Abstract:

The fish stocks of Lake Albert face inunense exploitation pressure ->hich has led to "fishing-
down” of their fisheries, with sonic larger species having been
.-i io near-extinction, while
others such as Citharinus citharas have almost disappeared. Both k baremose (Angara) and H.
forskahlii (Ngassia) historically formed the most important etuiusitrrcia! species in Lake Albert
until the early 200()s but recent Catch Assessment Surveys (20(0-2013i revealed a sweeping
decline in their contribution to the commercial catch from 72.7% in 1971 to less than 6% in 2013.
The catch per unit effort also registered a two-fold decline from -15.6 and 36.1 kg/boat/day to 22.6
and 18.1 kg/i)oat/day for A. baremose and //. forskahIii respv€ 1 ive between 1971 and 2007. Over 50%
of illegal gillncts, below the legal minimum limit of four inches (101.6 mm) used on Lake Albert
target the two species. Gillnet experiments found the three inch (76.2 mm) gill net mesh size
suitable for sustained harvest of the two species. The study concludes that optimal utilization of
the two species and probably other non target fish species is achievable through species specific
management strategies, coupling species specific licensing, and controlling harvest of juvenile
individuals, overall fishing effort and fish catch on Lake Albert and protecting the vulnerable Hsh
habitats.