Managment Implications Nakiyende H., Mbabazi D., Balirwa J.S., Bassa S., Muhumuza E., Mpomwenda V., Mangeni S.R., Mulowoza A., Mudondo P., Nansereko F., and Taabu A.M
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Aquatic Commons FISHING EFFORT AND FISH YIELD OVER A 15 YEAR PERIOD ON LAKE VICTORIA, UGANDA: Managment Implications Nakiyende H., Mbabazi D., Balirwa J.S., Bassa S., Muhumuza E., Mpomwenda V., Mangeni S.R., Mulowoza A., Mudondo P., Nansereko F., and Taabu A.M. 2016 ISSUE 1, VOL. I NKATA one of the Mukene landing sites on Lake Victoria he National Fisheries Resources Introduction and methodological problems TResearch Institute (NaFIRRI), the involved in obtaining reliable Directorate of Fisheries Resources (DiFR), catch and effort data to input in The fisheries of Lake Victoria the Local Government fisheries staff and the needed management advice. have for several decades those from the Beach Management Units contributed to the livelihoods (BMUs) of the riparian districts to Lake However, from 2000, FSs and and economic development in Victoria regularly and jointly conduct CASs methodologies were the riparian states of Kenya, Frame and Catch Assessment Surveys. introduced and harmonized on Tanzania and Uganda. The lake The information obtained is used to guide Lake Victoria under the Lake supports livelihoods of about fisheries management and development. Victoria Fisheries Organization four million people who depend (LVFO); the two methodologies on it directly for water, food, We reveal the trends in the commercial have become popular fish and employment and six million fish catch landings and fishing effort on stock assessment tools in the people indirectly. The lake the Uganda side of Lake Victoria, over a three riparian countries Kenya, fisheries contribute between 15 year period (2000-2015) and provide Tanzania and Uganda and are 3–6% of the national GDPs of the underlying factors to the observed regularly used to monitor and the three states (World Bank, changes. generate scientific information 2009). (e.g. fishery indicators) to The contribution of the high value large guide decision making and The demand for reliable and size species (Nile perch and Tilapia) to the management of the Lake effective management advice commercial catch of Lake Victoria has Victoria fisheries resources at for the Lake Victoria fisheries significantly reduced while that of the planning and policy levels. by the national and regional low value small size species, Mukene has fisheries management bodies increased over a ten year (2005-2015) is increasing. Key management period. Importance of advice for the fish stocks on Lake Victoria is derived from FS & CASs The information is intended to update National Agricultural both fishery independent (e.g. and sensitize the key stakeholders Frame Surveys involve a Research Organisation gillnet, trawl and acoustic on the status of the Lake Victoria complete enumeration of all surveys) and the fishery (NARO), fisheries. In addition, the information fishing inputs (fishing effort) at dependent (Frame and catch National Fisheries provided is expected to guide policy all fish landing sites including assessment surveys) surveys. formulation and management planning the facilities and services. Resources Research Frame Surveys (FS) and Catch by the fisheries managers at all levels The information generated is Institute (NaFIRRI), Assessment Surveys (CAS) including the BMUs and Landing Site used in fisheries management have been the most popular fish Plot 39/45 Nile Crescent, Management Committees (LSMCs), the planning and also provides the stock assessment tools used to P. O. Box 343, Local government fisheries staff and sampling frame for secondary monitor and generate scientific the Directorate of Fisheries Resources. surveys (CASs). The information Jinja, Uganda information to guide decision The information is anticipated to create recorded in the Frame Survey Fax 256-343-120192, making and management of awareness among the lakeside fisher is used to identify primary and the Lake Victoria fisheries Email: [email protected] communities to reverse the current trend secondary sampling units, and resources. About 20 year ago URL. www.firi.go.ug in fish declines. appropriate sampling strata there were many practical FISHING EFFORT AND FISH YIELD OVER A 15 YEAR PERIOD ON LAKE VICTORIA, UGANDA: Managment Implications Table 1: Trends in the number of landing sites, fishing crafts and landing site facilities on Lake Victoria, Uganda between 2000 and 2014. for the Catch Assessment Surveys (CASs). The data generated through CASs provides information on the Year 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 catch per unit of effort (CPUE) and No. of landing sites 597 552 554 481 435 503 555 567 information on fishing effort from Bandas (Fish shades) 56 33 21 54 68 88 78 66 FS provides the raising factors used in the estimation of the quantity Fish stores 78 6 11 18 34 31 49 22 of fish landed (tonnes) and beach Electricity supply 16 10 19 17 20 21 30 37 value by species, at temporal and Toilet facilities -- 95 41 171 196 198 267 263 spatial scales (time and space). Besides, both FS and CASs Portable water -- 21 41 55 88 88 165 139 provides information used to guide All weather roads 138 108 127 172 161 163 218 236 in determination of appropriate Boat repair facilities 221 40 23 141 143 189 306 244 effort and harvesting levels of the exploited fisheries resources and Net repair facilities 181 23 4 49 64 101 168 136 their implications to the sustainable No. of fishers 34,889 41,674 37,721 54,148 51,916 56,957 63,921 64,617 management and utilization of the No. of fishing crafts 15,544 18,609 16,775 24,148 21,836 23,455 27,971 28,243 lake fisheries resource. Crafts using engines 2,031 3,250 3,173 5,047 5,156 6,334 9,351 9955 Trends of fishing effort Crafts using sails 665 1,074 1,096 1,466 1,078 682 1,125 857 Catamarans -- -- -- -- 3 -- 18 44 on Lake Victoria Dugout 269 164 122 132 163 107 116 152 (2000-2014) Foot fishers -- 171 176 173 380 100 Parachute 5,342 5,580 5,450 5,064 4,807 5,356 4,798 5319 Since 2000, eight biennial FS have been conducted on Lake Victoria Sesse flat at one end 8,107 10,666 9,067 15,883 13,709 14,922 18,969 18929 and results on the Uganda portion Sesse pointed at both ends 1,797 2,197 1,979 2,816 3,016 2,901 3,598 3538 of the lake show trends in fishing Rafts -- 2 149 82 138 169 92 157 effort (indicated as major fishing inputs and facilities at landing sites). No. of transport crafts 910 790 593 966 919 1,040 1021 1445 These data show how fishing effort Fish carriers 668 478 730 659 has grown: the number of fishers and number of boats have increased The noticeable positive aspect from a management perspective was the reduction in proportion of the approximately by 85% and 82% undersize gillnets from 18% to 7% but this was overshadowed by a general increase in the numbers of all respectively over the 15 years fishing gear categories except scoop nets (Table 2). The gillnets increased by 267%, the beach/boat seines (Table 1). (124%), cast nets (7%) and monofilament nets (2480%). Table 2: Summary of fishing inputs (Gear types and sizes) on Lake Victoria, Uganda (2000-2014) 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2005 to 2015 trends Gillnets by mesh size in the composition of No. of gillnets <5” 54,454 52,846 56,246 91,740 76,908 66,532 59,585 78,571 the fish yield on the % of undersize (illegal) gillnets 18.3 12.4 12.3 15..6 19.0 17.8 12.3 7.2 Uganda portion of No. of gillnets ≥5” 243,209 374,642 402,351 498,037 327,098 307,052 423,155 1,015,225 Lake Victoria % of legal gillnets 81.7 87.6 87.7 84.4 81.0 82.2 87.7 92.8 Lake Victoria remains the main Total gillnets 297,663 427,488 458,597 589,777 404,006 373,584 482,740 1,093,796 source of fish, contributing about Mukene fishing gears half to the annual capture fisheries production in Uganda. Mukene/ Lift net/Lampara 3 2 3 - 114 37 Daaga (Rastrineobola argentea), Small seine, mesh size <5 mm 867 1,467 1,785 2200 8,790 5631 Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and Tilapia spp dominate the fish Small seine, mesh size 6-9 mm 273 108 361 436 608 366 catch (Table 3). Overall, there has Small seine, mesh size 10mm 39 33 188 63 811 230 been a decline in the lake’s annual Total small seines 2,452 1,296 1,181 1,608 2,334 2,699 7,343 6,227 catch from 239,000tones in 2005 to 149,000tones in 2015, Scoop net 555 292 590 752 302 893 302 with exception of 2014 when Hooks the lake registered the record highest (270,000tones) annual No. of Hook and line/Hand 4,585 6,547 8,335 15,860 19,629 17,071 27,780 27,004 line hooks catch. Mukene registered a 155% reduction in annual yield between No. Long line hooks 254,453 926,959 968,848 2,285,609 2,763,799 2,576,426 4,403,137 4,564,696 May 2014 and December 2015. Beach/Boat seine 811 880 954 1,425 1,649 1,451 1,233 1,819 Mukene fishing is mainly conducted in the inshore shallow waters (Figure Cast net 1,276 858 659 631 1,000 1,095 1,372 1,359 3) where high proportions of its Monofilament 845 -- 11,203 12,115 15,148 21,793 juveniles and those of the by-catch Traps/Baskets 11,349 5,781 5,361 499 7,615 10,331 7,082 9,000 species are cropped.