Author(s): Titus Bandulo Phiri and Wilson Lazaro Jere

Abstract: Fish catches and fish species composition from two sources of light for light attraction fishery locally known as “kauni”, Light Emitting Diode Bulbs (LED) and Tilley Lamps (TL) in Chilimira fishery were studied in Salima, Lake Malawi. Fish species were sampled simultaneously upon landing from “Chilimira” nets where Tilley Lamps and LED bulbs were used. The study showed that there was a significant association (p < 0.05) between light sources and fish species caught. LED light source attracted Ramphochromis longiceps and fish species categorised as “other species” which included; Copadichromis chrysonotus, Copadichromis (Mchenga) eucinostomus, Copadichromis quadrimaculatus, Diplotaxodon macrops, Opsaridium microlepis, Otopharynx argyrosoma, Pseudotropheus livingstoni, Ramphochromis woodi and Ramphochromis ferox. Tilley Lamp attracted Engraulicypris sardella and Rhamphochromis esox. Multiple regression showed that there was a significant interaction between light sources and fish species (p<0.05) on mean weight (g) fish caught. The difference was greater in “other species” and Rhamphochromis longiceps than in Engraulicypris sardella and Rhamphochromis esox. The most abundant species in both sources of light was Englauricypris sardella. The study suggests that LED Bulbs and Tilley Lamps have different light properties (luminous intensity, luminous flux, colour, spectrum and spatial radiation) thereby attracting fish differently.

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