r T e Fisheries of th ganda ector of Lake Alb -rt r CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Aquatic Commons :BtEo;ac~:J:=-'TONTH 13: O"UR.RB.....,.~ P FISH e:R.YOP~...~ AN'" SEOTOR.OFIdA K e AT.BERT ,... 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 3 --- 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.