Mwanza

airport Mr. Mhina from National Fish Quality

Control Laboratory, where I was going to do my

Master thesis fieldwork welcomed me. From that

day the employees at NFQCL have been very

caring and helpful to me and introduced me to the

Tanzanian life style.

I love the warm and sunny weather compared to

rainy and grey Denmark. I fully enjoy walking to the

institute every day looking at small baboons

playing around and listening to the variety of birds

singing from the trees. I eat nanasi, parachichi,

tikiti maji and fresh juice whenever I can get my

hands on it, and I am similarly very fond of all the

delicious fish dishes served everywhere in

Mwanza. I also really enjoy going with the

daladalla to Mwanza downtown and just walk

aroun d the bustling markets, watch the locals in

their beautiful colored kitenge clothes, relax at the

beautiful waterfront and observe the general

everyday life activities.

Despite my efforts to fit in, I still struggle with some

of the cultural differences though. I cannot help at

finding it a bit odd eating without cutlery (yes – also

ugali). I am still confused about how to dress

correctly and when you are supposed to wear what

clothing as a women. Also, having to explain to

people that I am not a rich white women with my

own company in Tanzania, but simply a student is

surprising to me. Finally, I have not at all gotten

used to the complete darkness when the sun sets.

In Copenhagen, there is streetlights everywhere,

so it is never really dark even at night time while in

Mwanza it is truly dark after 7pm. Just walking in

the streets at night is difficult and a bit scary and I

truly admire the locals who are able to go for a run

in the darkness. The first time I experienced a

power cut in the evening in my hostel, I panicked! I

was alone in the dining room and ended up

crawling on all four up the stairs and down the

hallway to my room where I curled up in my bed

with closed eyes under my mosquito net and

prayed for the light to come back 😉

I would wish I had taken a swahili language class

before going, so I would be able to communicate

better with the non-english speaking part of the

population. Many people, especially children yell hi

and Mzungu after me when I walk in the streets

and I always do my best to say Jambo or another

greeting back. But then the conversation stops at

that because I cannot understand a word when

their sentences become more complicated.

However, despite the language barrier I love the

open mindness and welcoming atmosphere that

surroundedme there. It has been a big help to be

around Mr. Gildas Hounmanou. He has conducted

some of his PhD-work in Denmark and therefore

knows a bit about the life style I am used to.

Consequently, he is very good at saving me from

situations where I am one big confused question

mark. Going to the fish landing sites to collect

samples with my supervisors is very interesting

and the entire culture about fishing and the

importance of the fish products in the lake zone

region is fascinating. Visiting SUA in Morogoro was

fun and it is always inspiring to experience the

university structure in other countries. I truly enjoy

trying to be a part of the life there, and I am very

grateful to NFQCL and the IMLAF-project for their

infinite kindness and for giving me the opportunity

to conduct my fieldwork in Tanzania”

Maria Collecting samples with Gildas on Lake Victoria

The Editorial team: gilmahu@yahoo.fr

Or moshiroeva@yahoo.com