Aquatic ecology monitoring: water quality, fish, fish catch, sanitation and disease vectors: monitoring No. 5, 6th-9th October 2009

The survey covered by this report was undertaken between 6 th and 9th October 2009 as a follow-up on the during construction surveys of the Bujagali Hydropwer Project (BHPP). In addition to two pre-construction baseline surveys in April 2000 and April 2006, four monitoring surveys have so far been undertaken i.e. in September 2007, April 2008, April 2009 and the present one, in October 2009. The 2009 biannual monitoring surveys were conducted at an upstream and a downstream transect of the BHPP with emphasis on the following aspects: 1. water quality determinants 2. biology and ecology of fishes and food webs 3. fish stock and fish catch including economic aspects of catch and 4. sanitation/vector studies (bilharzias and river blindness)

Environment monitoring technical report for the SON cage fish culture site at Bugungu, Napoleon Gulf, northern Lake Victoria, November 2013

Source of the Nile Fish farm (SON) is located at Bugungu area in Napoleon Gulf, northern Lake Victoria. The proprietors of the farm and the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) have an established collaborative arrangement where NaFIRRI provides technical back‐stopping to enable quarterly environment monitoring of the cage site as a mandatory requirement of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). The agreed study areas are selected physical‐chemical factors (water depth, water transparency/secchi depth, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, and nutrient status), algal community (including primary production), aquatic invertebrates (zooplankton and macro‐benthos) and the fish community. This report presents field observations made during the fourth quarter (October‐December) field survey undertaken during December 2013; along with scientific interpretation and discussion of the results in reference to possible impacts of the cage facility to the water environment quality and aquatic biota.

Environment monitoring technical report for the SON cage fish culture site at Bugungu, Napoleon Gulf, northern Lake Victoria, June 2013

Source of the Nile Fish farm (SON) is located at Bugungu area in Napoleon Gulf, northern Lake Victoria. The proprietors of the farm requested NaFIRRI to provide technical assistance to undertake regular environment monitoring of the cage site as a mandatory requirement under the NEMA conditions. NAFIRRI agreed to undertake regular environment surveys in the cage area covering selected physical‐chemical factors (water column depth, water transparency, water column temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, nutrient status), algal aquatic invertebrates (micro‐invertebrates/zooplankton and macro‐benthos) and fish communities. During the year 2013, it was agreed with management to undertake quarterly environment monitoring surveys. However, the first quarter (January‐March 2013) survey was missed out due to late decision. The present report therefore covers the survey taken during the second quarter (April‐June 2013). Results/observations made are presented in this technical report along with a scientific interpretation and discussion of the results with reference to possible impacts of the cage facilities to the water environment and aquatic biota.

Aquatic ecology monitoring: water quality, fish, fish catch, sanitation and disease vectors: monitoring no. 8, 6– 10th April 2011

The result reported were from a monitoring survey no.8 undertaken between 6th and 10th April 2011 during construction period of the Bujagali Hydropwer Project (BHPP). Two pre-construction, baseline surveys in April 2000 and April 2006 were conducted and so far,durin construction phase of the project, seven monitoring surveys have been undertaken i.e. in September 2007, April 2008, April 2009,October 2009, April 2010, September 2010 and the present one, in April 2011. Since 2009 biannual monitoring surveys have been conducted at an upstream and a downstream transect of the BHPP with emphasis on the following aspects: Water quality determinants Biology and ecology of fishes and food webs Fish stock and fish catch including economic aspects of catch and Sanitation/vector studies (bilharzias and river blindness)

Limnology and fishery biology of the streams at Horton Plains, Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

The present study deals with the chemical, algal and faunal characteristics of the stream system at Horton Plains, the highest plains in Ceylon (altitude 2'225 m). The cultivation of seed potatoes and subsequent use of fertilizers have caused extensive silting and severe eutrophication of the stream systems. Since there are no indigenous fish, the trout Salmo gairdnerii has been introduced and it is the only fish found in these streams. The commonest fauna in the streams are crabs (Paratelphusa sp.), shrimps (Caridimr sp.), Simulium sp. and Chironomus sp. Their increase in number is probably correlated with increase in organic and detritus matter. The most important food items of the trout are the crabs living abundantly in the stream, insect larvae and terrestrial insects were also commonly found in the guts. Records of stocking and taking of trout in the Horton plains streams have shown that now less trout are taken relatively to the numbers stocked. This decrease may be possibly due to the eutrophication of the stream and also due to the possible use of pollutants in connection with the cultivation of seed potatoes.

Selected trace metal concentration in bottom water and sediments of Kyoga basin lakes, and its potential to aquatic pollution

Although other research studies on areas such as the physical-chemical, nutrients and phytoplankton status of Lake Kyoga systems have been given a lot of attention (e.g. Mungoma 1988 and NaFIRRI 2006), efforts to determine the pollution status of this system, especially by heavy metals as one of the worldwide emerging environmental problems, is still limited. Many trace metals are regarded as serious pollutants of aquatic ecosystems because of their persistence, toxicity and ability to be incorporated into food chains (Mwamburi J., and Nathan O.F., 1997). Given the rapid human population growth and the associated economic activities both within the rural and urban areas in Uganda, such fish production systems are becoming very prone to various kinds of pollution including that by heavy metals. Anthropogenic factors such deforestation, use of chemicals and dumping of metallic products, spillages of fuels from outboard engines and many others and or natural processes involving atmospheric deposition by wind or rain, surface run-offs and streams flows from the catchment introduces heavy metals into the lake environment,.

The morphometrics and the proximate composition of the edible fresh water mussel Lamellidens lamellatus (Lea) from Bathalagoda tank, a man made reservoir in Sri Lanka

Morphometric characteristics of Lamellidens lamellatus were studied using a random sample of 138 individuals collected from Bathalagoda reservoir in Kurunegala district. The largest number of individuals in the collection was between 40-50 mm in length. They had a body weight between 60-80 gm. The most abundant bio-chemical component in the adductor and in the foot was protein. Carbohydrate and lipid quantities were almost equal while ash showed the least value. The total protein content ranged from 48.8% to 73.4%; the carbohydrate content from 12.64% to 23.8%; and lipid content from 12.0% to 28.1% of their dry weight. It was found that there were significant relationships between the length and the body weight; and between length and volume.

A comparative study of the morphometrics and the proximate composition of two edible molluscs Crassostrea cuculata (Born) and Perna perna (L.)

The morphometrics and the bio-chemical characteristics of Crassostrea cuculata and Perna perna were studied. In the oyster, the length was found to be positively correlated with breadth and total body weight. There was also a positive relationship between the total body weight and the total muscle weight. In the mytilid the total body weight was positively correlated with length and total muscle weight. The muscle weight was also found to be highly correlated with the length. In both animals the relationship between the length and the total body weight was curvilinear. In the oyster, the protein content was found to increase with the total body weight and the total muscle weight. In the mytilid the protein content increased not only with the total body weight but also with the length. In both animals, the relative content of protein is higher than that of carbohydrates, lipids and ash.

Bi-annual environment monitoring technical report for the SON cage fish culture site at Bugungu, Napoleon Gulf, northern Lake Victoria, December 2012

The first year-round quarterly surveys were completed for the year 2011. For the year 2012, SON management decided to change the frequency of the surveys from quarterly to biannual and the first such survey, was undertaken in June 2012. The second survey was undertaken in December 2012 and is the subject of this report: Results/observations made are presented in this technical report along with a scientific interpretation and discussion of the results with reference to possible impacts of the cage facilities to the water environment and aquatic biota. SON cage study sites were coded as downstream of cages (DSC), within cages (WIC) and upstream of cages (USC). Physical-chemical parameters (water column temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, were measured in-situ with a pre-calibrated hydrolab at each site. A digital Echo Sounder was used to determine the total water column depth at each site. A black and white Secchi disc was used to determine water column transparency. Coordinate locations were determined with a GPS device.

Environment monitoring technical report for the SON cage fish culture site at Bugungu, Napoleon Gulf, northern Lake Victoria, August 2014

Source of the Nile Fish farm (SON) is located at Bugungu area in Napoleon Gulf, northern Lake Victoria. The proprietors of the farm and the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) have an established collaborative arrangement where NaFIRRI provides technical back-stopping to enable quarterly environment monitoring of the cage site; a mandatory requirement of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). The agreed study areas are physical-chemical factors (water depth, water transparency/secchi depth, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, BOO, pH, conductivity), and selected nutrients), algal community (including primary production), aquatic invertebrates (zooplankton and macrobenthos) and the fish community. This report presents field observations made during the third quarter (July-September) field survey undertaken during August 2014; along with scientific interpretation and discussion of the results in reference to possible impacts of the cage facility to the water environment quality and aquatic biota.

Phytoplankton communities of a floodplain lake of the Brahmaputra River basin, Upper Assam

Phytoplankton (52 species; Bacillariophyceae>Chlorophyceae>Cyanophyceae> Euglenophyceae=Dinophyceae) of Samuajan beel, a tropical floodplain lake, registered identical mean annual richness (30+4 species) in littoral and limnetic regions and depicted 33.3-77.2% and 31.4-81.1% community similarities respectively. Their abundance ranged between 137+54 n/l in littoral (Bacillariophyceae>Chlorophyceae) and 122 ± 45 n/l (Chlorophyceae>Bacillariophyceae) in limnetic communities, comprised about 46% of net plankton and indicated winter peaks. This study depicted moderate species diversity, high evenness and low dominance of phytoplankton; species diversity showed significant direct correlation with richness and evenness and an inverse relationship with dominance. Phytoplankton showed significant positive relationship with transparency and silicate and negative with water temperature, rainfall, chloride and nitrate. Multiple regression revealed that ten abiotic factors accounted for >80-98% of density variations of phytoplankton and the dominant groups. ANOVA depicted trends of significance in abundance of the biotic communities analysed.

Impact of dead and sunken water hyacinth on biotic communities, the aquatic environment and socio-economic activities

The mobile water hyacinth, which was produced in growth zones, especially Murchison Bay, was mainly exported to three sheltered storage bays (Thruston, Hannington and Waiya). Between 1996 and May 1998, the mobile form of water hyacinth occupied about 800 ha in Thruston Bay, 750 ha in Hannington Bay and 140 ha in Waiya Bay). Biological control weevils and other factors, including localised nutrient depletion, weakened the weed that was confined to the bays and it sunk around October 1998. The settling to the bottom of such huge quantities of organic matter its subsequent decomposition and the debris from this mass was likely to have environmental impacts on biotic communities (e.g. fish and invertebrate), physico-chemical conditions (water quality), and on socio-economic activities (e.g. at fish landings, water abstraction, and hydro-power generation points). Sunken water. hyacinth debris could also affect nutrient levels in the water column and lead to reduction in the content of dissolved oxygen. The changes in nutrient dynamics and oxygen levels could affect algal productivity, invertebrate composition and fish communities. Socio-economic impacts of dead sunken weed were expected from debris deposited along the shoreline especially at fish landings, water abstraction and hydropower generation points. Therefore, environmental impact assessment studies were carried out between 1998 and 2002 in selected representative zones of Lake Victoria to identify the effects of the sunken water hyacinth biomass

Management of the nile perch, Lates niloticus, fishery in Lake Victoria in light of the changes in its life history characteristics

Nile perch, Lates niloticus Linnaeus, 1758, is a predatory fish of high commercial and recreational value. It can grow to a length of 2 m and a weight of 200 kg. In Uganda, Nile perch was originally found only in Lake Albert and the River Nile below Murchison Falls. The species is, however, widely distributed in Africa, occurring in the Nile system below Murchison Falls, the Congo, Niger, Volta, Senegal and in Lakes Chad and Turkana (Greenwood 1966).

Environment monitoring technical report for the SON cage fish culture site at Bugungu, Napoleon Gulf, northern Lake Victoria, September 2013

Source of the Nile Fish farm (SON) is located in northern Lake Victoria close to the headwaters of the River Nile. The proprietors of the farm have established a collaborative agreement with the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) to undertake quarterly environment monitoring surveys of the fish cage site at Bugungu in the Napoleon Gulf. This activity is a mandatory requirement of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) of Uganda. Therefore NAFIRRI undertakes monitoring surveys once every quarter covering selected physical‐chemical parameters including water column depth, water transparency, water column temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity and nutrient status; algal, zooplankton, macro‐benthos and fish communities. While the first quarter survey of 2013 (January‐March) was missed out due to late decision, the second quarter monitoring survey was dully undertaken in May 2013 and a technical report was compiled and submitted to the client. The present report covers the third quarter survey (July‐September) undertaken in September 2013. Results/observations made are presented in this technical report along with a scientific interpretation and discussion of the results with reference to possible impacts of the cage facilities to the water environment quality and selected aquatic biota.

SON bi‐annual environment monitoring technical report for the cage culture site at Bugungu, northern Lake Victoria, June 2012

Source of the Nile Fish farm (SON) is located at Bugungu area in Napoleon Gulf, northern Lake Victoria. The proprietors of the farm requested NaFIRRI to provide technical assistance to undertake regular environment monitoring of the cage site as is mandatory under the NEMA conditions. NAFIRRI agreed to undertake regular environment surveys in the cage area covering selected physical‐chemical factors i.e. water column depth, water transparency, water column temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, redox potential and turbidity; nutrient status, algal and invertebrate communities (micro‐invertebrates/zooplankton and macro‐invertebrates/macro‐benthos) as well as fish community. The first year‐round quarterly surveys were completed for the year 2011. It was decided by SON management to change the frequency of the monitoring surveys to biannual starting in the year 2012 and the first such survey, which is the subject of this report, was undertaken in June 2012. Results/observations made are presented in this technical report along with a scientific interpretation and discussion of the results with reference to possible impacts of the cage facilities to the water environment and aquatic biota. SON