No Thumbnail Available

Fisheries Development Programme in the Lake Basin Region, Kenya. Report of the Preparatory assistance mission (for the Kenya Lake Victoria Basin fishery development)

Year of publication 1982

Pages p.133

Author A.G. Coche and J.D. Balarin;Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Division

Product type Project

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The Lake Victoria Basin, mostly made of the Western and Nyanza Provinces, covers only 8.4% of Kenya's territory but contains more than 40% of the total population. Land availability is small and rural holdings with a low income and little assets are prevalent. Average fish consumption provides only 68% of the daily fish protein requirements, but it is projected that by the year 2 000, such average fish availability will require a 41 000 t production. The public sector of aquaculture is charact erized by a lack of adequately trained personnel, positive demonstrations and effective extension services. The private sector essentially consists of small rural ponds, numbering about 3 000 or 35% of those recorded ten years ago. Average production is low, the total annual production of farmed fish being estimated to be about 45 t. Four fish farming zones are defined on the basis of prevalent air temperatures. Only the two warmer zones are suitable for tilapia culture. Past failures of fish farming development may be explained by the lack of trained personnel and limited mobility, hampering the technical support. Foreign assistance is actually limited to the World Bank Project and to direct extension work by young volunteers. Short-term and medium-term fish culture development programmes are proposed with the main objective of creating an effective extension service. The Kenyan Lake Victoria capture fishery is briefly reviewed. Its yield was estimated in 1981 to reach close to 46 000 t, most likely near the maximum sustainable yield at least without further major changes in the fish species composition. The Nile perch dominates the catch and the introduced tilapia species have displaced the endemic ones, T. nilotica becoming dominant. The significance of the catch data is doubtful and the actual statistical system should be critically reviewed. A World Bank Project concentrates on the improvement of product quality and reduction of post-harvest losses.

Cite this content as:

Coche, A.G.; Balarin, J.D. Jun 1982. Fisheries Development Programme in the Lake Basin Region, Kenya. Report of the Preparatory assistance mission (for the Kenya Lake Victoria Basin fishery development) - Field document 1. 133 p.

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    Report of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization and FAO National Stakeholders' Workshops on Fishing Effort and Capacity on Lake Victoria (2006). Mwanza, United Republic of Tanzania, 9–10 October 2006, Kisumu, Republic of Kenya, 12-13 October 2006, Muk 2008
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) and FAO National Stakeholders’ Workshops on Fishing Effort and Capacity on Lake Victoria (2006) were held to: (i) develop a shared understanding amongst participants regarding the LVFO Regional Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity in Lake Victoria and its Basin (LVFO RPOA-Capacity) and the use of rights-based management approaches as a vehicle for ensuring the sustainable utilization of fisheries resources; (ii) provide f eedback regarding the LVFO RPOA-Capacity as input for the Regional RPOA-Capacity Workshop; (iii) outline steps for the development and implementation of National Plans of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity; and (iv) provide stakeholder-generated advice regarding improving tenure security for fishers on Lake Victoria and its basin to be used at the FAO Regional Workshop on Improving Tenure Security for the Rural Poor (Nakuru, Kenya). The results of the workshops included acti ons for progressing work on the management of fishing capacity as well as guidance for the development of a LVFO RPOA-Capacity. This document contains the report of the workshops as well as information provided by the participants. This document and the actions adopted by the workshop participants can serve as a basis for further work aimed at improving regional fisheries management and the management of fishing capacity.
  • No Thumbnail Available
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Book (series)
    Socio-economic effects of the evolution of Nile perch fisheries in Lake Victoria: a review 1988
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The fisheries of Lake Victoria have undergone very substantial changes in recent years owing, in particular, to the rapid proliferation of the introduced Nile perch (Lates niloticus). There has been intense controversy over the impact of this introduced predator species on the fisheries of Lake Victoria, especially with respect to the ecological disruption caused on endemic species and its possibly adverse socio-economic consequences. The present review of the socio-economic aspects of the evo lution of the Nile perch fishery shows the impact of Nile perch to have been both profound and ambiguous. Globally, the Nile perch fishery has been so far an exceedingly positive development from an economic benefit and food resource point of view. On the other hand, some serious issues warrant careful consideration and further analysis. These relate to the distribution of benefits, especially with respect to the relative role of artisanal and larger-scale fishery operations, and to the fundamen tal question of sustainability. It is suggested that, under proper management, the fisheries of Lake Victoria and the Nile perch fishery in particular, could continue to provide high yields and substantial benefits for the riparian communities concerned.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.