Convention on the Sustainable Management of Lake Tanganyika.

The Contracting States, conscious of Lake Tanganyika’s unique aquatic and other biological diversity and of the Lake’s significance for the development of the riparian States and of the threats to the Lake Basin as a result of pollution, sedimentation, over-fishing and other adverse impacts of human activities within the territories of the Contracting States, sign this Convention to ensure the protection and conservation of the biological diversity and the sustainable use of the natural resources of Lake Tanganyika and its Basin by the Contracting States on the basis of integrated and cooperative management. In order to achieve this objective, the Contracting States shall cooperate in the development and implementation of harmonized laws and standards concerning the management of Lake Tanganyika and its Basin. Cooperation shall include: planning and managing activities under the jurisdiction or control of a Contracting State which have an adverse impact or which may have an adverse impact on the Lake and its Basin; supporting the activities and building the capacity of the institutions established under this Convention; formulating and adopting protocols to this Convention as stipulated in Article 34; exchanging information within the scope of the Convention and in particular on activities that may have an adverse environmental impact; engaging in joint research; and implementing this Convention. The Contracting States shall cooperate to promote sustainable fisheries management on Lake Tanganyika in accordance with Article 7. Other matters provided for are: prevention of pollution, prevention of sedimentation, conservation of biological diversity, access to genetic resources and navigation (arts. 8 to 12). A Strategic Action Plan shall be prepared pursuant to Article 13. Article 15 concerns Environmental Impact Assessment. The Lake Tanganyika Authority is established under Article 23. The function of the Authority is to coordinate the implementation of the present Convention by the Contracting States and, in accordance with this Convention and the decisions of the Conference of Ministers, to advance and represent the common interests of the Contracting States in matters concerning the management of Lake Tanganyika and its Basin. The Lake Tanganyika Management Committee shall support, coordinate and monitor the implementation of this Convention in accordance with Article 25. Article 29 concerns the settlement of disputes between Contracting States.