Abstract:

The fisheries of lakes Edward and Albert contribute substantially to the livelihoods (food, employment, and income) of the dependent lakeside communities and the economic development in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The riparian communities derive their livelihood through employment (e.g. fishing, boat/net repairs, retail shops around the beaches, fish trade, fish processing, transport, food stalls) and food nutrition provided by the commercial fisheries. These contributions justify the importance of the fisheries in these lakes, hence the need to sustainably develop and manage them.

In this regard, information for science led fisheries management of the two lakes is needed and must be obtained through the fishery dependent studies (e.g. Frame Surveys-FS and Catch Assessment Surveys-CASs) and Fishery independent data generation techniques (e.g. Trawl Surveys, Hydro-acoustic Survey, and other experimental fishing methods). For a long, fisheries management on lakes Edward and Albert has been largely guided by information from Frame and Catch Assessment Surveys. However, due to logistical constraints, specifically inadequate funding and limited technical capacity, these surveys have been limited in scope and space on the two lakes across the two riparian countries. On the Ugandan sectors of the two lakes, standardized FS and CASs have been conducted albeit on an ad hoc basis while on the DRC side; sporadic assessments conducted had never used similar approach as the current one.

Through the LEAF II Project whose goal is to promote the sustainable utilization and management the fisheries and allied natural resources of lakes Edward and Albert basin through harmonized legal framework and policies, FS and CASs were prioritized to provide information needed to guide fisheries management on the two lakes. Subsequently, the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program Coordination Unit (NELSAP-CU) of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) signed a service contract with the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) of Uganda and the Service National de Promotion et de Developpement de la Peche (SENADEP) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to undertake lake-wide FS and CAS on the Uganda and DRC sections of lakes Edward and Albert under the LEAF II Project.

This report presents key findings and management recommendation from the 2021 lake-wide Frame Surveys conducted on lakes Edward and Albert covering the two countries. Frame Surveys involve direct and complete enumeration of all fish landing sites, fishing effort and all other facilities supporting the fisher community on a regular or ad hoc basis. The FS information forms the basis for identifying primary and secondary sampling units, and appropriate sampling strata for the Catch Assessment Surveys (CASs). Information relating to the total numbers of sampling units is used to raise sampled catch rates in CAS estimates of total catches.

The 2021 FS was implemented at all landing sites on lakes Albert and Edward during September 2021 and was conducted in a participatory and inclusive manner, involving all the key stakeholders in the planning and implementation. Both NaFIRRI and SENADEP in collaboration with the relevant national and local fisheries agencies and authorities coordinated the FS in the respective territorial waters of the two lakes.

The 2021 Frame Survey recorded a total of 176 (73 in Uganda and 103 in DRC) landing sites on the entire Lake Albert, 8,691 fishing crafts (5,075 in Uganda and 3,616 in DRC); and 24,089 fishers (13,999 in Uganda and 10,090 in DRC). On the Uganda side of Lake Albert, landing sites decreased from 107 to 73 (32%), boats from 9,781 to 5,075 (48%) and fishers from 27,944 to 13,999 (50%) over the period 2018 – 2021. In DRC, while a decrease was observed for fishing crafts from 5,504 to 3,616 (34%) and for fishers from 20,140 to 10,090 (50%), an increase in landing sites was realised from 94 to 103 (9.6%).

On the Uganda side of the lake Albert, the multi-filament gillnets of the legal mesh size (= 4 inches) registered a 176% increase from 16,325 to 45,044, while the illegal ones (<4 inches) decreased by 65.6% from 57,237 to 19,716. Apart from the small seines of = 5 mm which increased by 57.7% from 3.075 to 4,850, the numbers of all the other illegal gears decreased. Monofilament gillnets and boat seines registered a four-fold decrease from 22,886 to 6,098 and 338 to 83 respectively. Similarly, beach seines and cast nets decreased two-fold from 291 to 124 and 453 to 182 respectively.

In DRC, the multi-filament gillnets of the legal mesh size (=4 inches) registered a 935% increase from 110 to 1,138, while the illegal ones (<4 inches) decreased by 59.4% from 1,544 to 626. Apart from the basket traps which increased by 125% from 1,551 to 3,496, a decline of the other illegal gears was registered. For example, monofilament gillnets decreased by 27% from 517 to 377 between 2018 and 2021. Similarly, beach seines, boat seines, small seines (<5 mm) and mosquito nets decreased in proportions of 87%, 92%, 84% and 99% respectively. The decline in the number of illegal gears could be attributed to the enforcement efforts on the lake

Additionally, the small seines increased by over 90% from 1,619 to 3,076, monofilament gillnets by > 60% from 3,774 to 6,075 while the under-size (< 4 inches) multifilament gillnets registered a 5% margin of increase from 54,350 to 57,237 and they dominated for the period under review. The other two illegal fishing gears; the beach/boat seines and cast nets increased twelve- and four-fold respectively. The multi-filament gillnets of the legal mesh size (>4 inches) and long line hooks were the only fishing gears that registered declines in proportions of 60% and 6% from 42,365 to 16,325 and 1,965,576 to 1,854,706 respectively.

The decline in numbers of legal fishing gears (large mesh sizes and long line hooks) coupled with escalation of illegal gears that target undersized fish could be an indication of decline in large sized fish. This will be ascertained when a follow-on CAS is conducted.

On the DRC side of the lakes, illegal gears (undersize gillnet <4”, monofilament gillnets, cast nets, beach seines and basket traps) are seemingly high although the study did not have a similar comprehensive statistic to compare with. However, some of the fishing methods listed as illegal are not classified similarly in both DRC and Uganda, something that will require urgent harmonization as joint management sets in.

On the Lake Edward, the 2021 Frame Survey recorded a lower level of fishing effort with a total of 20 (5 in Uganda and 15 in DRC) landing sites; 2,058 fishing crafts (320 in Uganda and 1,738 in DRC); and 11,430 fishers (645 in Uganda and 10,785 in DRC). On the Uganda side of Lake Edward, the landing sites remained constant 5 as in 2018. The number of boats increased from 299 to 320 (7%), while fishers’ number is reduced from 917 to 645 (29.7%) over the period 2018 – 2021. In DRC, a decrease was observed for fishing crafts from 3,236 to 1,738 (46%); for fishers from 19,558 to 10,785 (44.8%), and for landing sites from 35 to 15 (57%).

During the 2021 FS, illegal fishing gears decreased in both countries. On the DRC side of the lake Edward for example, the number of multi-filament gillnets of the legal mesh size (= four inches) decreased from 1,496 to 44 (97%); for monofilament gillnet from 542 to 56 (89.7%); gillnet from 1973 to 1410 (28.5%); hand-line from 419 to 43 (89.7%); beach seine from 77 to 20 (74%); boat seine from 31 to 4 (87%); mosquito from 11 to zero (100%) and small seine from 441 to 21 (95%) over the period 2018 – 2021. Except the longline size (less than 8 mm and more than 10 mm) which increased by 0.2% from 92,073 to 92,230. On the Uganda side of the lake Edward, the longline size (9 mm) is reduced by 100% from 30,450 to zero; the multi-filament of legal mesh size (< 4 inches) increased by 70% from 23,385 to 40,224, while on the DRC side, we registered decrease of the same fishing gear by 23% from 2194 to 1683. The longline is also reduced by 64% from 639,902 to 228,570.

The wide reduction of most illegal fishing gears was particularly attributed to restrictions by management and park authorities and series of enforcement activities on the both sides of the lake. There is still persistence of some illegal gears (undersize gillnet <4”, monofilament gillnets, cast nets, beach seines and basket traps from DRC portion of the lake. A greater portion of Lake Edward lies within the protected area in both Uganda and DRC; human activities in the lake are regulated by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) on the Uganda side and ICCN on the DRC side, thus contributing to controlled fishing effort on the lake. The escalation of illegalities on the DRC side of the lake was more rampant in areas out of the park’s jurisdiction, further underpinning the role played by park authorities.

Despite off the reduction of illegal fishing effort recorded over the period of 2018 – 2021 on both lakes, the directorates responsible for fisheries management in the two partner states should device clear mechanisms for enforcement of established rules and regulations to curb all the illegal fishing effort on the Lakes Edward and Albert. The impressive statistics of fisheries inputs within the protected areas of Lake Edward in both countries illustrates the effectiveness of fisheries management through restricted access. Partner states should therefore strengthen the capacity of lake wide fisheries authorities to improve resource protection in areas under their jurisdiction and focus traditional management efforts in areas outside the parks.

Observations from this survey show commendable development in social amenities and fishing infrastructure in some of the fishing communities around the two lakes. Strategic measures aimed at improving the basic infrastructure and sanitation amenities at landing sites by the central and local governments, the grassroots leadership and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) are appreciated where they have been improved and highly recommended in areas where they are generally lacking or poor.