Comparison of fish yields from prediction models between Lakes Tanganyika and Kariba

Abstract

Fish yield from catch data and from prediction models in Lake Kariba is compared to that in Lake Tanganyika. Fish yields from catch data in L. Tanganyika are above expectation from the rates of algal production, and this disparity is not experienced in L. Kariba. Of the two hypotheses that have been forwarded to explain the situation in L. Tanganyika — high trophic efficiency and high bacterial production, it is suggested that, with the experience from L. Kariba, only the hypothesis of high bacteria production could be important.