Abstract:

The CASs were carried out at 56 fish landing sites in the 15 riparian districts sharing the lake, following a statistical design laid down in Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) agreed by the three partner states of the East African Community (LVFO, 2005). The National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI), Jinja; the Directorate of Fisheries Resources (DiFR), Entebbe; and the 15 (formerly 11) riparian districts of Busia, Bugiri, Namayingo, Mayuge, Jinja, Mukono, Buikwe, Buvumma, Wakiso, Kampala, Mpigi, Masaka, Kalungu, Kalangala and Rakai jointly conducted the surveys. The CAS enumerators (112) were recruited from the fishing communities at the 56 participating landing sites on Uganda waters of Lake Victoria , trained and worked under direct supervision of sub county Fisheries Officers. In addition, the enumerators were given protective gears and CAS equipment. Capacity building of Beach Management Units (BMUs) and their participation in fisheries data collection is considered one of the avenues for sustainable data collection.

This report presents findings of the CAS conducted in the Ugandan waters of Lake Victoria in May 2014. The results of the previous thirteen harmonized CASs conducted since July 2005 (July, August, September and November 2005; in March, August and December 2006; in March and August 2007; in February and December 2008; March 2010 and May 2011) are included to show the emerging trends. The report also presents annual catch estimates for the Ugandan part of the lake from 2005 to 2014.

Results of these CASs show the emerging trends of fish production in the Ugandan waters of the lake, which together with information from similar surveys in the Kenyan and Tanzanian parts of the lake provide the lake wide perspective of fisheries production. This information together with other fish stock assessment and socio-economic monitoring survey data can now be utilized in the planning and management of the fisheries resources of Lake Victoria. The 2014 CAS results were very vital in the development of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Management Plan 2014.