Impacts of fishery activities on lake shore environment and options for sustainable management

Over the years, degradation of the lakeshore resources has been going on due to human induced activities. Human activities notably house construction, fish smoking, boat construction and cooking at the landings impact the tree and forest cover along the lakeshore and Islands. The survey was conducted in ten districts surrounding Lake Victoria and the landings sampled were selected with the help of the District Fisheries Officers. Data was obtained from selected fishermen and Key informants at these landing sites. The study examined the extent of knowledge on importance, utilization, threats and conservation of trees/forests at the landings. Results showed that the fishers (98%) were aware of the benefits derived from the trees/forests. According to the respondents, the most commonly used tree species for boat construction were Mvule (40%), Mkibu (20%), Musizi (17%) and Mpewere (11 %). This was mainly because these trees were durable. For house construction, Nsambya (25%), Musizi (24%) and other materials (12%) were the most commonly used. For other activities like fish smoking and cooking at the landing, the Fisherfolk used any type of tree species readily available at the landings. As regards the status of the trees at the landings, most of the respondents (72%) J agreed that due to some fishery related activities some tree species had reduced more than others in the vicinity of most landings. Most respondents said that the, most reduced tree species around the landings were Mvule (36%) and Musizi (22%). Among the fishery related activities that had a significant impact on the trees/forests, construction of houses (44%) and boats (22%) emerged uppermost. Other activities such as fish smoking (14%) and cooking (12%) had the least impact on trees/forests. Generally, there was extensive reduction of trees at the landings. Therefore there was need to regulate cutting of trees and to have specific programmes targeting afforestation at and around fish landings.

The past, present and projected scenarios in the Lake Albert and Albert Nile fisheries: implications for sustainable management

Lake Albert is one of the largest lakes in Uganda that still supports a multi-species fishery which as a result of variable adult sizes of the species, causes management challenges especially in relation to gear mesh size enforcement. Prior to the 1980s, commercial species were 17 large sized fishes especially Citharinus citharinus, Distichodus niloticus and Lates spp. that were confimed to inshore habitats of the lake and were thus rapidly over fished. Frame and catch assessment surveys conducted in this study revealed a >80% dominance of small size fish species (Neobola bredoi and Brycinus nurse) and a 40 -60% decrease in the contribution of the large commercial species. Sustainability of small size fish species is uncertain due to seasonal fluctuations and low beach value. At about 150,000 tons of fish recorded from Lake Albert and Albert Nile, the beach value was estimated at 55.3 million USD. Despite the noted decline in catches of the large sized fishes their contribution was more than 50% of total beach value. Therefore, management measures should couple value addition for the small sized species and maintain effort regulation targeting recovery of the large previously important commercial species.

The role of socio-economics in the sustainable development and management of the fisheries

The fisheries resources of Kyoga basin lakes are of greater socio-Economic significance for the poor rural communities of this area. The lake's fisheries provide the much needed animal protein as well as source of income for the fishers and the rural poor communities. Nationally, Kyoga basin lakes fisheries are economically important in that they contribute 27% of the total national fish production. In addition, more than 15 riparian districts depend on it for food and income. Moreover, fish from lakes Kyoga and Kwania playa major role in the regional export commodity trade earning the country foreign exchange. The perception that heavy exploitation of inland fishery resources threatens a loss of socio-economic benefits to local communities and their governments has prompted the new ways of management.