Difficulties of fishing at Lake Naivasha, Kenya: is community participation in management the solution?

Abstract

Unlike other lakes in tropical regions, Lake Naivasha exhibits low fish species diversity. The fishery is based on introduced fish species that are not native to the lake. The lake ecosystem is very fragile, as reflected in its fluctuating fish catches. The fishery almost completely collapsed in 2001, due partly to mismanagement and ignorance about needed conservation measures. The Kenyan government, like many governments around the world, recognized the need to involve fishers and other stakeholders, in order to ensure better management of the lake fisheries resources. Also referred to as collaborative management (co-management), this management approach provides the opportunity to share responsibility for managing the fishery resources between the government and the community. A total ban on fishing was imposed in February 2001, lasting for 1 year, to allow lake fish stocks to recover. This study analyses the co-management process for Lake Naivasha, and discusses the role played by the community during the fishing ban, as well as the successes and challenges encountered, and the tribulations and perceptions of the fishers regarding the new management strategy. It also comprises the first documentation of community participation in fisheries management begun for Lake Naivasha in the year 2001.

Angling: An Emerging Fishery in Lake Naivasha?

“…We also observed fishers targeting the bigger brooder specimen of the Cyprinus carpio using gillnets of 8" to 10". The use of undersize nets that catch juvenile fishes and large sized nets increases fishing effort than may be permitted and seining by illegal fishers has the potential to affect the performance and sustainability of the fishery (Figure 2) [11,12]. Illegal Angling has also been observed to be an emerging fishery in Lake Naivasha being practiced by both legal and illegal fishers.…”

Assessing water quality in lake Naivasha

“…Although the benthic feeders have negative effect on other fish and aquatic communities, the economic gains outweigh the associated economic losses (Miller and Crowl, 2006;Pimentel et al, 2000). In Lake Naivasha, the fishing industry currently employs more than 1000 Kenyan citizens, and provides a source of protein for area residents as well as others in nearby towns (Kundu et al, 2010). However, the commercial fish catches keep changing with introduction of alien species.…”

“…Despite an observable major shift from a clear oligotrophic to turbid eutrophic state, little has been carried out to evaluate the main constituents of turbidity in different regions of the lake. Although several studies have been undertaken to address such issues (Becht and Harper, 2002;Harper, 1992;Harper et al, 2011b;Hickley and Harper, 2007;Hickley and Harper, 2002;Kalff, 1983;Kitaka et al, 2002;Kundu et al, 2010) none have illustrated the spatio-temporal dynamism of the trophic state of the lake or the constituents of its turbidity.…”

“…The lake harbours unique faunal and floral biodiversity, leading to it being declared a wetland of international importance in 1994 under the Ramsar Convention (LNRA, 1999). The lake is a source of livelihood and supports many socio-economic activities such as a multibillion horticultural industry, tourism, fishing, and domestic water sources (Becht and Harper, 2002;Kundu et al, 2010). Though still artisanal, the fishing industry within the lake employs over 1000 fishermen and provides a source of protein for people living within the nearby towns (Kundu et al, 2010).…”

“…The lake is a source of livelihood and supports many socio-economic activities such as a multibillion horticultural industry, tourism, fishing, and domestic water sources (Becht and Harper, 2002;Kundu et al, 2010). Though still artisanal, the fishing industry within the lake employs over 1000 fishermen and provides a source of protein for people living within the nearby towns (Kundu et al, 2010). However, myriad of environmental perturbations in Lake Naivasha's ecosystem have transformed the lake from a clear to muddy eutrophic turbid state, which has resulted in a decline in ecological quality, impacting heavily on fish population and tourism (Hubble and Harper, 2001a;Mergeay, 2004).…”