Influence of climatic elements and non-climatic factors on fishing activities in Lake Victoria, Kisumu County, Kenya
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Date
2016-04
Authors
Apindi, Jane Akoth
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Fishing is known to be one of the oldest occupations of mankind all over the world.
A significant proportion of people depend on fisheries activity; it generates income
for the households, creates employment and provides a source of livelihood to the
people around water bodies and beyond. However, fish catch and fishing activities
in Lake Victoria, Kisumu County, is in great danger of fluctuation and
decline.There is limited research to explain this phenomenon especially along the
beaches in Kisumu County. This study aimed at establishing the influence of
climatic elements such as dry spell, rainfall and strength of wind; and non-climatic
factors such as overfishing, water hyacinth and predators on fishing activities in
beaches of Lake Victoria within Kisumu County. The study employed descriptive
survey design. The area of study, had thirty two beaches, out of which eight were
sampled to represent the entire Kisumu County. Systematic sampling technique was
used to sample the eight beaches. A sample size of 362 respondents was used to
obtain data. Documented data on fish landing per month for ten years was obtained
at the beaches as well as at Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
(KEMFRI), and the climatic data was collected from Regional Meteorological
Department located at Kisumu Airport. Questionnaires and interviews were used to
collect primary data from the beaches, while secondary data was obtained from
KEMFRI, books and publications by use of document analysis guides. The findings
were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)
programme which helped in calculating frequencies, means and percentages. The
study found a significant relationship between climatic factors and fishing activities.
Fish catches were influenced by the amount of rainfall, though the effect varied with
fish types; Orechromis (r = .260), Lates niloticus (r =.130) and Protopterus (r
=.184), however, Rastrinoebola argentea and Claras gariepinus revealed a negative
correlation with the amount of rainfall. Overall, the results revealed a positive
correlation coefficients (r = .079) between the amount of rainfall and the total
amount of fish catch. Dry spell which is associated with high temperatures led to a
decrease in fish in the Lake. Whereas mild or moderate winds were found to favour
fish catch, strong winds had negative effect on fishing activities. The study also
established that non-climatic factors too had immense negative influence on fishing
activities in Lake Victoria. On the basis of the findings, the researcher made the
following conclusions; there was a relationship between climatic elements and
fishing activities, non-climatic factors mostly influenced fishing activities
negatively; however, there were mitigation strategies put in place by the fishermen
to help address non-climatic factors. On the basis of the findings it was
recommended that, policy makers should regulate the harvesting of fish as dictated
by climatic and weather variations; assess the impact of non-climatic elements in
fish production and recommend appropriate mitigation measures and lastly
regulations to be enhanced to save the endangered fish species from extinction.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Arts in Geography in the School of Social Science, Kenyatta University. April, 2016