Fishing Impacts in protected and unprotected areas of lake Victoria, Tanzania

 

Author(s): Ng’wala James Jihulya

Abstract: Population size structure, abundance and biomass for Oreochromis niloticus and Lates niloticus from protected area of Rubondo Island National Park (RINP) and unprotected area of Kome Island (KI) in Lake Victoria were compared from July 2007 to July 2009 using fish length, number of species and their weights. Length distributions for O. niloticus in RINP were 1.85 and 2.04 times longer than in KI for total and standard length respectively. Total and standard lengths were significantly different between RINP and KI areas. While, those for L. niloticus in RINP were 1.87 and 1.91 times longer than in KI for total and standard length respectively and both were significantly different. Families of Alestidae, Bagridae, Claridae, Cichlidae, Cyprinidae, Mormyridae, Latidae and Potamonautidae were sampled. O. niloticus in RINP was more abundant than the conspecific species in KI and was significantly different. L. niloticus in KI was more abundant than the conspecific species in RINP and was significantly different. Biomass for O. niloticus in RINP was 6 times heavier than in KI and the biomass for L. niloticus in RINP was 17 times heavier than in KI. Biomass for O. niloticus and L. niloticus were both significantly different between the RINP and KI areas. Introduction of protected areas in Lake Victoria has been recommended since fish species in protected area indicated better performances in terms of size, abundance and weight.

 

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