The effects of indigenous fishing gears and methods on the sustainability of fisheries resources on Lake Victoria :

Abstract

Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater in the world and the largest fresh water in tropics (Africa) and accounting for more than 60% of all the fish produced in Uganda every year. Currently, the fisheries of this lake support over 200,000 fishers contributing to livelihoods of over 3 million people. These fishers use a variety of indigenous fishing methods and gears to capture different fish species from this lake. However, to date, some of the indigenous fishing methods (such as impounding, spearing, handpicking) and gears (such as beach seines, hooks, traps and longlines) which are categorize under illegal and destructive towards sustainable Lake Victoria fisheries resources management are still in use Following the dwindling in fish species populations in Lake Victoria however, this drove the need for a study to be conducted at two landing sites (specifically Koko and Busagazi) to provide an understanding of how the use of these indigenous fishing methods and gears by the fishing communities have continuously created an impact on the sustainability of the fisheries resources of Lake Victoria. The main aim was to assess the effects of indigenous fishing gears and methods on sustainable use of fisheries resources of Lake Victoria. Specifically; to identify the different indigenous fishing gears currently being used by fishers on Lake Victoria; to identify the different indigenous fishing methods currently being used by fishers on Lake Victoria and to find out the challenges that arise when indigenous fishing gears and methods are used during fishing at Lake Victoria. The two landing sites were chosen because of their rampant fishing activities that occur, existing knowledge gap of indigenous fishing methods and gears being used at these two sites and how these methods and gears can affect the sustainability of fisheries resources of Lake Victoria. The study comprised of a survey done using self-administered questionnaires, focus group discussions, Interview guides and Personal Observation Guide. 86 respondents were obtained from the fishing communities at the two sites to take part in the study. The findings of this study revealed that the fishing communities were using a multiple of indigenous fishing methods and gears. However, the most commonly used indigenous fishing method and gear was impounding and beach seines respectively. Furthermore, these fishing communities were also confident that these indigenous fishing methods and gears that they were using were not destructive and that they were using them because of their affordability and simplicity. From this study, it is clear that sustainability of fisheries resources is not being promoted at these two landing sites due to the continuous use of indigenous fishing methods and gears that are destructive. The findings of this study will advise the fisheries officials on how fishery resources are being depleted at these two landing sites. However, if the cost of modern fishing gears are reduced and also the fishing communities are sensitized on the dangers of using indigenous fishing methods and gears, sustainability of fishery resources will be promoted.