Abstract:

In September 2007, the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute carried out a socio-economic survey on Governance in Co-Management in the fisheries of Lake Victoria. The purpose of the study was to determine the nature and performance of governance of the fisheries resources through co-management structures and systems. The methodological approach for the study involved primary data collection. It included use of semi-structured interviews with CAOs, DFOs, Sub-county Fisheries Officers, BMU chairmen and BMU executive committee members. Furthermore, Focus Group Discussions were held with boat owners, crew members, women and other people engaged in fisheries related activities. A large proportion (75%) of the BMU committee members were males and the females comprised only (25%) of them. About (4.4%) of them had not received any education while only 9.1% of the BMU chairmen had complete primary education. The main occupation of BMU committee members and chairmen were boat ownership and fish trading.