Abstract:

In comparison to the traditional earthen pond fish farming, cage fish culture is a new fish farming practice in Uganda. Unlike pond fish farming, cage fish culture relies on artificial structures (i.e. the cages) of various sizes that are suspended in a water body such as a lake, river or reservoir. Cage culture is practiced in many countries around the world, and in Africa, it is practiced in many countries around the world, and in Africa, it is practiced in Egypt and Zimbabwe. Cage culture has great potential to rapidly transform fish farming in Uganda to commercial scales. Through USAID support to NaFIRRI, research findings from pilot Low Volume High Density (LVHD) cage culture studies demonstrated that the practice was environmentally and commercially viable in many water bodies of Uganda. Recommendations have been made to introduce the use of small (2m x 2m x 2m) to medium-sized (5m x 5m x 4.5m) cages that are within the means of an average Ugandan commercial fish farmer. After thorough environmental impact studies, larger cages may also be used in large and deeper water bodies such as Lakes Victoria and Albert. Cages allow for high density production and mainly used for 'fattening' or raising fish quickly from juveniles to table or market sizes using high quality feeds and that cages can be done in many water bodies in the country. Of particular focus and interest are the over 160 minor lakes and thousands of communal reserviors that can be targeted specifically for cage-based fish production. However, the research established that there is clear need for Government to map out areas for locating of the cages especially in the large water bodies so as to ensure that cage-based fish production does not affect the ecological and environmental integrity of these natural water bodies. The research found that the most suited and appropriate species for cage culture is the Nile tilapia, but the cages can also be used to culture and produce other species. The research established that Uganda needs less than 1% of her water surface to produce the amount of fish equivalent in weight to its natural fisheries production potential of 800,000 tonnes annually.