Abstract:
The study examined the effects of fishing policies on fish production in Namasagali Sub County. This was done by assessing the effects of fishing policies on fish production due to access fees, control of access and management measures.
The study was cross sectional and both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to collect. data. The methods of data collection used were interviews, questionnaires and observations. The data was collected from a sample of 52 respondents using purposive sampling and data was coded and then entered into excel sheet which later was copied to SPSS (version 6) were if was analyzed which facilitated the formation of frequency tables, and graphs. Also data collected using an interview guide was analyzed manually using a data compilation form.
The study revealed that fishing policies exist in the area and are used for management and regulating fish production. The research findings indicate that control of access increase fish production and this has been done by use of fishing licenses and licenses on fish processing and marketing which regulates the fishing effort and output, this was supported by 61.5% and
59.6% of respondent's agreements respectively. The research findings indicate that' access fees results. into increase in fish production; this is supported by 6.5% of the respondents who agree that obtaining a. fishing license for a time period increase- fish production and 49.2% agree that prohibition of transfer, assignment -and borrowing of a fishing license results into increased fish production. The findings also indicate that management measures have an effect of increasing fish production. This is supported by 69% of the respondents who agree that regulations on mesh sizes increase fish production, 69% also of respondents agree that regulations on fishing vessels increase fish production, 75% also agree that fish processing and trade increase fish production and lastly 61.5% of the respondents agree that limiting entry and licensing increase fish production.
I recommend that there is need for the government to increase funds directed to the management of fisheries resources in order to ensure. proper monitoring and enforcement of the policies in place. There is also need for the government to make a policy reform in the fisheries policy in order to put into consideration of river fisheries which were ignored at first due to its little productivity as compared to lake fisheries.
