Item Details

Title: Technical report of frame and catch assessment surveys of lakes Edward and George; and the Kazinga channel conducted in January and July 2011- 2013. (Technical document ONE-Tech/1/2015)

Date Published: 2015
Author/s: Bassa S., Taabu-Munyaho, A. , Mbabazi, D.,
Nakiyende, H. , Muhumuza, E., Amiina, R., Rukunya, E., Bakunda, A. and Balirwa, J. S.
Data publication: June, 2015
Funding Agency : NARO
Copyright/patents/trade marks: NARO
Journal Publisher: National Fisheries Resources Research Institute, NaFIRRI
Affiliation: National Fisheries Resources Research Institute, (NaFIRRI)
Keywords: Fisheries, Catch assessment, Lake Edward, Lake George, Kazinga channel, frame survey

Abstract:

Capture fisheries is one of the major fisheries in the world in addition to aquaculture. The fishery is a renewable resource that needs to be monitored its magnitude, distribution and trends of fishing effort and fish catches. Some of the monitoring tools utilized by research is the regular Catch Assessment Surveys (CASs) in these water bodies to ensure generating information for the management of the fisheries of Lake Edward and George and Kazinga channel and biannual frame surveys on the same water bodies.
The National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO) funded this program under the ATAAS Project 5: Monitoring changes in fish stocks and development of appropriate harvesting technologies for the major commercial fish species in the five major water bodies of Uganda (Victoria, Albert, Kyoga, Edward and George). This work was done based on the statistical design laid down in Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) agreed by the three partner states of the East African Community sharing the Lake Victoria under the emblem of Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation. CAS was carried out in five landing sites on Lake Edward, three on Lake George and two on Kazinga channel in June
2011. Then it was later done in June 2012 and 2013 on three landings on Edward and three on Lake George and two on Kazinga channel The National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) did work in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries under Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) with the Beach Management Units (BMUs) and the Fisheries officers of the riparian districts. The districts covered on the Edward-George systems were Kasese, Rukungiri, Rubirizi and Kamwenge. And in addition to that frame surveys were carried on all the landing sites of the water system. This report presents findings of the CAS and Frame surveys conducted in the Edward-George systems in June 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively. The report also presents total annual catch estimates for the three water bodies focuses on mainly the Uganda part especially the Lake Edward that is shared by the DRC Congo. Annual estimates indicated that in 2011, Kazinga channel 154.4±45.6 tonnes, Lake Edward
1,385.7±458.9 tonnes, Lake George 2,508.03±562.9 tonnes and in 2012 Kazinga channel was 203.7±40.7 tonnes, Lake Edward 1,711.2±641.8 tonnes and Lake George 2,256.7±323.0. In 2013 Kazinga channel was 755±2.48 tonnes, Lake Edward
3,192±22.21 tonnes and George 5,354±26.58 tonnes. The frame survey revealed that in 2011 Kazinga channel had 58 boats with 100 fishers, Lake Edward 300 boats 684 fishers, Lake George 552 boats with 1,103 fishers. In 2013 Kazinga channel had 99 boats 198 fishers, Lake Edward 469 boats 953 fishers and Lake George 729 boats with 1,576 fishers. This entails you that the open access policy in Uganda has always cause changes in the captures fisheries leading to changes in the fish stock levels. It is anticipated that through the CAS monitoring and Frame surveys should able to give a true picture of the fish production in these water bodies that can be utilized for management purposes. Thanks to the National Agricultural Organization that funded these studies and we look forward supporting research activities in the fisheries.