From Co-Operation to Coercion in Fisheries Management: The Effects of Military Intervention on the Nile Perch Fishery on Lake Victoria in Uganda
In 2017, Uganda’s small-scale inland fisheries underwent a significant transformation, shifting from local co-management to state military enforcement owing to ineffective enforcement of regulations and declining exports. Employing a mixed-methods approach and blending qualitative and quantitative d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Fishes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/8/11/563 |
| _version_ | 1797459342284292096 |
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| author | Veronica Mpomwenda Tumi Tómasson Jón Geir Pétursson Daði Mar Kristófersson |
| author_facet | Veronica Mpomwenda Tumi Tómasson Jón Geir Pétursson Daði Mar Kristófersson |
| author_sort | Veronica Mpomwenda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2017, Uganda’s small-scale inland fisheries underwent a significant transformation, shifting from local co-management to state military enforcement owing to ineffective enforcement of regulations and declining exports. Employing a mixed-methods approach and blending qualitative and quantitative data, we assessed the impact of military intervention on Lake Victoria’s Nile perch fishery, focusing on fishing effort, catch, and exports. Our findings indicate that military operations adhered to regulations, gaining primary support from key stakeholders, specifically motorized fishing operators. Consequently, between 2016 and 2020, legal fishing activities experienced substantial growth. By 2021, approximately 90% of Nile perch catches were made by motorized vessels using longlines and gillnets, despite a declining trend in catch-per-unit effort. Between 2015 and 2021, the Nile perch fishery saw changes: boat seines made up about 5% of motorized fleet catches in 2021, while catches in paddled vessels increased from 20% to over 50%, suggesting a potential role in the growing longline fishery. Therefore, the current management approach does not increase catches or exports compared with the co-management period. The observed decline in catch-per-unit effort among motorized gillnets suggests overcapacity. Further research is needed to comprehend the broader sociological and ecological impacts of the present enforcement strategy for sustainable fishery management. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:50:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a027248d0b9a475493eda581bed5f75b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2410-3888 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:50:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fishes |
| spelling | doaj.art-a027248d0b9a475493eda581bed5f75b2023-11-24T14:41:44ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882023-11-0181156310.3390/fishes8110563From Co-Operation to Coercion in Fisheries Management: The Effects of Military Intervention on the Nile Perch Fishery on Lake Victoria in UgandaVeronica Mpomwenda0Tumi Tómasson1Jón Geir Pétursson2Daði Mar Kristófersson3National Fisheries Resources Research Institute, Plot 45|49 Nile Crescent, Jinja P.O. Box 543, UgandaMarine Research Institute, Fornubúðir 5, 220 Hafnarfjörður, IcelandFaculties of Life and Environmental Sciences, and Sociology, Anthropology and Folkloristics, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavik, IcelandFaculty of Economics, School of Social Sciences, University of Iceland, Sæmundargötu, 102 Reykjavik, IcelandIn 2017, Uganda’s small-scale inland fisheries underwent a significant transformation, shifting from local co-management to state military enforcement owing to ineffective enforcement of regulations and declining exports. Employing a mixed-methods approach and blending qualitative and quantitative data, we assessed the impact of military intervention on Lake Victoria’s Nile perch fishery, focusing on fishing effort, catch, and exports. Our findings indicate that military operations adhered to regulations, gaining primary support from key stakeholders, specifically motorized fishing operators. Consequently, between 2016 and 2020, legal fishing activities experienced substantial growth. By 2021, approximately 90% of Nile perch catches were made by motorized vessels using longlines and gillnets, despite a declining trend in catch-per-unit effort. Between 2015 and 2021, the Nile perch fishery saw changes: boat seines made up about 5% of motorized fleet catches in 2021, while catches in paddled vessels increased from 20% to over 50%, suggesting a potential role in the growing longline fishery. Therefore, the current management approach does not increase catches or exports compared with the co-management period. The observed decline in catch-per-unit effort among motorized gillnets suggests overcapacity. Further research is needed to comprehend the broader sociological and ecological impacts of the present enforcement strategy for sustainable fishery management.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/8/11/563rule compliancelaw enforcementfisheries managementNile perchLake VictoriaUganda |
| spellingShingle | Veronica Mpomwenda Tumi Tómasson Jón Geir Pétursson Daði Mar Kristófersson From Co-Operation to Coercion in Fisheries Management: The Effects of Military Intervention on the Nile Perch Fishery on Lake Victoria in Uganda Fishes rule compliance law enforcement fisheries management Nile perch Lake Victoria Uganda |
| title | From Co-Operation to Coercion in Fisheries Management: The Effects of Military Intervention on the Nile Perch Fishery on Lake Victoria in Uganda |
| title_full | From Co-Operation to Coercion in Fisheries Management: The Effects of Military Intervention on the Nile Perch Fishery on Lake Victoria in Uganda |
| title_fullStr | From Co-Operation to Coercion in Fisheries Management: The Effects of Military Intervention on the Nile Perch Fishery on Lake Victoria in Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | From Co-Operation to Coercion in Fisheries Management: The Effects of Military Intervention on the Nile Perch Fishery on Lake Victoria in Uganda |
| title_short | From Co-Operation to Coercion in Fisheries Management: The Effects of Military Intervention on the Nile Perch Fishery on Lake Victoria in Uganda |
| title_sort | from co operation to coercion in fisheries management the effects of military intervention on the nile perch fishery on lake victoria in uganda |
| topic | rule compliance law enforcement fisheries management Nile perch Lake Victoria Uganda |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/8/11/563 |
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