Are the Solar and Battery-Powered Lights used for Dagaa Rastrineobola argentea Fishing a Threat to the Nile Perch Lates niloticus Fishery in Lake Victoria?

Abstract

For decades, the harvesting of Dagaa (Rastrineoboala argentea) from Lake Victoria and other waters bodies relied on lanterns as the primary source of light attraction. Being one of Lake Victoria’s top four economically significant fisheries, Dagaa has a significant impact on the macro- and microeconomics of East African nations. Recent innovation for harvesting Dagaa using solar and battery-power lights, have raised conserns about the sustainability of Nile perch. The current declining Nile perch is associated with the introduction of solar and battery-powered lights. To validate the consern, TAFIRI conducted a Dagaa fishing light research. Dagaa fishing research was conducted in offshore waters around Bwiru in Nyamagana district and questionnaires administered in Ilemela district in May 2022. It was revealed that solar light caught 6 fish species and battery-powered had 5 with relatively higher catch rate dominated by Dagaa solar (60.2 kg/boat/day) and battery-powered lights (105 kg/boat/day). The widest range of species were caught in boats using no fishing light (12 species), with catch rates dominated by Haplochromines (15.1 kg/boat/day). Nile perch catch rates were relatively low in (i.e., battery-powered 18.8; solar 15.7; and no light 1.8) kg/boat/day. Finally, it was determined that catching immature fish, such as Nile perch, is more frequently associated with fishing in inshore areas and fishing illegally, rather than accusing any types of fishing light. While it was found that competition for the same fishing ground was the main source of the conflict between Nile perch and Dagaa fishermen, fish theft by Dagaa fishers and Nile perch patrol boats swindling the solar and battery-powered lamps was another instance of conflict. Strengthening law enforcement may help to eliminate all of these discrepancies, including those that result from the use of illegal fishing gear and techniques and those that restrict use of drifting gill nets in Lake Victoria.