Valuation of the fishery resource and its implication to fish conservation, the case of Kasenyi landing site on Lake Victoria in Wakiso district.

Abstract

The study was about the value the community attaches to the fishery resource and its implication to conservation, at Kasenyi landing site on Lake Victoria in Wakiso district. There has been no attempt taken to find out the value the community attaches to the fishery resource. The objectives of the study were to find out the Value the community attaches to the fishery resource, to find out the available conservation methods at Kasenyi landing site, people's willingness to adopt the conservation methods and to establish how the community should be involved in the conservation practices. Research questions of the study addressed were; how do people attach value to the fish resource? What are the conservation practices available? Which conservation practices are adopted by the community and how best can the community be involved in conservation of the fishery resource? A cross-sectional study was used which involved use. of questionnaires covering 50 respondents. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS 6.0 which facilitated the formation of frequency tables, graphs and cross tabulations. It has been found out that people only attach value to the fishery resource for only the benefits they derive from it like incomes, employment among others. It was also found out that there are various conservation practices where majority of the respondents were willing to adopt hence having a positive impact on valuation. The study concludes that fishers carry out fishing activities without knowing the true value of the resource which has affected its existence. The researcher recommends that, people should be sensitized on different values they generate from the, resource for example food, Incomes, employment and school fees among others like non-use values which will enable them attach a higher value to the fishery resource which will enable them adopt the various available conservation methods.