Technical report of frame and catch assessment surveys of Lakes Edward and George; and the Kazinga Channel conducted in January and July 2011- 2013

This study aimed at evaluating the production levels in terms of catch estimates of the artisanal fisheries of the Edward-George system in addition to providing information on the facilities and services at landing sites and the composition, magnitude and distribution of fishing effort to guide development and management of the fisheries resources of the Edward and George lakes and Kazinga channel. Specifically, the study was expected to come up with the following outputs:- a) Information on the number of fish landing sites on the basin lakes; b) Information on the facilities available at the fish landing sites to service the fisheries sector ; c) Information on the number of fishers; d) Information on the number and types of fishing crafts; e) Information on the modes of propulsion of the fishing crafts; f) Information on the number types and sizes of fishing gears including the number of illegal fishing gears in the fishery; and g) Recommendations on development and management of the fisheries of the Edward and George lakes and Kazinga channel. h) Beach values in terms of annual catches and annual revenue from the water bodies.

Vespid chemotactic peptide precursor from the wasp, Vespa magnifica (Smith)

Despite the evolutional distance between wasp and amphibian, vespid chemotactic peptide (VCP), an important component of wasp venom, are found sharing remarkable similarities with the temporin antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from Ranid frog, Amolops loloens

A phospholipase A1 platelet activator from the wasp venom of Vespa magnifica (Smith)

Wasp is an impor tant venomous animal that can induce human fatalities. Aortic thrombosis and cerebral infarction are major clinical symptoms after massive wasp stings but the reason leading to the envenomation manifestation is still not known. In this paper, a toxin protein is purified and characterized by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, CM-Sephadex C-25 cationic exchange and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) from the venom of the wasp, Vespa magnifica (Smith). This protein, named magnifin, contains phospholipase-like activity and induces platelet aggregation. The cDNA encoding magnifin is cloned from the venom sac cDNA library of the wasp. The predicted protein was deduced from the cDNA with a sequence composed of 337 amino acid residues. Magnifin is very similar to other phospholipase A(1) (PLA(1)), especially to other wasp allergen PLA(1). Magnifin can activate platelet aggregation and induce thrombosis in vivo. The current results proved that PLA(1) in wasp venom could be contributable to aortic thrombosis after massive wasp stings. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

On the little known species of threadfin breams Nemipterus mesoprion (Bleeker) and Nemipterus delagoae (Smith)

Among the fish species of the family Nemipteridae, the two little known species, namely, Nemipterus mesoprion (Bleeker) and Nemipterus delagoae (Smith) are recorded from the Cochin waters. Nemipterus mesoprion is a new distributional record from the west coast of India. N. delagoae is described with adequate numbers of specimen for the first time from Indian waters. Moreover, the results of the present study show that the colour of the viscera, the number of pyloric caeca and the gill rakers can also be used for the diagnosis of the species of the genus Nemipterus. The affinity of the above species with other related species of the genus Nemipterus and their geographical distribution are presented.

Fisheries studies on Lake George and Kazinga Channel: first quarter final report June/July 2001

FIRRI surveyed the fisheries of Lake George and Kazinga Channel between 20th June and 20th July 2001. This was the second survey FIRRI has conducted for the ILM project on the water system. The first survey was conducted during November 2000. These data, the analyses and accompanying reports contribute to baseline information for the fishery being collected with the support of ILM that is required for lakewide planning and management. Eight fish landing sites (6 on Lake George) namely; Kahendero, Hamukungu, Kasenyi, Kashaka, Mahyoro, Kayinja (2 on Kazinga Channel) namely; Katunguru -K and B fall within the focus of ILM and were surveyed during November 2000 and June/July 2001 over a three day period at each landing site in 2001 (Mahyoro 2 days). In November 2000, each landing was sampled once. FIRRI conducted a rapid FS and concurrently a CAS. All results are reported by landing site and then summed up (Global) for 8 sites on Lake George and Kazinga Channel.

Two new species of the sisorid genus Oreoglanis Smith from Yunnan, China (Teleostei : Sisoridae)

Two new species of the genus Oreoglanis, O. jingdongensis and O. immaculatus are described from the Mekong and Salween River basins, respectively, of Yunnan Province, China. Oreoglanis jingdongensis can be distinguished from other Oreoglanis species by th

Assessment of the performance of beach management units (BMUs) on Lakes Victoria, Albert, Kyoga and George

Until the late 1990s the fisheries of Ugandan lakes had been managed by government where stakeholders were excluded from the decision-making process. In order to involve other stakeholders, co-management was adopted. Operationalising Co-management on landing sites has led to the formation of BMUs at gazetted landing sites. A BMU is made up of a BMU assembly and the BMU committee that it elects. A BMU committee should be: 30% boat owners; 30% boat barias 30% including fish processors, boat makers, local gear makers and repairers, fishing input dealers and managers and 10% fish mongers/traders; and if possible, 30% women. To operate at a particular landing site, one must be registered with the BMU. The BMU assembly is the supreme organ of a BMU empowered to elect, approve and remove the BMU committee

The fisheries and fish stocks of Lake George: their productivity, exploitation, management and conservation

The study was confined to the fisheries of Lake George. The fishery of Lake George has been exploited under controlled exploitation but the permitted number of boats was fixed in the 1950s before the human population increased to the current level. Many more people were involved in fishing and it was feared that the fish stocks might not support the human population. The assignment involved preparation of a research proposal, collection of field data and production of a report in a period of eight months.

The commercial fishery of Lake George, Uganda (East Africa)

A shallow, highly productive, tropical lake is descrihed with a brief history of its commercial fishery. Three separate assessments of the present (1967-1970) yield are compared, with an apparent confirmation of the values derived from Fishery Department statistics over a period of 20 years. The seasonal change in the catch is noted with, an apparent anomaly shown by ohservations of canoe landings. Long-term trends during the period 1950-1969 are considered with a brief discussion of possible future trends in the fishery.

Fish exploitation and changes in the fish community of Lake George, Uganda

Unlike Lake Victoria, the fisheries of Lake George have undergone gradual changes in the size and proportion of the major commercial fish species, the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus: cichlidae) in the last 40 years (1950-1989). The size decreased from an average weight of 900g in 1950 to 430g in 1989 while percentage contribution in commercial catches during the same period declined from 92% to 36%. The over all annual commercial catches though showed a steady increase from the period 1950 when the fishery was opened to intensive and controlled exploitation, consistently high catches were observed in the 1960s and 1970s followed by a general decline in the early 1980s to amore or less stable fishery in the late 1980s. These changes are attributed to increased fishing pressure especially on the nil tilapia and to increased use of smaller gill net mesh sizes lower than the recommended 127mm mesh. The changes in gill net mesh have brought O. leucostictus, acichlid, into commercial catches confirming that the 88.9mm mesh size nets are used by the commercial fishermen to harvest smaller fish species. The commercial catches are presently dominated by the piscivorous fishes,(over 60%) whose contribution was less than 10% during initial exploitation of the virgin fishery in 1950.The piscivorous fish are mainly caught using hooks and lines. The entire fishery is believed to be exploited close to the maximum. The above trends serve to show the impact of exploitation on fish species diversity. Quantitive and qualitative changes of the major fish species on lake George are due to exploitation pressure unlike Lake Victoria where it is a combination of both exploitations and impact of fish introductions. There has been no fish introduction in Lake George.

Fishery resources and some economic aspects of four fishing villages on Lakes George and Edward in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

The fishery resources of Lake George and Ugandan waters of Lake Edward are described. The main fish species currently observed in the commercial catches were determined and the reasons of changes in species composition of the catches. that occurred in the recent years, are explained. The fishing activity and some economic and nutritional aspects of four fishing villages, selected among the ten present within the Queen Elizabeth National Park boundaries, are analyzed, In the end some suggestions are given for management of the fishery resources of these lakes.

Plankton identified in stomach contents of Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces, Cichlidae) and the water system of Lakes Edward, George, and Kazinga channel - Uganda

The samples were collected from Lake Edward at Rwenshama, Kisenyi and Katwe, and from Lake George at Mahyoro, Kashaka and Kasenyi and in Kazinga Channel at Katunguru. The organisms identified from the water samples obtained irrespective of station or depth were mainly the phytoplankton (diatoms, blue-green algae and green algae). Of the phytoplankton, blue green-algae were the most abundant both in quantity and number of species especially in L. George. In order of importance were Microcystis spp, Planktolyngbya spp and Anabaenopsis spp were the dominant blue greens. Diatoms and green algae were present but less abundant. The estimated proportions of different types of phytoplankton identified in O. niloticus stomach contents indicate that bluegreen algae were the most abundant followed by the diatoms and green algae.

Movements of haplochromines (Pisces: Cichlidae) in Lake George, Uganda

In Lake George, the abundance of haplochromines in inshore regions during the day and at night differs significantly. Futhermore, while by day there are more haplochromines in the lower than the upper layers, at night these fishes appear to be uniformly distributed throught the water column. Regions of the lake near river mouths had fewer haplochromines during the wet than the dry season, while the reverse was true of regions distant form the river mouths. Possible causes of these movements are discussed.