Assessment of the status of the stock and fishery of Nile perch post- mukene hurry up fishing ban: a case study of Kasenyi landing site, Lake Victoria

Abstract

Lake Victoria is currently dominated by the introduced Nile perch (Lates niloticus), Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), and the endemic cyprinid Rastrineobola argentea. R. argentea is second only to the Nile perch in terms of commercial importance. With the recent declining trends in the catches of Nile perch and other fish species in the lake, interest has gradually been shifting to the exploitation of the Nile perch. The government of Uganda has been implementing management measures aimed at ensuring sustainable utilization of the fisheries. One such measure was the ban on “hurry-up” fishing method that targets R. argentea that started in February 2024. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of mukene hurry-up fishing ban on the abundance and status of the Nile perch fishery. Historical catch and catch per unit effort data (2015 and 2024) were analysed to establish trends and primary data were collected from 60 respondents through a structured questionnaire. Results indicated a slight increase in Nile perch catches at Kasenyi landing site after the ban, suggesting that factors other than fishing, such as environmental and ecological changes, play a crucial role in the fluctuations of Nile perch abundance in the lake. Majority of the respondents (98%) were male and mostly involved in fishing, the remainder were female, mostly involved in fish trading and fish processing. Most respondents reported that they are aware of the ban of mukene hurry-up fishing method. This study highlights the need for more information on the biology of Nile perch in order to develop management strategies. Furthermore, since Nile perch is a crucial export earner to Uganda's economy, a total ban should be replaced with a more focused restriction targeting critical breeding areas and nursery grounds in cooperation with fishers.