Periodic Fishing Ban and Community Livelihood on Lake Bangweulu Luwingu District Zambia

ABSTRACT This research aimed at investigating the effects of periodic fishing ban on fish stocks and community livelihood of Lake Bangweulu; Luwingu District of Zambia, it was guided by the following objectives: to evaluate the effect of periodic fishing ban on fish stocks of Lake Bangweulu in Luwingu District, to examine the effect of periodic fishing ban on income, business and food security of communities on Lake Bangweulu during and after the fishing ban and to propose a model for community participation in fishing ban implementation. A simple random sampling method was used to pick 87 respondents from five villages/camp out of a list of 121 households registered from village headmen and 9 key informants were selected purposively. Questionnaires were administered to the selected respondents who were involved in fishing and fishing related businesses as their source of income, interviews were also used to collect data from key informants and observation methods was also used. The results confirmed that the fishing ban was very effective and hence there were no fish on the local market during the fishing ban, Furthermore, the research revealed that, periodic fishing ban affects fish population and aquatic environment positively, representing a mean of 2.48 and 2.31 respectively, on contrary, it affect the fish size negatively as shown by a mean of 2.00. It was further observed that during the periodic fishing ban the quality of life were generally poor (50%) and during the fishing season the quality of life improves. This is because during fishing ban season, people make little income which cannot sustain them. Finally as shown 57% were below K100 (8 dollars), the community livelihood activity calendar model is proposed basing on the coping mechanism the community has adopted. The identified effects of periodic fishing ban on the community were poor income, collapse of fish related businesses, and poor food security hence poor quality of life during the fishing ban and improved quality of life after the fishing ban among the fishing communities. It was further discovered that, few people in poultry and butchery business were positively affected, adding that, the shortage of fish on the market boomed their business. The results also shows that the activities done in fishing communities are interdependent on one another, therefore, any effect on one activity trickles down on other activities. In addition the research bridged the gaps by adding information to the existing literature because they were very few literatures related to fishing ban as an area of study. The study validates that use of common property theory is suitable theory to investigate on the effect of fishing ban on fishing community and non-have conducted a similar research in Nsombo area. In conclusion it was established that, the fishing ban was very effective on Lake Bangweulu, this is because all the fishing related activities were stopped during the fishing ban. Based on the findings, recommendations were raised that people should be sensitized and educated on the importance of sustainable fishing with regards to the proposed model. People should also be encouraged to venture into other livelihoods and further research should be conducted on the effect of fishing ban on the lives of children in fishing communities.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ...............................................................................................................i

APPROVAL......................................................................................................................ii

DEDICATION ................................................................................................................ iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................v

LIST FIGURES ...............................................................................................................ix

LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................x

ABBREVIATIONS..........................................................................................................xi

ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................xii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION.............................................................................1

1.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................1

1.1 Background of the Study ..............................................................................................1

1.1.1 Historical Perspective ................................................................................................1

1.1.2 Theoretical Perspectives............................................................................................4

1.1.3 Conceptual Perspectives............................................................................................4

1.1.4 Contextual Perspectives.............................................................................................5

1.2 Problem Statement........................................................................................................5

1.3 Purpose of the study......................................................................................................6

1.4 Specific Objectives of the study ...................................................................................6

1.5 Research Questions.......................................................................................................7

1.6 Scope of the study.........................................................................................................7

1.6.1 Geographical scope ...................................................................................................7

1.6.2 Content scope.............................................................................................................8

1.6.3 Time scope .................................................................................................................8

1.6.4 Methodological scope................................................................................................9

1.7 Significance of study ....................................................................................................9

1.7.1 The government, ........................................................................................................9

1.7.2 Community,................................................................................................................9

1.7.3 Individuals .................................................................................................................9

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CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................10

2.0 Introduction.................................................................................................................10

2.1 Theoretical Framework...............................................................................................10

2.2 Conceptual Framework...............................................................................................10

2.3 History of Management and legislation of the fisheries sector in Zambia .................12

2.3.1 Ineffectiveness in Implementing Measures in Place................................................13

2.4 Fishing methods..........................................................................................................14

2.4.1 Restrictions on Gear and Fishing Methods.............................................................14

2.4.2 Designated fish breeding areas...............................................................................15

2.4.3 Fishing ban implementation and management........................................................16

2.4.4 Funding and capacity ..............................................................................................17

2.5 Effects of periodic fishing ban on community livelihood ..........................................18

2.5.1 Fish producers..........................................................................................................18

2.5.2 Income from resources ............................................................................................18

2.5.3 Food security ...........................................................................................................20

2.5.4 Farming ...................................................................................................................21

2.5.5 Trading ....................................................................................................................21

2.6 Stakeholders in fish resource management.................................................................21

2.6.1 Model of fish management.......................................................................................22

2.6.2 Gap in literature review...........................................................................................23

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ....................................................................24

3.0 Introduction.................................................................................................................24

3.1 Research Design .........................................................................................................24

3.2 Target Population........................................................................................................24

3.3 Sample size .................................................................................................................25

3.4 Sampling strategies.....................................................................................................25

3.5 Research instruments..................................................................................................26

3.5.1 Questionnaire ..........................................................................................................26

3.5.2 Interviews.................................................................................................................26

3.5.3 Observations............................................................................................................26

3.6. Instrument validity and reliability .............................................................................26

3.6.1. Validity....................................................................................................................26

3.6.2. Reliability................................................................................................................26

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3.7. Data Collection Procedures .......................................................................................27

3.8. Data Analysis.............................................................................................................27

3.9. Ethical considerations................................................................................................28

3.10. Limitations of the Study ..........................................................................................28

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF 

DATA...............................................................................................................................29

4.0 Introduction.................................................................................................................29

4.1 Profile of the Respondents..........................................................................................29

4.1.1 Outcomes of periodic fishing ban on Lake Bangweulu ...........................................32

4.1.2 Responses on the effectiveness of the fishing ban................................................... 32

4.1.3 Availability of fish on the market.............................................................................33

4.1.4 Administration of the fishing ban ............................................................................34

4.2 Effect of the periodic fishing ban on fish stocks in Lake Bangweulu ........................38

4.2.1 Fish production........................................................................................................41

4.2.2 Fishing main Source of Income ...............................................................................44

4.3. Periodic fishing ban affects people............................................................................45

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS............52

5.0 Introduction.................................................................................................................52

5.1 Discussion of Findings ...............................................................................................52

5.1.1. Outcomes of the periodic fishing ban on Lake Bangweulu ....................................53

5.1.2. Effect of periodic fishing ban on fish stocks...........................................................54

5.1.3 Effects of periodic fishing ban on the livelihood of communities............................55

5.1.4 Quality of life of the fishing community during and after the fishing ban...............56

5.2 The contributions to the knowledge ...........................................................................57

5.3 Proposed model for fishing community livelihood activity calendar.........................57

5.4 Conclusions.................................................................................................................59

5.5 Recommendations.......................................................................................................60

5.5.1 Objective one: Effect of periodic fishing ban on fish stock in Lake Bangweulu .....60

5.5.2 Objective two: Effect of periodic fishing ban on community livelihood in Nsombo 

area around Lake Bangweulu...........................................................................................60

5.5.3 Objective three: Coping mechanisms for community participation in managing 

periodic fishing ban on Lake Bangweulu in Luwingu of Zambia.....................................61

5.6 Area for further studies...............................................................................................61

REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................62

APPENDICES.................................................................................................................65

APPENDIX 1: TRANSMITTAL LETTER .................................................................65

APPENDIX II: QUESTIONNAIRE .............................................................................66

APPENDIX III: INTERVIEW GUIDE........................................................................69

APPENDIX IV. DDISTRIBUTION OF THE RESPONDENTS ...............................70

APPENDIX V. INTERPRETATION GUIDE ............................................................70

APPENDIX VI. WORK PLAN .....................................................................................71

APPENDIX VII. RESEARCH BUDGET.....................................................................72

APPENDIX VIII: PHOTO GALLERY........................................................................73