The socio-economic survey results described in this report, combined with biological data to be collected soon, will help formulate the direction of small-water body exploitation and management in Botswana.
Survey 1 investigated current fish eating habits and attitudes amongst 343 quasi-randomly selected households. The resulting sample was reasonably representative of the variety of households living in the eastern part of Botswana, with the exception of high income and expatriate households.
The most important result from the survey is that despite a common belief that people in eastern and southern Botswana do not eat fish because it has never been part of their traditional diet, approximately 20% of the 343 households interviewed said they do. These households (FFE households) showed no significant different socio-economic characteristics when compared to all households included in the sample except that they had better access to fresh fish either because they had family members fishing or because they were able to buy fish from fishermen. Consumption of fresh fish in these households were found at all dams, with the lowest proportions at the larger villages of Kanye and Molepolole. At these villages, distance from household to dam was often large and supply of fish from the dam so limited that only a small proportion of households in the village could be supplied.
Although the majority of households had eaten fresh fish at home, some reported that they had tried it whilst working in South Africa. It is likely therefore, that wage employment in South Africa, and to a lesser extent in the cities and major villages in Botswana, exerts a positive influence on the consumption of fish.
The main (and very limited), source of fresh fish came from fishermen who supply their own households, and the households of their friends and neighbours. Currently, however, most households eat fish only very rarely but it is likely that if there was a greater supply of fish, they would eat more frequently. The reason for this conclusion is based on the results of the survey in which households indicated that one of the main reasons they do not eat more fresh fish is because it is not available.
Fresh fish is usually fried, but the survey revealed that a significant proportion of households may sun-dry the fish before frying. This preservation process is used for beef, goats and hunted animals and so is an obvious way for households to deal either with fish that they have in surplus to their immediate requirements or because, as some mentioned, they prefer the taste of sun-dried fish. These results might also suggest that households are not aware of how to cook fresh fish properly and in a tasty way which would enable them to eat fresh fish before drying it. This conclusion is supported by information from key informants and fish wholesalers who think that people do not buy fresh or frozen fish because they do not know how to prepare it.
Demonstrations of fresh fish preparation and appetizing ways to cook fish would not only benefit those that eat fresh fish already but also those that currently do not eat fresh fish. The survey recorded 265 households which said that they do not eat fresh fish, but these results are not discouraging because since there are no common cultural taboos against eating fish, and as most of these households eat tinned fish, it may be that they would eat fresh fish if they were able to see and have an opportunity to taste it and if it was more commonly available.
The survey recorded 63 households that did not eat fish of any kind. The reasons given for not eating fresh fish were that they did not want to and that they did not like the appearance of fish. It is likely that demand for fish in this type of household would be difficult to stimulate as these households may be less willing to change their dietary habits.
The survey found that tinned fish is the most commonly eaten fish, with 80% of households reporting that they ate it. Tinned fish is available in shops all over Botswana; its major advantage being that it is easy to store. Whilst the consumption of tinned fish is a good indicator as to the acceptability of fish in general, increasing the supply of fresh fish should not necessarily be seen as leading to a reduction in the demand for tinned fish as tinned fish is now a very familiar product.
Fresh fish could act as an occasional addition to the diet (but not necessarily as a replacement to other proteins), provided the price was lower than meat and at least was competitive with tinned fish. This conclusion is based on the results from Survey 1 on consumption frequencies on all types of fish and other animal and vegetable proteins which show that for the medium-term at least, beef will always be the most desired animal protein.
This report therefore concludes that although relative to the consumption of other animal proteins, household demand for fresh fish is likely to be quite small and fairly irregular in the surveyed areas, pilot efforts to stimulate demand which may increase the actual number of households which eat fresh fish could be channelled into providing demonstrations and tasting sessions on suitable and appetising ways to prepare fresh fish. Community Development Officers and health workers could assist in this work as they are already involved in preparation demonstrations for other foods. In addition, the growing urban population in Gaborone, Kanye and Lobatse may provide an outlet for any excess fish which cannot be consumed or sold in the local area.
Survey 2 produced interesting results on the current level of fishing activity at the selected dams as well as the identity of fishermen. Thirty-seven fishermen were interviewed, 7 of whom were leisure fishermen. The majority of the subsistence fishermen were boys or male youths between the ages 10 and 20 fishing with hook and line. A few unemployed men also fish. The results indicate that whilst there appears to be a fairly active seasonal local subsistence fishery at Mmakgodumo, Thaone, and Semarule Dams, fishing is still considered a marginal activity, carried out in summer.
When asked if and why they would like to increase their catches, all non-leisure fishermen responded positively stating that they would like to do so, mainly for consumption. This result suggests that fishing is currently not regarded by most of the respondents as an income generating activity probably because there is no history of commercial fisheries in the area and because fishing is a relatively new phenomenon.
The leisure fishermen interviewed in the survey were all adult men who fish mainly on weekends and holidays. Fishing is one of the few leisure activities for ex-patriates living in eastern Botswana. These fishermen have noticed an increase in local fishing activity at these dams over the last few years, particularly by small boys. All these fishermen said that they were quite content with their catches but were interested in catching a game fish, such as black bass, not currently caught in any of the dams. The importance of the leisure fishery should not be ignored for two reasons. Firstly, there is a potential to develop this fishery at less populated dams, such as Semarule, in a way that the local community benefits through fees charged for licenses. Secondly, if local community utilization of water bodies is to be promoted, conflicts may arise between leisure fishermen and local fishermen, giving rise to the need for a well managed regulatory system which leads to optimal benefit for the community. The leisure fishery is also concentrated at these dams, and the results indicate that there is very little fishing activity at Gampudi and Letlhakane Dams.
With regard to the interest in learning how to catch fish, respondents in Survey 1 were asked whether they had any member(s) who would be interested. Whilst these results are not reliable as all members were not present to answer for themselves, 77 people were identified, the majority of whom were young males, with a few females. In addition, respondents in Survey 2 were asked whether they would like to increase their catch either for consumption or sale, and all except the leisure fishermen indicated that they would. From these results it is concluded that although fishing is currently considered as a marginal activity when there are no alternative opportunities available, if it is proved to be economically viable, it may present more permanent employment opportunities for a few people, particularly as employment opportunities in South Africa are dwindling.
Finally, whilst it is premature to discuss management options until the results of the bio-technical survey are known, it is important to point out that, fresh fish consumption as well as fish catching, are both fairly new activities in the surveyed area, government incentives to diversify the rural economic base away from cattle as well as declining wage employment opportunities in South Africa, mean that fishing may be one way in which to offer a few employment opportunities.
