Abstract:

Food and feeding, condition factor, breeding periods, growth and size at first maturity of
a small pelagic cyprinid Rastrineobola argentea (P.) in Lake Victoria are determined.
Fishing gears and methods that have been used in the exploitation of the species and
could be harmful to the fishery are outlined. Management measures leading to possible
sustainable exploitation of the fishery are suggested.
Adult R. argentea feed on zooplankton during daytime. Juveniles feed on planktonic
early instars of lakefly larvae. Although the species breeds throughout the year, two
breeding peaks were observed during the drier months of August and December January.
Least breeding was observed in the rainy months of April-May and October November.
Fishes from the open water station at Bugaia showed higher numbers of
breeding individuals than those from inshore areas. The mean monthly condition factor of
fish from Napoleon Gulf confirmed breeding peaks as obtained from the number of fish with ripe gonads.