Assessing the effect of lampara net size on the rastrineobola argentae (mukene) fishery :

Abstract

This study was undertaken in Lolwe waters at Kadenge landing sites on the off shore area of Lake Victoria Uganda in Namayingo district, in the month of December 2021 and January 2022 for three weeks’ days of sampling. The main aim was to determine the effect of Lampara net on the catch rate and size of the Rastrineobola argentae (Mukene) harvested on Lake Victoria using various mesh sizes. The study focused on the 5mm and 10 mm mesh sizes of the Lampara net. A total of 212 boats were sampled; from the 5 mm mesh sizes indicated catch rates of 353 kg/boat/day and yet for 10 mm mesh size was at 147 kg/boat day with only 5 boats in the whole samplings. The study showed that there more catches of Mukene harvested as compared to 2004 and 2014 an indication that we still have a lot of Mukene fishery that need to exploited in the lake on proper management measures.