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Scientific Information on a Compilation of Nabugabo Ramsar Site, Uganda

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Scientific Information on a Compilation of Nabugabo Ramsar Site, Uganda Socio-economic aspects of Nabugabo satellite lakes, fisheries and their implications for management Item Type book_section Authors Lubuulwa, M.; Namisi, P. Publisher Wetlands Inspection Division Download date 28/09/2021 19:26:28 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/35583 A compilation of Scientific Information on Nabugabo Ramsar Site, Uganda Proceedings ofthe Scientific Conference held at Nabugabo in January, 2001 .;n'. ~ .~~.: ~"ST~ Tl1E REPUBLIC OF UGANDA (0 Edited by: Busulwa H., P. G. Mafabi and L. M. Ndawula 2005 The Nabugabo Ramsar Site Ig practices in SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF NABUGABO SATELLITE LAKES, FISHERIES AND THEIR I of the River IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT In: Conserving Lubuulwa M and P. Namisi bel) Columbia Fisheries Resources Research Institute, P.O.Box 343 Jinja. Email: [email protected] fe: Sivicultural Abstract :al animals. In: & R. Fimbel). A number of fish species once native only to Lakes Victoria and Kyoga have considerably declined over the years, and in some cases disappeared, due to overexploitation, introduction of exotic species especially the Nile Perch, and environmental degradation resulting from am habitats and human activities. Some of the species have been observed to survive in satellite lakes in the Victoria and Kyoga Lake basins. The Nabugabo satellite lakes contain the endemic Cichlid fish nAfrican fishes. species, Oreochromis esculentus and two haplochromine species previously found only in Lake Nabugabo. There is, therefore, need to conserve these species by ensuring sustainable use and management of the resources. ~Iearcut logging: -eshwat. Bioi. 39, The study revealed that the Nabugabo lakes provide a range ofsocio-economic benefits accruing from fishing, farming, logging, resort beach development and watering of animals. However, Amazon: A case although these activities impact on the lakes' ecosystems, the participation of resource users l. in management is limited because of the weak local management institutions operating on the lakes, hence the need to strengthen them through capacity building. It is recommended tting and burning that Government should work jointly with the beach committees and fishing community in a participatory way to eliminate the use of destructive fishing practices and control the other environment degrading activities. on epilithic algal . atchment logging. Keywords: Socio economic, livelihoods, merican Fisheries Introduction Over the last decade, fisheries have risen to a very important position within concentration and the Ugandan economy. Besides its contribution to foreign exchange earnings and employment, about 60% of the people, mostly the rural poor, depend on fish protein to supplement their diet. With growing fishing pressure and human activities on large Lakes: Victoria, Kyoga, Albert and George, the fisheries are already showing signs ofoverexploitation and poor management. Lake Victoria basin has very important 4 to 5 satellite lakes, including Lake Nabugabo the largest ofall and believed to have formed when the water level ofLake Victoria fell and a sand bar separated a portion of Lake Victoria about 4,000 years ago. The rest of the lakes (Kayanja, Kayugi and Manywa) are in the same drainage basin, and are thought to have formed in the same way. Over the years, these 'mgabo Ramsar Site The Nabugabo Ramsar Site 161 lakes, known to support important fisheries and other economic activities and 4. Examine to be of important socio-cultural values, and their surrounding environments strengthen have been encroached upon as a result of human activities. The fish stocks and species diversity of the lakes are declining rapidly and this will threaten Methods the livelihoods as well. Despite their importance, however, these lakes have previously attracted less attention from socioeconomic scientists and there is Two surveys we dire need for socioeconomic studies. from October to of whom 88 wer A number offish species, some ofwhich were found only in Lake Victoria have the other 3 lakes. been depleted through over-exploitation, introduction ofexotics especially Nile Kituti, Kaziru an perch and environmental degradation. Some ofthese fishes have been observed lakes, people weT to survive in satellite lakes in the Victoria and Kyoga lake basins. According to head fishermen (C Ogutu-Ohwayo, 1993, the first fishery surveys of Lake Nabugabo showed that were held using s the most important commercial fish species were P aethiopicus, B. docmac, ofviews, and bala: S. intermedius, C. gariepinus, 0. esculentus and 0. variabilis. Eight of the fishermen, fishmo 21 other fish species found in the lake were haplochromines, 5 of which were administered to thf endemic. When Nile perch and several tilapiine species were introduced in Lake study area. Five ke Nabugabo, many ofthe native species disappeared. The Naqugabo satellite lakes semi-structured qu contain the endemic Cichlid fish species, 0. esculentus and two haplochromine taking place aroun< species previously found only on Lake Nabugabo. These satellite lakes are separated from Lake Nabugabo by extensive swamps. Against this background, Table I: Lakes and La there is need to protect the lakes by ensuring sustainable use of the resources through instituting a managerial framework that caters for the interests ofall the Lake stakeholders. The Nabugabo system was proposed as a Ramsar site. One ofthe criteria s,uch a wetland should fulfill is supporting rare, endangered, vulnerable Nabugabo or enderpic species of plants or animals. These satellite lakes have endemic species and, therefore, qualify to be protected as a Ramsar site. Kayanja Objective ofthe Study Kayugi In order to support the establishment ofthe Ramsar site, research was undertaken, to assess the socio-economic aspects ofthe fisheries ofLake Nabugabo and its ReSUlts and DisCUi sister satellite lakes, Kayanja, Kayugi and Manywa and the implications for management. This would provide a basis upon which resource users would be Socio-demographics made aware oftheir commitment to wise use and management ofthe resources. The specific objectives were: The ethnic compositi 1. Identify activities taking place around the lakes. as the dominant tribe I 2. Identify the socio-economic and cultural values attached to the lakes. others respectively. A 3. Identify socio-economic and environmental problems facing the lake and least 91 % ofthe respc the resource users. The Nabugabo Ramsar Site 162 The Nabugabo Ramsar Site activities and 4. Examine eXIstmg local institutions for effective initiation and/or environments strengthening ofco-management. le fish stocks , will threaten Methods se lakes have LS and there is Two surveys were conducted on Lake Nabugabo and its sister satellite lakes from October to December 2001. Some 100 respondents were interviewed, of whom 88 were randomly selected from Lake Nabugabo and the rest from : Victoria have the other 3 lakes. Three landing sites were visited on Lake Nabugabo, namely ~specially Nile Kituti, Kaziru and Luwafu (See Table 1). At the different landing sites and been observed lakes, people were mobilised with the help of Local Council 1 Chairmen and ;. According to head fishermen (Gabungas). Thereafter, focus group discussions of 6-8 people )0 showed that were held using semi-structured interviews. To ensure a wider representation 'AS, B. docmac, ofviews, and balanced contribution to the topics the groups consisted ofelders, 5. Eight of the fishermen, fishmongers and farmers. A key informant questionnaire was also ofwhich were administered to the local leaders, as a way ofgetting general information on the oduced in Lake study area. Five key informant interviews were conducted, involving the use of '0 satellite lakes semi-structured questionnaires. Observations were also made of the activities hap10chromine taking place around the lakes. ellite lakes are lis background, Table 1: Lakes and Landing Sites Visited on the Study )f the resources terests ofall the Lake Landing Site Attendance at Focus Group site. One ofthe Discussions ~red, vulnerable Nabugabo Luwafu 8 s have endemic Kaziru 6 Kituti 6 Kayanja 6 Kayugi 6 was undertaken, Results and Discussion labugabo and its implications for Socio-demographics ~ users would be ofthe resources. The ethnic composition of the communities on the lakes include the Baganda as the dominant tribe (84%) on the lake followed by Nyarwanda, Nyanko1e and others respectively. About 57% of the fishers are married and 40% single. At 1to the lakes. least 91 % ofthe respondents have undergone primary school education. cing the lake and Nabugabo Ramsar Site The Nabugabo Ramsar Site 163 Activities Based on the Lakes'Ecosystem on the lakt Lake Nabugabo with gillne Majority of the respondents (66%) reported fishing as their main activity. The Lake Kayu activity is carried out for both subsistence and commercial purposes and is the main source of income. The Lake has three main landing sites with no Farming is permanent settlements. There are approximately 100 fishermen and 95 boats activities il mainly of the "parachute" type. Nile perch, Tilapia and the haplochromines goods. Likt were the most common types offish landed. Average catches per week ofNile numbering, perch and Tilapia were 1,050 kg and 850 kilograms respectively. However, the andProtopt most commonly caught (64% of respondents) and consumed (86%) fish was 15kgs respe tilapia followed by Nile perch. Common method of propulsion for the fishing fishermen u boats was hand paddling and the common gear types were gillnets of 3.5"
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