BIOSTAT REPORT NO. 17

Operational visit to the project fisheries regions of Lakes Edward/George and Albert (14 – 19 January 1991) : account of activities and observations.

by

E.J. Coenen
Fisheries Biologist/Statistician

January, 1991

1. INTRODUCTION.

This report describes the activities and observations made during a field trip by the project management (Dr. F.L. Orach-Meza, National Project Director and the author) to the project fisheries regions of Lakes Edward/George and Albert, from 14–19/1/1991.

The main goal of the trip was a reconnaissance visit to Lake Albert, which represents a new operational area for the project since the recommendation by the Evaluation Mission concerning the expansion of project activities to incude this lake was approved through project budget revisions ‘H’ and ‘I’.

On its way to the Lake Albert region, the mission visited the Masaka (L. Victoria) and Kichwamba Regional Fisheries Offices (L. Edward/George) for some operational discussions with the respective Regional Fisheries Officers (RFO's).

2. ITINERARY.

The trip, carried out with project vehicle CDUN607U, was made according to the following itinerary and covered a total of approximately 1,600 kms:

3. ACCOUNT OF MISSION ACTIVITIES AND OBSERVATIONS.

3.1. Masaka Regional Fisheries Office

The mission left Entebbe at around 11 a.m., but due to petrol shortages in Entebbe and Kampala, the continuation of the trip from Kampala towards Masaka was delayed until 2.30 p.m. when finally petrol could be obtained.

Upon arrival (4 p.m.) at the Regional Fisheries Office in Masaka, a meeting was held with Mr. Mugerwa and Mr. J. Anguria (who had accompanied the team from Entebbe), present and future RFO for the region, respectively.

Matters discussed concerned the ways of assessing staff performance for the payment of Performance Related Allowances (PRA); the need for regional fisheries staff meetings; the renovation works of the regional office; the procedures for the erection of uniports and a weighing shed for the installation of a platform scale and the submission of the Frame Survey (FS) maps and 2 missing FS questionnaires.

The mission team also inspected one of the project uniports erected next to the main office and handed over a bankdraft for the payment of the PRA's of September-November 1990.
At around 5 p.m., the team continued to Mbarara, where the night was spent before proceeding to the Kichwamba Regional Fisheries Office on the following day.

3.2. Kichwamba Regional Fisheries Office

The Regional Fisheries Office of Kichwamba, responsible for the supervision of the fisheries on Lakes George/Edward and the Kazinga Channel, was reached at about 10 a.m. The team inspected the office buildings in order to assess the priorities for the planned renovation works and delivered 800 Catch Assessment Survey (CAS) forms F1, F2 and F3 for the ongoing CAS trial survey.

Around 11 a.m., the mission team held a meeting with the RFO, Mr. M. Ayen, and the Fisheries Development Officer (FDO), Mr. I.K. Tibategyeza (FDO), at Mweya Lodge. Points of discussion included the renovation works of the regional office; assessment of staff performance and the payment of PRA (a bankdraft for the PRA payment for June-November 1990 was handed over to the RFO); the importance of organizing regular staff meetings; CAS operations and the delays in submitting monthly CAS forms and reports from several landings; the planned reduction of fisheries staff in the region; the law enforcement exercises in the region (hundreds of illegal/non-licensed canoes were destroyed recently); the thefts of Fisheries Department equipment in the region (3 uniports) and the need to fill in the FS questionnaires and individual boatcards for the legal landings and fishing boats on Lakes Edward/George and the Kazinga Channel (for this purpose, the appropriate forms were given to the RFO).

In the afternoon, the weighing shed at Katwe landing was visited in order to determine the exact location for the erection of the uniport where the platform scale will be kept.

Further discussions with the RFO and his assistant concerned the locations for two extra uniports; the need for fisheries management education of fishermen as well as local Resistant Council members, instead of only law enforcement exercises; the success of the recently constructed improved smoking kilns at some of the landing sites and the problem of overstaffing in this fisheries region.

The mission then continued to Fort Portal (arrival 7 p.m.) for the night.

3.3 Fort Portal Regional Fisheries Office - Ntoroko landing

The RFO of Fort Portal is administratively responsible for the following aspects of the fishing industry in the region: fishfarming, some minor lakes fisheries and the fisheries around 9 fishlandings (Rukwanzi, Mulango, Katolingo, Kamuga, Katonga, Rwengara, Songakainja, Kanara and Ntoroko) at the southern end of Lake Albert. These landings are comprised between the Zaire border and the boundary with Hoima District (see map). The Ntoroko complex, according to the records of the Fisheries Department, accounted in 1989 for 42 % of the total catch of Lake Albert (Wadanya, 1990).

Lake Albert, situated at an altitude of 618 m above sea-level, is a deep and narrow rift valley lake, 160 km long and 35 km wide, with an average and maximum depth of 25 m and 58 m, respectively. The total surface of Lake Albert covers 5,270 square km, shared by Uganda (2,850 square km) and Zaire (2,420 square km). Potential fish yield estimates for the whole lake vary between 21,000 and 30,0000 tonnes (11,400 – 15,700 tonnes for the Ugandan part). Because of his ancient connection with the River Nile system, the lake has an extensive nilotic fish fauna, consisting of about 50 species of which about 20 % are representatives of the Cichlidae family. Annual catches for the Ugandan part of Lake Albert for the recent years fluctuated around 10,000 tonnes (Corsi, 1990; Owori Wadunde, 1988).

Because a visit to Ntoroko landing was planned, the mission tried to get in contact with the RFO of Fort Portal, but the regional office was locked and nobody was present. The road to Ntoroko, crossing the rift and passing through the Sembliki Plain of the Toro Game Reserve, seemed to be passable according to information obtained locally. Therefore, the mission decided to proceed and - after a very rough ride of about 3 hours to cover 80 kms - arrived at Ntoroko around midday. Ntoroko is a large fishing village (2000 – 3000 inhabitants) at the south-end of the lake. Day air temperatures can rise considerably and living conditions are quite harsh all the more so because basic facilities (electricity, tap water, petrol station, good access roads, etc.) are lacking.

After reporting to the local police station, the mission met with Mr. Mutazindwa, Fisheries Assistant (FA), based in Ntoroko, and responsible for the four latter landings enumerated above.
The team had a very useful discussion with the fisheries officer, covering various topics:

Ntoroko landing has about 100 planked canoes (Zaire “barque” type) of which about 80 are fishing regularly. The others are not operational because catches, especially for Tilapia, were quite low. The Tilapia stocks around the landing have been most probably overexploited recently. Indeed, the FD catch statistics of 1989 for the Ntoroko complex indicated that Tilapia accounted for 60% of the total catch landed (Reynolds, 1990).

The other limiting factor, especially to enable fishermen to go out to more distant fishing grounds, is the scarcity of petrol for the outboard engines and the very high prices for the little bit of petrol available (750 Ug.Shs or about 1.5 US $ per litre). Fishing gears in use are gillnets and hooklines. For the capture of Alestes and Hydrocynus, small meshed gillnets of 2 – 2.5 “ are used, while for the species with a greater body depth, 4 –5 ” gillnets are used.

The team looked at the catch/effort statistics collected at Ntoroko during the month of November 1990. They were neatly recorded and compiled in an exercise book. For November 1990, out of the 80 operational canoes, 32 were sampled daily during 25 sampling days, giving a total catch of 24.7 tonnes for the month. In decreasing order of weight contribution, the genera caught were Hydrocynus (18.1 tonnes), Synodontis (2 tonnes), Alestes (2 tonnes), Tilapia (1.2 tonnes), Bagrus (0.6 tonnes) and about 10 other species (0.8 tonnes). The percentage catch composition, by weight, for the genera enumerated above is depicted in Fig. 1.

% CATCH COMPOSITION
Ntoroko (11/90)

Fig. 1 : Percentage catch composition, by weight, for Ntoroko landing, November 1990.

About 80% of the catch is composed of under-sized Hydrocynus and Alestes. Although they may have partly reached the size of maturity, it is obvious that fishermen there are aiming to catch too small size classes, especially when compared to Wanseko landing (see below) where fishermen use 3" gillnets to catch the same species but of larger size classes. Another point worth mentioning is that the use of these small meshed gillnets is in fact principally aimed for catching Alestes and not Hydrocynus. FD catch records indicate that over the last twenty years the proportion of Alestes in the total catch for Lake Albert declined very sharply, from a level of 13,000 tonnes to only 2,000 tonnes in recent years(Orach-Meza, Coenen & Reynolds, 1989). A more detailed study of this phenomenon might confirm our observations and probably lead to a recommendation regarding the interdiction of gillnets having mesher smaller than 3" (37.5 mm k.t.k).

The “other species” group (3 % of the weight of the total catch) contains amongst others a few small Lates. Sometimes, a bigger perch (10–20 kg) is caught by the few 10" gillnets in use.

The fishermen in Ntoroko and along the Ugandan shores of Lake Albert are mainly of Zairean origin. Some have established themselves permanently, others temporarily. The money they earn from fishing, is often remitted to Zaire. This link to the motherland is well established because almost all the fish is salt-dried and transported by water and by land for marketing in Zaire, even as far as Kinshasa. Recently, in order to control the export of processed fish to Zaire, a customs-post has been established in Ntoroko, issuing export licences.

Apart from the fish used for auto-consumption, very little fresh fish from the Ntoroko area reaches Ugandan markets. The road connecting Ntoroko with Fort Portal is indeed so rough (and impassable during the rains) that only a few vehicles per day or less travel to Ntoroko and back, carrying people, petrol, commodities and some fresh fish. The same situation applies for nearly the whole Ugandan shoreside of Lake Albert: there exist only a few rough access roads in the southern and northern part of the lake, making the marketing of fresh fish to the interior of Uganda almost impossible.

Small quantities of fish are smoked for the Ugandan markets, although this processing method proves to be very difficult due to absence of firewood due to its location in a game reserve.

The FA in Ntoroko, covering four landings, and the FA in Kamuga, covering the 5 other landings next to the Zaire border, do not have any means of transport by land or water to enable them to go and sample their landings which are dispersed over several kilometers of shoreline. At the moment, their only way of moving around is walking. Therefore, the project will avail a fibreglass canoe with a 14 HP outboard engine, bicycles and most probably also a motorbike to be stationed in Ntoroko.

The FA in Ntoroko disposes of 3 uniports belonging to the Fisheries Department (FD) and also showed us a staff house that due to lack of funds was not completed: a quick estimate of the costs for windows, doors, roofing and flooring to finish the house amounted to 4,000,000 Ug.Shs (8,000 US $), approximately.

The mission team also briefly visited a Greco-Ugandan fish-export company, the FISHCO (U) Ltd. At the moment, due to lack of funds, export activities are still rather small, but in due time the company hopes to set up a larger export, crossing the lake by water, of salted fish for the Zaire markets, even as far as Kisangani and Kinshasa.

At about 4 p.m. the mission headed back to Fort Portal where the night was spent.

3.4. Masindi Regional Fisheries Office - Butiaba, Bugoigo and Wanseko fishlandings.

The next morning, the 17th of January, the mission continued to Masindi, via Kyenjojo and Hoima, where they arrived at around 4 p.m. at the Regional Fisheries Office, situated in an old FD store. The mission met Mr. A. Owori-Wadundi, the RFO for Masindi and at the same time the project coordinator for all project activities on Lake Albert, and was introduced to the other FD office-staff. After having unloaded some of the project equipment for the region, the RFO introduced the mission members to the District Administrator (DA) of Masindi, to whom the objectives of the mission and the project were briefly explained. Upon our request, the DA also gave us an authorization for obtaining 40 litres of petrol (due to petrol shortages, its distribution at the Masindi petrol stations was rationed).

The next morning, the mission - accompanied by the RFO - departed for a visit to some of the fishlandings at the north-east shore of the lake.

The first place visited was Butiaba, consisting of several fishlanding sites. The Mission met the fisheries officers and support staff present at the FD fisheries camp compound. After visiting the place and some brief discussions, it became clear that not many activities were going on : there was no sign of any effort deployed to keep the place clean or to even accomodate a room as an office; when asked for the catch statistics since the beginning of January, none could be produced. On the hole, staff morale/motivation and work performance in Butiaba seemed very low. In later discussions between the RFO and the mission team, possible solutions for solving this problem were envisaged.

At Butiaba, a brief visit was paid to two neighbouring fishlandings, Songa and Severino. Songa landing has about 18 zairean type planked canoes and Severino landing about 12. The fishermen mainly use large numbers (100 – 200 per canoe) of 2.5" gillnets for the capture of mainly small Hydrocynus and a few small Lates and Bagrus. Hooklines are used for catching bigger Lates.

The next stop was Bugoigo Landing, about midway between Butiaba and Wanseko. There, the team was met by Mr. J. Wonlolo, Assistant Fisheries Development Officer (AFDO), who showed us around the site. There are two main places where catch statistics are taken on a sampling basis for the 100 canoes at the landing. Apart from nightfishing, quite a lot of fishing goes on during daytime with castnets and seines. About 20% of the catch is sold fresh for Masindi and Hoima markets. The remaining 80 % is processed at the landing and is mainly exported to Zaire. The percentage use of the fresh catch for fresh or processed disposal is given in Fig. 2. Fish genera observed at the landing were : Alestes, Hydrocynus, Tilapia, Auchenoglanis, Claria, Distichodus, Bagrus, Malapterurus.

CATCH DESTINATION

Bugoigo

Fig. 2 : Percentage fresh catch destination form at Bugoigo landing.

The mission then proceeded to Wanseko landing where it met with the resident FD staff. The facilities (not all operational), belonging to the FD, are the following : 1 staff house, 2 uniports, watertank, salting tanks, weighing/cleaning shed and a demonstration smoking kiln.

Together with the RFO and the resident FA, Mr. F. Gahwerra, the team then visited the fishlanding and made a decision on the exact location for the erection of the project's uniport and weighing shed. For the construction of the shed, the metal poles and roof panels of the old shed will be used.

The fishlanding has 58 canoes. The fishermen mainly use 3" gillnets to catch well-sized Alestes and Hydrocynus (as compared to the sizes caught by 2–2.5" gillnets in Ntoroko, see above). They also use larger meshed gillnets and hooklines for the capture of a variety of lake and river fish species. The following fish genera were identified among the specimens on the salt drying racks : Alestes, Hydrocynus, Bagrus, Mormyrus, Labeo, Brycinus, Distichodus, Lates, Clarias, Malapterurus. The main part of the catch is processed through salt drying.

Before returning back to Masindi, the mission handed over some project equipment and had a brief meeting on project operations and fisheries statistics data collection with the resident FD staff. The Assistant Fisheries Development Officer (AFDO), Mr. S. Erisu reported about the nature of the FD activities and the constraints encountered during daily work. These latter include : the heavy and illegal fishing for Alestes by Game Department staff in the Victoria Nile part below the Murchison falls in the Kabalega National Park; the problem caused by the National Park authorities who apparently want to extend the border of the Park a few hundred meters more towards the lake, right through the village of Wanseko; and the fact that - contrary to earlier agreements - zairean trawlers were operating in the lake.

The mission then returned to Masindi where they arrived at about 7 p.m. The next morning, the team had a last meeting with the RFO. After screening 4 tenders by local contractors for the renovation works of the regional office, it was decided to chose WORLDWIDE BUILDING & CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTS LTD. The RFO was charged to contact this company in order to agree on a final contract for the renovation works. A decision was also made on the locations in the region for the erection of 2 other project uniports, namely Runga landing and a place next to the regional fisheries office in Masindi. Other topics of discussion were the operational and logistical aspects of the coming Frame Survey (FS) on Lake Albert; the need for fisheries management education of fishermen and village leaders (e.g. Resistance Council members) and the constraints for the overall FD operations due to its very small recurrent working budget (as compared to the amount of money generated by the national fishing industry through taxes, licences, etc.).

The mission left Masindi around 11 a.m. and arrived back in Entebbe at 4 p.m.

4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

The main objective of the field trip was a reconnaissance visit to the new expansion area of the project, Lake Albert. The new RFO for Masindi, responsible for the overall project operations on the lake, attended earlier monthly project RFO meetings in Entebbe and was briefed about the project objectives and the specific project activities to be carried out in his area. As a preliminary exercise, he undertook a reconnaissance mission in the Lake Albert area in October 1990 (Owori Wadunde, 1990). He visited the FD staff at landings and markets in the area and updated the staff list. It must be underlined that this new RFO shows great interest and motivation for the duties assigned to him by the FD and those connected to project activities.

This mission allowed the project management to become familiar with the fisheries situation in the Lake Albert region and to discuss in detail the planned project operations for the area (Frame Survey, renovation of the offices, equipment needs, staff performance, constraints, etc.).

It was observed that some of the FD staff (e.g. at Butiaba) have been neglected too long and need motivation/morale boosts in order to bring future FD and project operations to a good end. Another aspect of the FD extension work, namely fisheries management education of fishermen and local authority members, should also be activated in the Lake Albert and especially the Lakes Edward/George area where illegal fishing activities and consequent law enforcement exercises are not compatible with successful fishery management of these resources.

The insufficiency of logistical and financial means for the FD staff to fulfill their expected duties adequately is another hampering factor that must be corrected. Compared to the amount of money generated by the national fishing industry, the recurrent budget availed to the FD for monitoring the industry is negligible compared to budgets made available for less productive sectors. The fisheries not only provide the value of about 200,000 tonnes of fish a year (representing a readily available and virtually “free” resource), but also provide benefits for thousands of people employed directly and indirectly in the fishing industry (fishermen, traders, processors, transporters, boatbuilders, etc.) as well as revenue from fishing licences, income tax, specific licences, etc.

Finally, it is recommended to investigate further the possible destructive effect of the use of 2" gillnets (especially observed in the Ntoroko area) on the Alestes and Hydrocynus stocks of Lake Albert. From the few observations made, a minimum mesh size of 3" seems to be recommendable. Also, to allow a better fish flow to the Ugandan markets, there is an urgent need to improve the number and quality of the access roads to the Lake Albert shores.

REFERENCES CITED

Corsi F. - 1990 - “Evaluation of the Zairian Fisheries of lakes Idi Amin and Mobutu Sese Seko”.
FAO/UNDP Regional Project for Inland Fisheries Planning (IFIP). RAF/87/099-TD/08/099 (En): 60.

Orach-Meza F.L., E.J. Coenen & J.E. Reynolds - 1989 - “Past and recent trends in the exploitation of the Great Lakes Fisheries of Uganda”.
Paper presented at the International Symposium on Resource Use and Conservation of African Great Lakes, Bujumbura, 29 November – 2 December 1989 : 9.

Owori Wadunde A. - 1988 - “A Study of Uganda's Fish Stocks and Suggestions for Better Management”.
Project submitted towards the Award of a Diploma in Fisheries Management (Tropical and Temperate), School of Food and Fisheries, Humberside College of Higher Education, UK : 80, 2 app.

Owori Wadunde A. - 1990 - “Report on the tour of Lake Albert region by the Regional Fisheries Officer.”
FD Memo, Ref. FM.6/4/57, Masindi, 29/11/90 : 3.

Reynolds J.E. - 1990 - “Continuity or Crisis? Management challenges for the shared fisheries of the Western Ugandan Great Lakes, Notes on the IFIP Mission, 18–24 February 1990.”
FISHIN Project UGA/87/007, SEC Fld Rpt 15, March 1990 : 43.

Wadanya L.D.J. - 1990 - “Travel Report to Lakes Edward/George and Albert, 18–24 February 1990.”
FISHIN Project UGA/87/007, BIOSTAT Rpt 10, March 1990 : 9.

Map showing the Lake Albert Region.