Effectiveness Of Beach Management Units On Sustainable Fishery Management On Lake Victoria: A Case Of Musoma Rural Districts

ABSTRACT

This study was meant to generate information on the effectiveness of Beach Management Units on sustainable fishery management on Lake Victoria. The study intended specifically to; assess the status of fishery practices, examine institutional and managerial challenges and suggest mechanisms to make the BMUs sustainable. The study was conducted in the Musoma Rural District‟s BMUs. A total of three BMUs (Kigeraetuma, Mugango and Etaro) were involved in the study. Data were collected by using three main methods; a questionnaire-based survey involving a total of 120 respondents; Key informant interviews with the BMU leaders and fishery officers and Focus Group Discussions, with different groups at each site. After fieldwork data were entered in SPSS version 16.0 and analyzed by using simple descriptive statistics. Data were presented in terms of frequency and percentages. Results have shown that; the status of illegal fishing was moderate to high, this phenomenon, was attributed by income poverty within the studied areas and the high fish demand. Findings proclaim that, BMUs institutional and managerial performance was poor to very poor, mainly because of lack of the government support and non-enforcement of regulations. However, suggestions were made for the government and other fishery stakeholders to provide relevant training and sensitization, financial support for both BMUs committees and the fishermen to curb the illegal fishing problem as well as a provision of necessary facilities and equipments. The study recommends that, the Government should continue to provide assistance on fisheries development, through appropriate Policy and Legislation in collaboration with Local Authorities, BMUs, fishing communities, Community Based Organization, Non-Government Organizations and the Private Sector, so that the fishery resources of Lake Victoria are sustainably managed, harvested and developed for the benefit of the riparian communities.