Abstract:

The overall objective of the study was to develop a better understanding of how people perceived and responded to the fisheries management measures on Lake Victoria and were affected by them. The demographic characteristics of the respondents revealed that they were mostly adult males, with mean age of 31.4 years, the majority being of the Baganda Tribe, followed by Samia and Basoga and were married. Most had attained incomplete Primary education levels and were engaged in fisheries as crew members. On average, the respondents had been involved in fishery activities for 8.63 years. The most common fish species targeted were Nile Perch (Lates niloticus) (42.1%), followed by Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and mukene (Rastrineobola argentea). The most commonly used gear types were gillnets (71.8%), followed by hooks. The gillnet sizes most commonly used were of 5 inch, followed by other sizes less than 5 inch” Among those who used hooks, the majority (30.4%) used hook size 9, followed by size 12. Haplochromis (nkejje) was the most commonly used bait (63.4%), followed by Xenoclarias (nsonzi). Most respondents were satisfied with the required minimum mesh-size of 5 inch (127 mm) for nets on Lake Victoria because in their view, it caught mostly mature fish. Others, however, said 5 inch mesh was too large to catch the fish now available in the lake. The view of most respondents (82.2%) about the Nile perch catch trends over the past 5 years was that it was declining. Most (62.9%) attributed this to fishing regulations not being obeyed followed by too many fishers, boats and nets on the lake. Similarly, tilapia catch trend was viewed as declining (80.4%), attributed to fishing regulations not being obeyed (63.4%).