Relative abundance and distribution of fish in Kenyan waters of Lake Victoria

Bottom trawl surveys were conducted in Kenyan waters of Lake Victoria during the period September 1997 and March 1999. The means of fish biomass for the two most important species: Lates niloticus (L.) and Oreochromis niloticus (L.) were estimated at 61.5 kg ha and 4.5 kg ha respectively. There were few L. niloticus greater than 80 cm TL and O. niloticus greater than 50 cm TL, though these species attain maximum sizes of 205 cm and 65 cm respectively. Oreochromis niloticus was mostly found shallower than 5 m though some specimens were encountered deeper than 10 m, suggesting that the species has extended its ecological range. Very low catches were obtained from areas under water hyacinth cover. Water in such areas was turbid with oxygen levels below the critical 3.0 mg L.