Effects of anthropogenic activities on small-scale fishery of Albert Nile, pakwach district

Abstract

Worldwide, fisheries have declined, Albert Nile total fish catch declined drastically from 5200-2790 (46%) between 2012-2021. Increasing population leads to overfishing and unsustainable land use. Unsustainable land use results into unfavorable climate. Crop failure due to unfavorable climate drive people to over fishing. Unsustainable land use equally negatively effects water quality required for fishery productivity. The study assessed; socio-economic status, land use, land cover change in the catchment, water quality and fishing pressure in small-scale fisheries of Albert Nile. A cross sectional survey design was used to assess socio-economic activities and fishing pressure. Study area was clustered to guarantee homogeneity. A total of 10 Landing sites (20%) were obtained by simple random sampling from each cluster. Disproportionate allocation was used to obtain 223 boats for sampling. 354 fishers responded to socio-economic survey questionnaires and interviews. Catch assessment survey was used to generate data on fishing pressure. Fishing boats systematically sampled, Geographical Information System techniques and tools such as Arc GIS was used to capture and analyse data on land use, land cover change. Documentary review was used to assess water quality. Findings indicated fishing as the most dominant socioeconomic activity. Many youths are dropping out of school to engage in fishing such that 60% of fishers are youth full-primary drop-out. House hold size averaged 10 person/household with 60% of fishers un able to afford 3 meals daily. The study equally revealed that wetland and wood land decreased by 37.7% and 23.5% respectively from 1995-2020. The decline in wetland and wood land has been attributed to increasing demand for agricultural land, over grassing and increased demand for charcoal and wood fuel. According to the findings, Albert Nile water was in a good state with water quality index ranging from (86.5-78.0), however, the concentration of Phosphorus (0.144±0.091mg/l) and total Nitrogen (2.26±0.44mg/l) reflected hypereutrophic status in 2020. The general increase in values for physical parameters and nutrient species over the study period is a sign of deteriorating water quality likely to hamper stock replenishment in the long run. The fishery is overexploited with 80% of fishers engaged in illegal practices characterized by intensified fishing averaging 5 days weekly and 6 hours daily. Meanwhile, Catch Per Unit Effort was as low as 7.0±4.1 kg/boat/day. Fish diversity index was high (H’= 2.31±0.09, E= 0.83±0.03 and D=0.13±0.02), though 80% of the species were categorized as pelagic or immature hence of low economic value. Hydrocinus forskali and Haplochromines species were very rare in the catch or not observed in the catch respectively. It was concluded that limited livelihood options will continue to push fishers into over fishing. unsustainable land use, land cover change will continue to drive people to mount more pressure on the fishery. The changing water quality parameters points to deteriorating water quality required for fishery productivity. Fishing pressure resulting from increased input is overwhelming with potential to disrupt stock replenishment. It was recommended that; socio-economic status of fishers be regularly analysed and used as input for participatory management; land use that is unsustainable be halted; all poverty alleviating programmes to target the fishers so as to reduce pressure on the fishery.