T E Fisheries of Th Ganda Ector of Lake Alb -Rt

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T e Fisheries of th ganda ector of Lake Alb -rt

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,... Prepared for the FAO sub regional representative for Southern and Eastern Africa (SAFD)

r Prepared by: S. B. Wandera, National Agricultural Research Organization [NARO] Fisheries Resources Research Institute [FIRRIJ P.O. Box 343, Jinja - UGANDA Tel: 256-043-120484 E-mail: [email protected]

April 2000 Table of Contents

ChaEter Item Page 1 Introduction 3 2 Background 3 3 Environmental degradation and pollution 4 4 Collection of fisheries statistics and management of the 5 fishery 5 Exploited fish stocks 6 6 Impact of fishing gears and methods on fish stocks 10 7 Economic and nutritional value of the fisheries 13 8 Proposals for research 13 9 Harmonization of management measures between the 16 Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda 10 The Fisheries Act 17 11 Community Participation in the Management of the 18 Fisheries 12 Recommendation 20

13 References 23

IGURES

Figure 1 Map of Lake Albert 25

APPENDICES

Appendix I A memo from the FAG Representative in Uganda to the Minister of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries

Appendix II A loose minute from the Uganda Minister of State in charge of Fisheries to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries

2 1. Introduction

Lake Albert (Figure 1) shared between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo is located at the northern tip of the western rift valley. It covers an area of 5270 km2 of which 2850 km2 (54%) belongs to Uganda. Like most large rift valley lakes, the lake is ribbon shaped lying in the north east-south west direction and runs approximately 160 km in length. It is 35 km at its widest point. Most of the lake is bordered by a very steep escarpment, which especially on the Congo side almost falls precipitously into the lake. The few areas where the escarpment does not come close to the shore are the northern third from Butiaba to the Victoria Nile delta and at the southern tip at the deltas of Semliki, Wasa and Muzizi rivers referred to as the Butiaba and Semliki flats respectively. Compared to other large Rift Valley lakes of Africa, Lake Albert is relatively shallow with an average depth of 25m.

2.0 Background

Following a general outcry by the population riparian to the Ugandan portion of Lake Albert about dwindling fish catches, there was concern both from the FAO Country Representative in Uganda and the Government of Uganda on the state of the fisheries of this lake. The FAO Representative accompanied by an offi lal from the Uganda Fisheries and Fish Conservation Association (UFFCA), visited the lake in July 1999 (Appendix I). The Ugandan Minister of state in charge of the Fisheries sector also visited the lake in November 1999 (Appendix II). The two were in common agreement that the lake was in a stocks crisis and there was need for remedial measures. It was therefore deemed necessary to initiate a technical report updating the present state of the fisheries resources of this lake. An agreement was thus signed between the author and the Food and Agricult ral Organization of the United Nations - Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa in Harare, to undertake this exercise.

2.1 Terms of Reference (TORS)

Under the overall Management and administrative leadership of the above Organization, and the direct technical supervision of ADG, FAO Fisheries department in collaboration with the SAFR Fisheries Officer, the author was responsible for producing a technical report on the fisheries of Lake Albert (Uganda sector). He in addition was to fulfil the following responsibilities: • Review the status of environmental degradation and pollution • Review outstanding fishery management issues including collection of fisheries statistics • Analyze status of exploited fish stocks • Assess the impact of fishing practices on fish stocks • Assess the economic and nutritional value of the fisheries of Lake Albert • Make proposals for research

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Specify needs for coordination and harmonization of management measures between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda • Review the effectiveness and relevance of legislations and "the Fisheries Act" in relation to Lake Albert • Examine the status and need for community participation in management of the fishery and • Make relevant fisheries management recommendations for the Ugandan sector of the lake.

3.0 Environmental degradation and pollution

Lake Albert is experiencing environmental degradation manifested by acute symptoms of eutrophication Over the last forty years changes in the physico chemical characteristics of the lake have been observed. Water temperatures are 0.5 deQlrees higher than they were thirty years ago. The lake is also more dilute in terms of specific conductance and concentrations of major ions (Lehman et. al. 1997). Algal primary production in the lake has more than doubled between 19605 and now (Mugidde et. al. in press) Subsequently water clarity has suffered a 2-fold reduction. Total Phosphorus now occurs in excess and a 9-fold decrease in silica has been observed. Changes in algal species composition are evident with now the nitrogen fixing Anabaena species being common most of the year. Microcystis and Cylindospermopsis, known phycotoxin producers are now much more frequent. Huge algal blooms and associated massive fish kills are now a common feature on the lake.

Cyclopoid copepods dominate the zooplankton communities in the lake. Among the cladocerans Daphnia, Ceriodaphnia and Diaphanosoma species have been recorded. Lack of quantitative historical data on the state of these zooplankters does not allow effective comparison over time.

3.1 Possible sources of pollution:

3.1.1 Rivers and streams: Lake Albert is drained by rivers and streams that flow through either rich agricultural areas or the game parks and game reserves. The Victoria Nile, though exerting minimal influence on the lake, flows through zones of intense agricultural practice and also draws water from Lakes Victoria and Kyaga, which are in their own way already polluted. The Semiliki, Wasa and Muzizi rivers to the south also drain rich agricultural lands where fertilizers are used tn crop production. The Semliki river in particular draws water from Lake Edward and George already getting affected by the Kilembe copper and cobalt mines. The Nkussi river is part of the Kafu Nkussi system and flows through a busy ranching belt where livestock is likely to impact on the environment negatively. River Waaki in the middle is a culmination of the numerous streams draining The Kinyara sugar plantation and Budongo forest. The sugar plantation is a source of a variety of agrochemicals to the lake. River Waiga towards the north flows through part of the Murchison Falls National Park and Bugungu

4 Animal sanctuary from where it carries animal droppings likely to fertilize the lake.

3.1.2 Natural Oil wells: Seepage of crude natural oil into the lake could have negative impacts on the well being of the lake ecosystem. Natural oil is supposed to be seeping out of the ground into the lake near Tonya south of Butiaba. Although a team from Fisheries Resources Research institute (FIRRI) at Jinja has on two occasions visited these supposed points of oil leakage, no oil has been seen. Water samples collected from these areas did not show appreciable difference from other samples taken from similar habitats.

3.1.3 Salt used in fish processing: Common salt (Sodium chloride) is used as a preservative during fish processing. Salt is generously sprinkled onto split fish before the fish is put in the sun to dry. The salt acts as a preservative and prevents infestation by flies and other pests. Much of this salt drops on the ground eventually ending up into the lake through rain or the strong waves that normally wash the shores. Considering that the lake is already high in salt content with a pH of 8.5 (Rene and Daniel 1992) an addition of salt from the above source could greatly alter the lakes condition.

3.1.4 Human settlement. Increasing human population inevitably leads to an increase in demand for fish. Human settlement in form of fishing villages also increases. Most fishing settlements along the shores of Lake Albert however lack proper sanitary facilities. Human waste is left exposed to the lake whenever it rains. This is also responsible for nutrient loading into the lake.

4. Collection of fisheries statistics and management of the fishery

Prior to the year 1998, the Lake Albert fishery was managed like any other fishery in the country by the ministry responsible for the Fisheries Departme t. Fisheries Assistantsl Fisheries Development officers were posted to various fish landings as grass root managers of the fishery. Together with the District Fisheries Officers from the different districts riparian to Lake Albert reported to and were under direct control of the Fisheries Department headquartered at Entebbe. These officers were responsible for fisheries extension services to th fisher folk and the collection of fisheries statistics which they submitted to t e District Fisheries Officer for compilation and eventual submission to headquarters.

The nature of the lake's shoreline made fish statistical data difficult to collect. Th open sandy beaches common for most areas allowed landing of canoe anywhere along the shoreline. Some landings for example consisted of more at a kilometer of beachfront on which canoes landed. It would be difficult for one or two officers to effectively record catch data over such a wide landing area. An FAO Fisheries Statistics Project UGA007/87 started on the lake in the year 199 aimed among other things at improving the fish data collection from landings.

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Through this project, equipment (weighing scales, measuring boards, wheelbarrows etc.) were provided Landing bays (sheds) were constructed at landings so that the fishermen landed their catch at one point to enable catch records to be taken before the fish is disposed of. More organized data were collected during this time. Unfortunately project activities on Lake Albert lasted only between 1990 and 1992 with fish data for only the year 1991. Personnel who had been trained in recording catches were as will be seen below either retrenched or simply transferred to other sectors. Since then one can say that there is very little now known about the performance of the Lake Albert fishery at the Fisheries Department.

n the year 1998 there was decentralization of administration to individual districts throughout the country. This meant that among others the administration of the fisheries sector was put fully under the charge of the various districts. The Fisheries Department retained mainly the advisory role through the various eg~onal Fisheries Officers. Because of the need to cut down on the wage bills many districts reduced the number of employees. In many cases unified extension, whereby fisheries, crop and veterinary extension services in an area were under one officer. In a case like that on Lake Albert, where most effect was considered felt mainly through crop and veterinary sectors the fisheries sector lost the many of its extension staff. In Masindi for example, a district controlling more than a third of the total Ugandan sector of the lake, only one fisheries staff was left in charge of the fish landings. It was therefore impossible for one officer to collect sensible fish catch statistic, let alone provide adequate extension services to the fisher folk over such a large area. Fish landings were thus allocated to Market Masters whose duty was to collect revenue for the District aut.horities. For over a year no fishery data were collected from this lake. When the Fisheries Department at Entebbe intervened, some fisheries staff was reinstated. Now Masindi District has 2, Hoima 3, Kibale 1 and Bundibugyo 1 officials in charge of fisheries extension manning their landings. This is in addition to the four District Fisheries Officers, one from each district and an overall Regional fisheries officer in charge of Lake Albert based at Masindi.

The fisheries officials manning the landings are certainly too few for the enormous task of collecting fisheries statistics, carry out extension services and still be able to perform other tasks as required under joint extension. They are thinly spread out, overworked in many cases without facilities and now the quality of data collected may not be of required quality.

5. Exploited fish stocks

Four broad ecological zones can be recognized as influencing the type of fish species under exploitation on Lake Albert (Holden 1963). These are

6 a) The Victoria Nile from the Nile delta at Wanseko to the Murchison FaHs. Much of this area lies in the Murchison Falls National Park, Being part of the park, fishing is prohibited in this area. The river also provides an important breeding ground to many anadromous fish species within the main lake. Because of the laxed law enforcement many fishermen however openly fish in this area. Species caught constitute mainly of river associated species su h as A/estes baremose, the most important commercial species in the area, the cyprinids Barbus bynni and Labeo horie and L. coubie, the mormyrids Mormyrus caschive, M. kannume Hyperopisus bebe, and Mormyrops anguilloides the Nile perch Lates niloticus and Oistichodus ni/oticus. b) The shallow open water areas off Wanseko and off Ntoroko. These are areas influenced by the rivers flowing into the lake, the Victoria Nile for Wanseko and the Semliki, Muzizi and Wassa rivers for the Ntoroko waters. Species caught are similar to those described in a) above. c) The lagoons. Large lagoons occur at Butiaba, Tonya, Kaiso and Buhuka. Minor lagoons also occur scattered along the shoreline as at Bugoigo and Kaboolwa. These shallow waters support mainly the shallow water dwelling cichlid species, the tilapiines, Oreochromis ni/oticus, O. /eucostictus, Ti/apia zillii and Sarotherodon ga/i/aeus and the haplochromines Thoracochromis spp. and mostly juvenile Lates ni/oticus d) The deep open water between the shallow waters in b). This region comprises the largest portion of the lake. Fish species of commercial importance include very large Lates ni/oticus, L. macrophtha/mus, Bagrus bayad and Hdrocynus forskah/ii.

Table 1 gives a list of fish species of Lake Albert in the 1960's (Greenwood 1966) and species recorded by FIRRI researchers in the early 1990's (Ogutu-Ohwayo 1994). Important commercial species (Holden 1966 and Cadwalladr and Stoneman 1966) are indicated by (*).

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Table 1. A list of fish species from Lake Albert as recorded in the 60's and 90,s

Taxa 1960,s 1990,s l3aqrus docmac P* P Baqrus bavad P* P* Auchenog/anis occidentafis P* P* I Lates niloticus P* P* Lates macropthalmus P* P* Hyrdocynus forskahlii P* P* Hvdrocvnus vittatus P* A/estes dentex P P A/estes baremose P* P* A/estes macrolepidotus P Brycinus nurse P P* Oreochromis niloticus P* P* Oreochromis leucostictus P P Tilapia zillii P P Sarotherodon galilaeus P P Haplochromines P P Distichodus niloticus P* P* Distichodus rostratus P Citharinus citharus P* P> Citharinus latus P Clarias gariepinus P* P Bari/us niloticus P P Labeo horie P* P* Labeo coubie P* P I Barbus bvnni P* P* Sarbus neumaveri P Barbus perince P P Neobola bredoi P P Aplochei/ichthvs kasseniiensis P Protopterus aethiopicus P* P Malapterurus electricus P P Synodontis nigra P P Synodontis schall P* P* Synodontis frontosus P P Hyperopisus bebe P P* Mormyrus kannume P Mormyrus caschive P P* Mormyrus ni/oticus P P Mormyropsis anguilloides P P* Po/vpterus seneqalus P P Schi/be intermedius P Eutropiusniloticus p

8 Catch statistics between 1952 and 1988 (Cadwalladr and Stoneman 1966, Ssentongo 1992) indicate that highest catches were realized between 1958 and 1978 averaging 1280Otons of fish from the lake. A steady drop in commercial landings was then realized and by 1988 only 1500'tons were recorded. This downward trend in catches has continued. Catch statistics beyond the year 1996 when the fish statistics project had closed and the majority of the fisheries staff had been retrenched, are not very reliable. The situation should therefore be much worse now as seen from the outcry by the authorities concerned with fisheries management and exploitation (see appendix 1). The number of fish species under exploitation from Lake Albert has remai ad fairly constant over the last five decades (Table 2).

Table 2. Percent contribution of fish species landed by the artisanal fishery of Lake Albert over the time. Fish taxa 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990/91 A/estes sp. 38.5 73.6 20.0 10.8 7.3 Lates sp. 24.1 13.3 24.1 17.2 17.6 Hydrocynus sp. 9.5 5.6 32.0 25.7 32.7 Ti/apias 7.0 1.9 13.3 24.9 20.1 Labeo sp. 4.3 1.1 0.4 0.9 1.6 Oistichodus sp. 4.3 0.8 1.1 1.1 0.5 ~C/arias sp. 0.4· 0.6 0.7 3.2 4.0 Protopterus sp. 0.3 0.1 0.3 3.0 0.8 Mormyrids 0.4 0.1 0.7 0.5 0.3 Synodontis sp. 4.4 1.3 1.0 2.0 2.8 Citharinus sp. 2.0 0.2 0 0 0 Bagrus sp. 3.2 1.5 4.9 8.1 7.9 ~. Auchenog/anis sp. - 0.04 0.6 0.7 1.6 Barbus sp. 1.3 0.1 0.4 1.7 2.8

Worthington 1929 records 42 fish species belonging to 13 families. 17 speci s are recorded among the commonest. Citharinus citharus, Lates spp, Oreochromis ni/oticus, Bagrus spp A/estes baremose, Hydrocynus forka/ii, Synodontis schall and Mormyrus caschive were in that order the most importa t commercial species. almost the same number of species still formed the bulk of the artisanal fishery (Cadwalladr and Stoneman 1966). By the year 19£5 Citharinus citharus had however dropped in importance to 11 th position whil A/estes baremose had become the most important fish species in the fis ery. With the exception of C. citharus, which is no longer landed by fishermen from this lake, these fish species have continued to be landed by the artisanal fishermen. Five species have since then dominated the catches (Table 3).

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Table 3. Relative abundance (position of importance) of the major commercial fish soecies from Lake AIDert over me ears Fish taxa 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990/91 A/estes baremose 1 1 2 4 5 Lates sp. 2 2 3 3 3 Hydrocynus forskah/i 3 3 1 1 1 Ti/apias 4 4 4 2 2 Bagrus bayad 8 5 5 5 4

A/estes baremose and Lates species were the dominant species in the 50's a role they lost to Hydrocynus forskah/i and Oreochromis ni/oticus from the 70's to the present. Bagrus bayad which was 8th in importance at the beginning, now ranks fourth. These changes give an indication of the changes in the fishery as a result of changes in fishing grounds, gears and methods. A/estes baremose avfng almost been depleted from the main lakes is now restricted to the Victoria Nile (area a. above) where exploitation is restricted by the National Park authorities. Its numbers were decimated from a similar habitat in the south near the SemlikilMuzizi delta by the Kasenyi gillnet fishery and the seine nets operated in the area at the same time (Worthington 1929). The tilapias found mostly in shallower waters of lagoons and bays have become important due to the increased demand from the urban centers near the lake and the introduction of the cast net, which targets them. The introduction of better fishing crafts mainly the Kabalega canoe enables exploitation of the hitherto under exploited stocks of the open deep waters of the lake (area d) where Hydrocynus forska/ii and Bagrus bayad, L.ates macrophtha/mus and Large L. ni/oticus are abundant.

6.0 Impact of fishing gears and methods on fish stocks

Lake Albert is presently the only lake in Uganda with a variety of fish species in the commercial fishery. It has a good number of endemic species being exploited by various fishing gears, gear sizes and fishing methods. The commercial fish species vary from the small Brycinus nurse (Ragoge) to the huge Lates ni/oticus (Mputa).

The range of fish sizes pauses problems in exploitation of the resource as it complicates the task of selecting the gears and optimum gear sizes to exploit this mUltispecies fishery. However, there is need to have guidelines to enable maximum utilisation of the resource sustainably. Decline of some of the major fisheries on the lake is due to indiscriminate use of destructive fishing gears and methods. The major fisheries of the lake include:

Hydrocynus forka/ii (Ngassia), Lates (Mputa), A/estes baremose (Angara), Oreochromis ni/oticus (Ngege), Bagrus bayad (Lanya / Semutundu), Barbus bynni (Kisinja), Auchenog/anis occidenta/is (Bubu).

10 As noted in section 4 above, different fish species are caught from differen ecological zones of the lake. Likewise, to capture these different species efficiently requires different fishing methods and gears. The commonest gears in use consist of gill nets of various mesh sizes, beach seines, hooks, cast n ts, traps and of recent, perforated basins. Each of these fishing gears may have different impacts on the fish stocks it exploits.

6.1 Impact of beach seines

Seine nets on Lake Albert are of two sizes. a) Those operated within lagoons are of the standard size, similar to the ones on other Ugandan lakes. They being smaller (100m long) and pulled from about 150m from the shore, can be operated by as few as three men. These net target mainly the tiapias. Oreochromis niloticus forms the bulk of the catch. Other tilapiines caught by this gear include 0. leucostictus, Tilapia zillii and Sarotherodon galilaeus. b) On open beaches, large seine nets measuring about 300m long and 10m deep are used. These are set as far out into the open water as 2km and are pulled by up to 24 men. One such haul can last more than two hours. The large seines catch a variety of fish species common in this open water habitat. Such species include Lates macropthalmus, Bagus bayad, Auchenoglanis occidentalis, Synodontis schall, the electric eel Malapterurus electricus and the tigerfish hydrocynus forskalii . Fishermen carry out beach seining and crop species mentioned above at various sizes in the area of operation. The gear and fishing methods are further, ore encouraged by the ready market of processed juvenile fish in the neighboring Democratic republic of Congo. Besides, beach seines are operated as dragged gear at the lake bottom near the shoreline. Dragging of this gear destroys the breeding and nursery ground of most fish. The common mesh size of bag is between 3-4". Beach seines are believed to have been responsible for the overfishing and subsequent collapse of the once popular citharinus fishery of Lake Albert (Cadwalladr and Stoneman 1966).

6.2 Impact of the gill nets

Gill nets are the most popular fishing gears on the lake. They are operated as a) Drift nets: In the Victoria Nile, the nets are set and allowed to drift downstream. 3" to 2.5" nets are used here targeting the species found in the river. b) Passive gillnetting: This is done in open waters of zones (b) and (d) GW net mesh sizes of 2.5"and 2" are targeted at A. baremose (Angara) a d H. forskalii (Ngassia). However, mesh sizes of 2" and below crop a igher proportion of immature Angara (60%) than Ngassia « 10%) (Kamanyi 1996). Where the two species may be cropped in the same area, to protect Angara the mesh size limit should not be below 3". These nets especially in are )

_._-._--_._- ._---- ~--_._-- capture juvenile Lates niloticus. The large gill net mesh size nets of 4" and above target Lates, Tilapias, Bagrus and other large fish species like Auchenoglanis sp (Bubu), Clarias and Protopterus. However, use of 4" and below crops a high proportion of these large sized fish species. The minimum gill net mesh size targeting the larger fish species should therefore be 5" and fishing should be passive.

6.3 Impact of active fishing

Active gillnetting involves the use of what is locally known as "tycoon". Fish is driven into set net nets when water is repeatedly hit with the tycoon, a hollowed out piece of tree trunk mounted on a pole. Noise produced by the impact of the tycoon on water scares the target fish into the nets. This method of fishing common in the lagoons and sheltered bays is destructive to the fishery as the operation is done in the breeding and nursery grounds of most fish. The method increases the fishing effort as nets are beaten several times and fish removed at every round. The target species are mainly the tilapias. This fishing method threatens the fish and may cause the mouth brooding fish to spit eggs or the young. For the same mesh size nets, active fishing catches a higher proportion of immature fish than the passively fished net (Kamanyi op.cit.).

6.4 ImDact of hooks

Hooks are set as longlines either in the open water for Bagrus bayad and adult Lates niloticus, or in lagoons for the lungfish Protopterus aethiopicus, Clarias and, Auchenoglanis. They are normally baited with the small pelagic characid rycinus nurse or the haplochromines. The popular hook sizes on the lake are size 8 and 7 and like on lakes Victoria and Kyoga, the impact of hooks is negligible. However, the minimum size of hooks that should be allowed on the lake should be size 9.

6.5 Impact of cast nets

Cast nets consist of a mixture of mesh sizes ranging from 3" to 6" and target the tilapias O. niloticus in shallow inshore waters. Unlike gillnets which are set overnight, cast nets are operated all the time on Lake Albert. They thus put a lot of strain on the stocks of the target species. The use of this gear should be prohibited as it destroys breeding and nursery grounds of most fish species.

12 7. Economic and nutritional value of the fisheries

Fish accounts for a significant proportion of Uganda's national gross domesti product. In 1996 before the ban on fish exports to the European Union, Uganda earned US $ 40 million from fish exports. It was thus only second to Coffee as the most important foreign exchange earner. Lake Albert is the third most important producer of fish in the country (Dhatemwa 1999). The Ugandan sector of the lake employs between 35000 and 75000 people either directly as fishers or indirectly in fishery related activities. Records from Uganda Fisheries Departme t indicate that the sector in 1994 landed 16.4 metric tons of fish worth US $3million. Because of the difficult terrain south of Butiaba where road transport is almost non existent, most of the fish landed from this area is transported by boat mainly to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the southern Sudan. Although the bulk of the catch landed between Wanseko and Butiaba, is locally processed for the export market, some fish mainly fresh tilapia finds its way up the escarpment to the nearby towns of Masindi and Hoima. Dei fish market in Nebbi at the border with Congo is the main conduit to the export market receiving fish from as far south as Kaiso and Tonya. The Northern Uganda districts of Gulu, Arua and Nebbi also receive fish from this area but mainly in processed (salte and sun dried) form. In 1990 Uganda produced 24.5 billion tons of fish (Greboval et.a!. 1994). This translates into a per capita supply of 13.0 kg/year, contributing 38.3% of the animal protein consumed by the Ugandans. In the year 1998, Lake Albert produced fish worth Uganda shillings 3.8billion, equivalent to 5% of the country's total earnings from fish exports (Dhatemwa 1999). Because of the poor fishery records from this lake at the time, the above figures may be an underestimate of the actual amount of fish exported especially to the Congo and Southern Sudan.

8.0 Proposals for research

Lake Albert is the third most productive fishery in Uganda contributing about 10% of national commercial fish production. However, this figure may not include part of the catch, which finds its way to neighboring countries.

Concerns have been raised about increased but sustainable fish production from the lake. For example, it has been reported that fish stocks for traditiona fisheries have been depleted; there are rampant fish kills and algal bloom in addition to a general deterioration of the water quality. These reports led to a recommendation from the Minister responsible for Fisheries that the lake be closed to fishing for 90 days to allow recovery of stocks (Appendix II). Other reports in the media have highlighted bad fishing practices, pollution, po harvest losses and a degradation of the Lake Albert environment in general.

13 8.1 Constraints to fish production

In response to the above concerns, FIRRI has made a rapid assessment of researchable issues generated from stakeholder workshops. From these workshops major constraints of the Lake Albert/Albert Nile fisheries can be summarized under the following researchable issues: a) rampant fish kills ) extensive algal blooms c) fouling of water d) lack of community awareness on the limits to sustainable fish harvests e) information gaps on biology, ecology, socio-economics and environmental atus of the fisheries f) use of unselective fishing gears g) problems of open access policy ) poor sanitary conditions at landing sites i) general pollution of the lake suspected to be due to salt and oil intrusion from the catchment j) water weeds e.g. water hyacinth k) high post-harvest losses in fish products I) overall decline in fish stocks and the impact of prevailing exploitation patterns on the lake.

Slnce 1988, FIRRI has been collecting fishery and limnological data from the lake under the lORe sponsored efforts. In 1989, catch assessment data over the hole lake were generated. This was followed by a survey of the fishing gears on the lake in 1995. In general, these research efforts have not comprehensively addressed the constraints. Some of which are generated from within the fisheries (natural phenomena), others, which are due to human activity. There hus remain major gaps in knowledge, which is required for management of the lake environment and its fisheries.

8.2 Major gaps

1. In comparison to the other two large lake fisheries (Lakes Victoria and Kyoga), Lake Albert is still a multi-species fishery. The main elements of the commercial fishery are: Hydrocynus (Tiger fish) 45%; Lates (Nile perch) 12%; Tilapia, 11 %; A/estes, 10%; Bagrus, 10%. However, it is not known whether or not catch data are representative of relative abundance of the different species or if selective fishing pressure could have negative impacts on the balance of fish populations. To what extent this multi-species fishery could serve as a model for exploiting other fisheries has not been established.

2. The commercial species vary greatly in size ranging from the small «25cm) Brycinus nurse to the large Hydrocynus (~40cm), Bagrus docmac (60cm)

14 and Lates niloticus (80cm). The big size range of the exploited species thus complicates selection of suitable fishing gear to exploit the mUlti-spedes fishery. Moreover, the distribution patterns of the species is not exactly described.

3. Commercial catch data rely on broad categorization of taxa yet, they are made up of species which vary in distribution. For example, there are hNo species of Nile perch; Lates macrophthalmus (generally occurring in deeper, >20m water) and Lates niloticus, Others are two species of Hydrocynus; H. forska/ii and H. vittatus; A/estes; A. baremose and A. dentex; Bagrus; B. docmac and B. bayad; several tilapiine species; Oreochromis ni/oticus, O. /eucostictus, Ti/apia zi//ii and Sarotherodon ga/i/aeus. There are major gaps in our knowledge of the biology and ecology of these species and it is ot possible to provide information on sustainable mechanisms for their exploitation.

4. The lake has a number of ecological zones, which show variations in fish abundance as a result of productivity mechanisms in the water environment. The extent to which habitat diversity is indicated in productivity mechanisms is not quantified.

5. There are no current lake-wide data on stock densities of the fishery.

6. The water quality of the lake has deteriorated often accompanied with widespread fish kills. During some seasons, algal blooms may be as thick as one meter. Although there are some physico-chemical data relating primary production to nutrient levels, the pattern of assumed water quality deterioration has not been fully investigated.

7. There is hardly information on the input and re-distribution of persistent contaminants e.g. from of the catchment into sediments and food chains.

8. Records of weather, river inflows, water hyacinth infestations (cover), algal blooms, crop and forest cover, etc. are some of the factors that can aid in identifying environmental degradation issues. Lack of information on post harvest losses, sanitation standards at fish landings, other human activities at the lakeshore, the suspected salt intrusion or oil leakage into the lake all compound the inadequacy of the knowledge base.

8.3 Priority Research

a) Determination of the composition, distribution, abundance and populations structure of fish stocks. b) Determine the effects of the new Brycinus nurse (Ragoge) fishery on t e overall fishery considering that this species is a major food to the many

---_._--~ - predatory fish species of commercial importance in the lake such as Lates, Bagrus etc. c) Determination of impacts of fishing gears and fishing effort on fish stocks d) Development of ecological models to predict consequences of disruptions in fish stocks (with attention to food-web, trophic status, seasonality) e) Identify species that have been affected by environmental degradation and human exploitation (and to what extent) and suggest ways of conserving their stocks f) Determine the impact of water hyacinth, other weeds and algal blooms on water quality and productivity g) Identify indicators of trophic status and limiting nutrients h) Provide baseline information on physical, chemical and biological factors and conditions that influence productivity and fish stocks. i) Establish the distribution and concentration of contaminant inputs (heavy metals, oil, salt etc.) in water, sediments and biota j) Diagnostic socio-economic surveys to generate varied data and interaction with fisherfolk k) Evaluate current fishery management structured for the lake and compare them with alternative management approaches aimed at sustainable harvest.

9. Harmonization of management measures between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Management of Lake Albert presents special management requirements. Intervention measures necessary to stem the deteriorating state of the fishery noted above, require the cooperation of the two countries sharing the lake. Management measures instituted on the Uganda side alone will be of little use to the fishery if they are flouted on the Congo side. Between 17 th and 21 st September 1990, a technical consultative workshop on the two lakes shared between the Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire) was held in Kampala Uganda This workshop was attended by Fisheries managers, researchers and other stakeholders from the two countries. The main objective of the workshop was to chart out areas through which the two countries could achieve regional collaboration for the rational development and management of the two lakes (Lakes Edward and Albert) they share. Among the issues proposed on joint approach for solution (Sembali 1992) were: 1) The need to ascertain the present state of the exploited stocks in the lake 2) Set out and enforce uniform management measures on the lake, 3) Reinforce surveillance on the lake in order to curb the rampart theft of nets by fishermen from the two countries, 4) Adopt similar methods of statistical data collection so that data collected from the two countries can be comparable 5) Encourage periodic meetings of Ugandan and Congolese fisheries experts 6) Encourage and set up quotas for the exploitation of the offshore fish stocks which appear under exploited

16 7) Establish a fishery management body (similar to the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization on Lake Victoria) responsible for coordination of the relevant management intervention measures for rational management.

10. The Fisheries Act

The Fish and Crocodile Act 1951 (Cap 228) is the basis for fisheries management in Uganda. Amended four times since 1951, the act no longer contains reference to Crocodiles. It appears that crocodiles were preferred to be treated under the Uganda Wildlife Statute of 1996. However, due to changes in the fishing industry over the years the legislation is still not fully responsive to some of the changes in the fisheries sector. For example, policies relating 0 decentralization of services include delegating the district to deal with among other factors, the fisheries. In Lake Albert's case several districts coverage on the lake resources and different district priorities might take precedence over proper regulation of part of the fisheries. Moreover, for comprehensive management, it becomes necessary to invoke other laws such as the NEMA Statute, the wetland statute and the Uganda Wildlife Statute.

The NEMA statute of 1995 (NES, 1995) governs human activities related to use of surface waters which may directly impact the fisheries. Section 31 for instance empowers NEMA to establish water quality standards for the fisheries while sections 35 and 36 deal with regulation of use of rivers and lakes in relation to drilling, and the protection of riverbanks and LakeShores. NEMA is als empowered to prescribe measures for the conservation of biological divers'ity ex situ especially for threatened species. Here, it has to be recalled that the i h Act also provides the prohibition of the introduction/transfers of exotic fish, the prohibition of diversion of waters except under approved conditions and t e granting of licenses to deal in fish products. Similar provisions of which also appear in the NEMA Statute.

The conservation and management of Wetlands Statute (1996) provides regulations for use of wetlands in Uganda while recognizing that all wetlands a.re a public resource (MNR, 1995). The purpose of the law under the Uganda Wildlife Statute of 1996 is to provide for sustainable management of wildlife (including fish) and to establish a coordinating, monitoring and supervisory body. The statute also provides for the protection of both wild plants (see also the PI,ant Protection Act, 1937 cap 244) and wild animals (including fish), and includes actions that are governed by other diverse agencies. Therefore, it can be confusing regarding the most effective agency when a fishery resource needs to be sustainably managed.

For Lake Albert/Albert Nile fishery, it is recommended that all the relevant statutes and regulations/bye law be studied with a view to getting t jr effectiveness through community participation. A better definition of

----- stakeholdership for Lake Albert needs to be documented, and provisions in each statute outlined.

This part of the analysis shows that Lake Albert cannot be sustainably managed through the Fish Act alone. NARO through FIRRI may provide research data on several elements of the fishery i.e. fish biology and ecology, limnology and other environmental conditions as well as what may be essential for the sustainability of the fisheries (socio-economics). The studies needed cannot be accomplished in periodic expeditions. There is need for along-term commitments to generate the required information which can then be taken up by the relevant agencies.

11. Community Participation in the Management of the Fisheries

In addition to the lORe - FIRRI supported biological and limnological research on Lake Albert since 1988, FIRRI under NARO has carried out socio-economic assessments of fishing communities along the lake shore. One of these studies argeted people's perceptions on water hyacinth infestations while the most recent of 1999 was undertaken with a view to generating opinions on the assumption that "the lake is dead/is dying" and management solutions. These activities may contribute to the ultimate management options. However, by their design, present efforts do not fully encompass community participation in the management of the fisheries. A major question thus remains: what are the key conceptual aspects of relevance to community participation and what elements of these concepts are missing in the present management framework for the fisheries?

Before the colonial times, fishing was an activity closely integrated into the culture and traditions of the fishing communities. There was agreement among the communities that fisheries resources had to be managed in particular ways. For example, it was the clan elders responsible for management practices. The system seemed to work but may have been effective, because fishing was limited to areas near the shore. Moreover, there were only small isolated communities and the range of users was limited to direct use of fish for consumption or barter trade. Although such practices may still exist in isolated communities, management needs have expanded as the fisheries increasingly became over capitalized. Hence, the establishment of centralized management systems in which the Fisheries Department with designed fisheries regulations could be seen as the replacement of traditional management. In this system, agents of the Fisheries Department are the custodians of the management needs.

Under the current decentralization policy, regulatory functions have been devo~ved to the grassroots, with the district as the focal point of administration. Against the above background, the recent rapid surveys by FIRRI provide an

18 indication of the present state of management of the fisheries in relation to perceptions that "the lake is dead/dying". For example, the rapid assessment revealed that although the fishery is still dominated by the traditional fishing communities (the Bagungu, Alur, Banyoro - in order of dominance), some other groups (e.g. Lugbara, Kakwa, Acholi and Lang!) also participate in the industry and are scattered among existing communities. Other fisherfolk who complement community structure come from ORe side of the lake. 85% of the respondents in the FIRRI survey (n=106) agreed that there is less fish now than there was five years ago. In addition, it was also equally noted that the fi presently caught are smaller with bad/illegal fishing methods being cited as the cause. In spite of the presence of fisheries cooperatives and GO representation (UFFCA) in the area, respondents rated the effectiveness of th .s agencies at 36%, with lack of support from the communities as the main factor. However, with a 70% dependence on fish as a regular dietary component, it may be concluded that current patterns of management are inadequate to effecti y deal with "the dead / dying lake" perceptions.

"Community participation" is used to characterize the involvement of local communities in the management of their natural resources (IUCN, 1991). The term often also connotes similar concepts such as "community conservation, community based resource management and co-management" (Barrow & Murphree, 1998). An expanded view of a "community" with respect to fisheries involves various stakeholder levels. For Lake Albert, there may be: a) Lake side people directly involved in e.g. subsistence fishing for food; b) Boat owners, operators, crew; c) Fish processors and fish mongers/traders; d) Fisheries Department officials; e) Local government; f) Cross-boarder trade; g) National income interests; h) Agricultural/forestry sector interests i) Other potential uses e.g. oillsalt extraction j) Small scale traders, food processors, etc.

In contract to the "top-down" approach exercise by regulation by the F'i heries Department, community participation implies that local communities participate in management from the planning stage through implementation to evolution of impacts of decisions at the various stages of a "project" cycle. The projec here can mean a set of agreed positions for a particular fishing regime in which the regulatory system is an integral part of the community. However, it has 0 be noted that the present day community is characterized by diverse interests. How can a community with diverse socio-economic interests participate in the ake Albert fisheries?

----.------,-~- Different forms of participation by the community (Table 4) illustrate the potential for initiating intervention and appropriate action.

~C!rticipation Table 4. Community -- in management Participation type Characteristics of participation Passive participation Top-down; told what to do; information belongs to regulatory agencies Information seeding and giving Responses to questionnaires by researchers; lakeside people do not influence type of questions asked Consultation External agents listen to views and design "solutions" for the community By incentive Productive but ends once incentives stop Active participation Group formation targeting specific interests; selective management Mobilization and interactive May be driven by awareness participation workshops, people empowered with basic knowledge and allowed to make decisions and enforce them.

For a more effective management system for Lake Albert, it is proposed that loca! lakeside committees be initiated to begin to look at Lake Albert as a multi diversional resource. Group formation could start alongside established LC structures, incorporate further membership from production committees and Fisheries association/agencies. The ultimate goal of community particiOpation in the Lake Albert fisheries is to link management of the fishery resources to other catchment activities by the diverse stakeholders.

12. Recommendation

• Human activities that promote environmental degradation around the lake should be curbed. Such activities include a) Deforestation for the purposes of agriculture, firewood collection, etc. b) Excessive use of fertilizers and rock salts in agricultural and other enterprises c) Uncontrolled spillage of oils in the process of prospecting or exploitation of the potential natural oil reserves known to exist in the area

• Collection of fisheries statistics should be strengthened. Riparian districts to the lake should be encouraged to recruit and facilitate more fisheries field staff than currently on the ground. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries through the Department of Fisheries Resources should also take an active role in the facilitation of the fishery data collectors. Efforts

20 started by the FAO funded Fisheries Statistics Project UGA007/87 should be continued

• Laws pertaining to management of the fishery should be strengthened to enable sustainable exploitation of fish stocks. Such measures should inclu a) Protect known breeding areas such as the rivers and lagoons from fishing during peak breeding.

b) The use of seine nets, cast nets and active fishing should be prohibited as these gears and fishing methods destroy nursery and breeding grounds of most fish thus reducing recruitment. Besides, the gears and fishing methods catch fi indiscriminately with the majority of the fish being juveniles. The recommended fishing gears, gear sizes and fishing methods are presented in Table 5.

Table 5. Summary of appropriate fishing gears and fishing methods on Lake Albert - UIgan da Major fisheries Gears in use Recommended Target species Hydrocynus forska/ii Gill nets Passive 5" > Mputa, Ngege, (Ngassia) passive, Bagrus sp Lates ni/oticus active Passive 3" > Ngassia, Angara (Mputa) Seines X All species A/estes baremore Hooks Not smaller than Mputa, Bagrus sp, (Angara) size 9 Mamba, Male, Oreochromis ni/oticus Bubu (Ngege) Castnets X Tilapias Bagrus sp Traps X Tilapias, young (Semutundu) Mamba and Male Auchenog/aris (Bubu) Brycinus nurse Perforated Recommended A/estes nurse basins under controlled (Ragoge) fishing effort

i) The minimum length of Hydrocynus forskah/i and A/estes baremose should be 19cm FL and 24cm FL respectively using a minimum mesh size of 3 inches fished passively strictly in areas where the species are dominant. ii) The minimum gill net mesh size to crop Lates, Oreochromis Bagrus, Auchenog/anis and other larger fish of commercial importance should be 5". The size of the Nile perch permitted should be 52cm TL as above this length the fish feeds on the other commercially important species. Therefore cropping the fish at this size would lead to improvement of pre sizes. Mputa produces millions of eggs, cropping this Mputa with 5" woul reduce predation in the fishery with little decrease in Mputa yield. This same mesh size harvests 100% mature Ngege of 28cm TL and above. iii) Seining and active fishing should be prohibited

," iv~ J There is need to involve local authorities, chiefs, and fishermen, in fisheries management. v) Most important is the need for the riparian states. Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo to form a coordinating body for the management of the resource.

• High post harvest losses should, through development of better fish processing technology, be reduced

• efforts should be made to avail this important source of animal protein to a greater proportion of the population by, for example, better infrastructure and facilities for distribution of the processed and fresh fish to cover wider markets that in the process will result into higher incomes to the fisherfolk

• Research priority as given in 8.3 should be undertaken to fill the knowledge gaps identified in 8.3.

• Given the current political goodwill between the authorities on both the Ug,anda and the Congolese sides of the lake, measures to harmonize management of the lake which had been suspended should be revived. An organization similar to the one on Lake Victoria, the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization should be set up on Lake Albert to coordinate research and management of the lake's resources. Districts of Nebbi, Masindi, Hoima, Kibaale and Bundibugyo sharing the Ugandan sector of the lake should also be encouraged to set up an interdistrict Lake Albert Management Committe to harmonize and co-manage the fishery on the Ugandan side of the lake.

• The Fisheries act currently under review should among other things come up with measures that specifically apply to the multispecies fishery of Lake Albert. Fish species under exploitation range from the small sized Brycinus nurse to the large Lates niloticus. Uniform laws for the management of this fishery would therefore be detrimental to some species

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