Report of the PRA carried out at Mwasonge Beach, Tanzania, October 23rd - November 3rd, 2000

This paper comprises part of the so-called "3-beaches Survey" of the LVFRP. In Tanzania, this study has developed to examine two landing sites (Mwasonge and Ihale), and to chart the progress of the newly established Beach Management Units (BMU) at each beach, comparing one BMU against the other. The over-arching objective of this survey was to develop an understanding of the context in which Mwasonge's fishery exists. The study does so by examining the community's history, culture and beliefs, various other socio-cultural factors, their resources, society and economy, wealth and the community's perceptions of wealth. Importantly, the survey examines the community's institutions and its perceptions of fishing rules and changes within the fishery. All of these facets of community life are examined with the use of participatory Rural Appraisal tools, and the images that the study generated are reproduced herein.

Marketing study

The findings are presented of a marketing survey conducted in the lake Victoria region. The research concentrated on consumers, trader /processors serving local markets, industrial processors serving mainly international markets, and fishers. The market for fish from Lake Victoria is traced from the consumer to the producer, including as many components of the chain as possible. The components are dealt with in individual sections which comprise a profile of a typical consumer/trader-processor/industrial processor /fisher, a list of survey sites, a map showing locations, a note on potential biases within the individual survey, a list of hypotheses or study topics for all surveys except for that of industrial processors, detailed analyses and also the pertinent questionnaire.

A comparison of phytoplankton and total particle counts

Phytoplankton counts made under the light microscope were compared to counts using an electronic dimensional particle counter. Counts were made on a monthly basis, on water samples taken from one station in the Sanyati Basin. Neither total particle numbers nor total particle volume compare closely with phytoplankton numbers. Total particle numbers were of the order of one and a half to two times greater than the phytoplankton numbers.

The Gache Gache Fishing Co-operative, July 1984-June 1985

Details are given of development of the Gache Gache Fishing Cooperative and fishing activities in Lake Kariba undertaken during the year June 1984-June 1985. The viability of fishing cooperatives in Lake Kariba is also examined.

Investigation into the factors associated with poor water quality in intensively cultured prawn ponds

Water quality problems are reported to be the factor limiting prawn production in the local prawn farm. This investigation was carried out to monitor water quality and its relationship to physical, chemical and biological conditions in the ponds in order to establish what factors should be monitored in order to predict problems. Pond collapse was found to be associated with high concentrations of ammonium, high pH and blue-green algae dominated phytoplankton populations. There was no easy means of predicting the imminent collapse of ponds as the phenomenon was never associated with the extreme of any of the conditions monitored. Rather it seemed to be related to the stability of the pond's algal population, which was largely unaccounted for. Recommendations toward improving water quality are proposed.

A comparative study of consumption rates and preference for some species of aquatic plants by Tilapia rendalli

The daily consumption rates and preference of juvenile Tilapia rendalli for some macrophytes, Ceratophyllum demersum, Lagarosiphon major, Najas pectinatas and Valisneria aethiopica were determined. Fish were offered single macrophyte diets to determine daily consumption and a mixture of the 4 macrophytes in equal quantities to determine selection. Consumption rates were 821.50 mg, 829.05 mg, 940.00 mg and 2293.53 mg per fish per day, respectively. The differences in consumption rates were significant. Preference was shown for V.aethiopica, whilst C.demersum was least selected. Fish fed on single species lost weight whereas those fed on a variety of macrophytes gained in weight.

Annual report 1986

A report is given of activities conducted by the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute during the year 1986, describing the various conferences and research projects carried out. A list of publications by the Institute is also included.

Annual report 1987

The 1987 Annual Report of the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute details the various research projects conducted during the year, which covered the following topics: ecology of the submerged vascular vegetation; biology and population dynamics of the butter catfish; post-harvest fish technology and management; sardine population structure; and analysis of the inshore fish.

Annual report 1988

The document gives an account of the activities carried out during the year 1988 by the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute and includes individual reports of the various projects conducted during the year. They include: the Zambia/Zimbabwe Lake Kariba Fisheries Research and Development Project; a comparative study of genetic growth determinance of Limnothrissa miodon; a comparative study of consumption rates and preference for some species of aquatic macrophytes by Tilapia rendalli; an evaluation of inshore stocks, and external variables causing variation in composition abundance and distribution; Willards cage-culture pilot project; and, aspects of the ecology of the phytobenthic communities in Lake Kariba - PhD thesis.

Annual report 1989

The report describes the activities of the Institute during the year 1989, which include the following: The Zambia/Zimbabwe Lake Kariba Fisheries Research and Development Project; the pilot cage culture project; cooperative development; an economic evaluation of the Kariba International Tiger Fish Tournament; hydroacoustic surveys in Lake Kariba; and, the age structure and population dynamics of the sardine Limnothrissa miodon in Lake Kariba.

Annual report 1990

The report is presented under the following headings: Officer-in-charge's report; The Zambia/Zimbabwe SADCC Lake Kariba Fisheries Research and Development Project; Comparative study of growth of Limnothrissa miodon (Boulenger) in Lake Kariba; An analysis of the effects of fishing location and gear on kapenta catches on Lake Kariba; Hydro-acoustic surveys in Lake Kariba; The pre-recruitment ecology of the freshwater sardine Limnothrissa miodon (Boulenger) in Lake Kariba; Report on short course in zooplankton quantitative sampling methods held at the Freshwater Biology Laboratory, Windermere from 19 to 30 November 1990; Report on training: post-graduate training - Humberside Polytechnic, UK; Postharvest fish technology in Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe; and assessment of the abundance of inshore fish stocks and evaluating the effects of fishing pressure on the biology of commercially important species and ecological studies on Synodontis zambezensis .

Annual report 1991

This annual report is presented under the following major headings: 1) acting officer-in-charge's report; 2) project coordinator's report; 3) evaluation of some components of the Lake Kariba "kapenta fishing unit"; 4) comparative study of growth of Limnothrissa miodon (Boulenger) in Lake Kariba; 5) the pre-recruitment ecology of the freshwater sardine Limnothrissa miodon (Boulenger) in Lake Kariba; 6) the ecology of the inshore fishery of Lake Kariba; the biology of Synodontis zambezensis ; 7) database; and, 8) publications.

Annual report 1992

An account is given of the activities conducted by the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute during the year 1992, which include the following research programmes: Comparative study of growth of Limnothrissa miodon (Boulanger) in Lake Kariba; Effort calibration for the Kapenta fishery; Pre-recruitment ecology of the freshwater sardine L.miodon (Boulanger) in Lake Kariba; The ecology of the inshore fishery of Lake Kariba - biology of Synodontis zambezensis; Mercury in the tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus), green happy (Serranochromis codringtoni) and Tanganyika sardine (L.miodon) from Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe; and, Assessment of the potential development of a Synodontis fishery on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe.

Annual report 1993

The report provides an account of the activities carried out by the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute during the year 1993 under the following headings: Institute finances; Staffing and staff training; Staff housing; Infrastructure and institute expansion; Vehicles and vessels; and, Fisheries and fishery management. Individual reports regarding the various project activities conducted during the year are also included.

Annual report 1994

The report provides an account of the activities carried out by the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute during the year 1994 under the following headings: Institute finances; Staffing and staff training; Staff housing; Infrastructure and institute expansion; Vehicles and vessels; and, Fisheries and fishery management. Individual reports regarding the various project activities conducted during the year are also included.