A QUALITATIVE EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE UGANDAN FISHERIES

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A QUALITATIVE EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE UGANDAN FISHERIES

• Kenneth Nyombi
• Simon Bolwig
• IFPRI

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Background

• High and growing demand for Ugandan fish
  domestically, regionally, internationally
• 4050 of Ugandans animal protein intake
• 75 of fish is domestically consumed (est.)
• Export revenues increased from 1 to 87 million
  between 1989 and 2003 (Nile perch 90)
• Value of regional exports is 35,000 (est.)
• 136,000 smallholder fishermen and 700,000
  employed in related activities (estimates)
• Only 0.1 of fish harvest from aquaculture

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(No Transcript)
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Ugandas Fish Supply Chain
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The Problem

• Stagnation in production and exports
• but demand is increasing fast
• Reduction in boat productivity
• 80 ? 40kg per boat per day
• Processing factories operate below capacity
• Indications of a decline in fish stocks
  probably caused by over fishing
• 95 of Nile perch biomass is below 50 cm implying
  low share of fish in reproductive age
• Small-size fish is demanded by EU importers
• No reliable fishery stock assessments

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Uganda Fish Production 1990 - 2002
250
Total
200
1000 tons
L Victoria

100
100
L Kyoga
50
L Albert
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The Problem (contd)

• Risk of fish stock depletion to unprofitable
  levels at current fishing pressure and methods
• High potential impact on livelihoods, nutrition,
  and export revenues
• Fishermen are relatively better off (Allison 03)
• Fish is a cheap source of protein
• Precautionary approach to fisheries management
  justifiable in view of long-term national growth
  and poverty reduction goals
• Public investments in fisheries development
  justifiable

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Study Objectives

• Provide broad characterization of Ugandas
  fisheries sector based on interviews and review
  of data and documents
• Suggest alternative development strategies for
  Ugandan fisheries
• Qualitatively assess potential impact of
  alternative strategies on income, poverty, and
  environment
• Identify market, technical, and institutional
  constraints to strategy implementation
• Provide preliminary policy recommendations

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Opportunities

• High and diversified demand for Ugandan fish
• High capacity for wild catch production and
  processing
• Favorable technical and biophysical conditions
  for Tilapia/Catfish aquaculture
• High reproductive potential of Nile perch
• Strong policy framework (esp. NFP 2004)
• Public research, development, regulation
• Dept of Fisheries Resources (national)
• Uganda Fisheries Authority (planned)
• Lake Victoria fisheries organization (regional)
• Kajjansi Aquaculture Research Centre

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Alternative Development Strategies

1. Decrease wild catch of Nile perch to sustainable
   levels through stock regulation
2. Increase supply of Nile perch through (a)
   development and promotion of aquaculture or (b)
   Nile perch lake stock replenishment
3. Increase supply of fish for domestic and regional
   markets through (a) pond aquaculture or (b) stock
   replenishment

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Development Strategies (contd)

• Increase the competitiveness of the Ugandan fish
  supply chain
• Reduce the cost of production, transport,
  handling, and processing
• Reduce post-harvest losses in export quality
• Improve product quality

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Strategy Evaluation Criteria

• Market conditions
• Technical constraints
• Institutional constraints
• Impact on Income and Poverty
• Environmental impact

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1. Stock Regulation of Nile Perch

• Short term loss of export market share
• Long term regain export market share
• Acts ordinances in place, but limited
  institutional capacity (personnel, funds,
  equipment) to implement them
• Short term reduced income for all reduced
  access to perch by local people
• Long term increase in Nile perch predatory
  pressure on other species in long term

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2. Increase Nile Perch Supply through Stock
Replenishment or Aquaculture

• Nile perch breeding technology (in captivity) not
  available. Artificial feeds not yet developed,
  change in feeding habit not accomplished. Lack of
  research resources.
• Increased incomes and export revenues
• Improved access to fish by the poor
• Fear of pollution from feeds used in lake cage
  aquaculture
• Increase in Nile perch predatory pressure on
  other species in long term need to monitor
  stocks of perch prey

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3. Increase Supply of Fish for Regional and
Domestic Markets

• Reduced fish prices in local markets
• Too little effort in dissemination of
  Tilapia/Catfish aquaculture technologies to
  farmers
• Increased incomes to fish farmers (aquaculture)
  or fishermen (stock replenishment)
• The poor will access cheaper fish
• Improved local protein security

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4. Enhance Productivity and Quality In Ugandas
Fish Supply Chain

• Technical constraints at all stages in supply
  chain. Passive fishing gear cause post-harvest
  losses. Value additions in export sector require
  new technology.
• Poor transport and fish handling infrastructure
  and equipment (e.g ice). Major cause of
  post-harvest losses
• Distribution of benefits from productivity
  increases unknown depends on initial
  accessibility of sites, among other factors
• Adequate public investments in fisheries
  infrastructure development?

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Preliminary Recommendations

• Regular fish stock assessments and catch data
  collection needed to guide monitoring activities,
  fishing effort, and investments
• Nile perch pond/cage aquaculture has potential
  yet breeding feeding constraints and potential
  environmental impacts required more research
• Tilapia/Catfish/Carp aquaculture has a big
  potential and is technically feasible. But larger
  and extension efforts are required

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Preliminary Recommendations (contd)

• Need for more analyses to inform choice of
  strategies and associated balance of public
  investments, including
• Quantitative estimates of the costs and benefits
  associated with each strategy or components of
  strategies
• Separate analyses for each major lake, which may
  require different strategies and investments

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Acknowledgements

• Department of Fisheries Resources
• Fisheries Resources Research Institute
• Aquaculture Research Development Center,
  Kajjansi
• SPEED Project
• USAID Uganda Mission