THE STATUS of FISHERIES and Fishing Communities in BUIKWE
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Ref. No.: UGA13050013 The Status Fishing Communities in Buikwe District Uganda Prepared by: Maurice Ssebisubi August 2013 THE STATUS OF FISHING COMMUNITIES IN BUIKWE DISTRICT, UGANDA Executive Summary The study is a survey to establish the status of fishing communities in Buikwe district, concentrating on the shore line between Namaziina and Bugungu capturing the prevailing conditions in the fishing communities. Sub-counties Ngogwe, Ssi-Bukunja, Najja, Nyenga and Njeru were surveyed. The objective of the study is to assess the availability and reliability of fisheries data in the district, identify the trends in the development of the fishery; evaluate the state of human capital, infrastructure and development projects in fishing communities. Lastly geo-spatial data maps were developed for the same data. To provide background information, desktop reviews were done for reports and published statistics at DFR, NaFIRRI, Makerere University, MFPED, UBOS, DWD and Buikwe Local Government. Interviews and focus group discussions were held with all the leadership committees on all the landing sites and district fisheries office. The report covers the economy of Buikwe, the contribution of the fishery to Buikwe and current state of the fishery. The district runs a 25Bn UGX budget with a per capita allocation of 23.8USD. District budgetary priorities are mostly education and health. The combined fisheries and aquaculture sector gets 0.05% of the annual budget. The fish landings in the district are estimated at a beach value of 45Bn UGX. Availability of reliable about the fishery is a challenge and the district development plan is yet to develop a comprehensive fisheries development strategy compared to other sectors. The district has 52 landing sites compressed into 28 BMUs. The main species of commercial importance are Nile perch, tilapia and Mukene. There is a general quantity and quality decline trend for harvests. An estimated 70,000 individuals are directly dependant on the fishery whose population structure is 87% below 50 years of age. Accessibility, Sanitation, Hygiene, Health and Education are the five major challenges facing the fishing communities. Relatively good handling practices are found in Ssenyi, Nkombwe, Kiyindi and Kikondo. Water borne diseases are exacerbated by the rains and toilet coverage in the communities is 23%. HIV poses a major challenge especially in the hard to access landing sites where access to health care and ARVs is none existent. At 28.8%, HIV prevalence is three times higher than the national average. Infant mortality is at 94 per 10,000. Transport is mostly by motorcycle and boat and both modes have no safety measures. Several projects by Buikwe LG, FAO, and MAAIF have provided fish handling infrastructural support at landing site level to Kiyindi, Nkombwe, Ssenyi, and Kikondo. Social services and health services have been done at a sub-county level by World vision, USEP, Red Cross and AusAID. The role of women is mostly in sun drying mukene (90%) and smoking fish (87%) and agriculture (80%). Environmental restoration initiatives have been conducted in Kiyindi and Ssenyi through planting trees. Page | ii THE STATUS OF FISHING COMMUNITIES IN BUIKWE DISTRICT, UGANDA Acronyms ARVs Anti-Retroviral Drugs ASDHI African Social Development and Health Initiative ANNPCAN African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect AusAID Australian International Development Agency CBHC Community Based Heath Care DANIDA Danish International Development Agency DFR Department for Fisheries Resources EU European Union FAO Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN FDG Focus Group Discussion GoU Government of Uganda LC Local Council LVFO Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization MAAIF Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries NAADS National Agricultural Advisory Services NAFIRRI National Fisheries Resources Research Institute NARO National Agricultural Research Organization OVC Orphans and Vulnerable Children UBoS Uganda Bureau of Statistics UNDP United Nations Development Program USEP Uganda Association for Social Economic Progress VCT Voluntary Counseling and Testing VSLA Village Savings and Loan Scheme Page | iii THE STATUS OF FISHING COMMUNITIES IN BUIKWE DISTRICT, UGANDA Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... ii Acronyms ..................................................................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ vi List of Figures .............................................................................................................................................. vii List of Appendices ....................................................................................................................................... vii 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Background ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Objectives of the study ................................................................................................................. 1 1.3. Location and geography of the study area ................................................................................... 1 1.4. Administrative structure ............................................................................................................... 2 2. Methodology ......................................................................................................................................... 3 3. Results and Discussions ........................................................................................................................ 3 3.1. Data and Information availability ................................................................................................. 3 3.2. Economy of Buikwe District .......................................................................................................... 4 3.3. Economic Importance of fisheries to Buikwe District ................................................................... 5 3.4. Prioritization of the fisheries in the district .................................................................................. 6 3.5. Landing sites .................................................................................................................................. 6 3.5.1. Beach Management Units (BMU) ............................................................................................. 6 3.5.2. Fishing seasons .......................................................................................................................... 7 3.5.3. Fish species, diversity and abundance ...................................................................................... 7 3.5.4. Fish Sizes ................................................................................................................................... 8 3.5.5. Trends in landings ..................................................................................................................... 8 3.6. Gear ............................................................................................................................................... 9 3.6.1. Boats ......................................................................................................................................... 9 3.6.2. Hooks and Nets ....................................................................................................................... 10 3.7. Outlook on the fishing communities........................................................................................... 11 3.7.1. Population ............................................................................................................................... 11 3.7.2. Main economic activities ........................................................................................................ 13 3.7.3. Accessibility ............................................................................................................................. 13 3.7.4. Fish Handling and Hygiene ...................................................................................................... 13 3.8. Fisheries business ....................................................................................................................... 15 Page | iv THE STATUS OF FISHING COMMUNITIES IN BUIKWE DISTRICT, UGANDA 3.8.1. Business entry requirements in fishing villages ...................................................................... 15 3.8.2. Records .................................................................................................................................... 15 3.8.3. Financial management ............................................................................................................ 15 3.8.4. License/ Permit ....................................................................................................................... 15 3.8.5. Fisheries related training .......................................................................................................