Comparison in fish catches in Lake Liambezi and the surrounding floodplains on the Zambezi River in Eastern Caprivi

Abstract

Abstract The Caprivi Region located in the extreme north-east of Namibia. About 50% of the rural population live in the northern regions and derive food, income and informal employment from the fish resource. Floodplains cover 19 % of the Caprivi. About 78% of the Namibian fish species depend on migrations between the floodplains and the main river for their larval and juvenile stages. The floodplains are highly productive and important in the subsistence fishery with an estimated potential of approximately 2,800 tons per annum. Lake Liambezi was dry between 1985 and 2000. It received some inflow during 2007 and a major flood in 2009 filled the lake and fishery developed after that. Lake Liambezi has a fisheries potential, estimated to be approximately 2,581 tons per annum. There is a perceived decline in the fish catches from the floodplains and Lake’s subsistence fishery. This study was carried out to compare the catches between the floodplains and Lake Liambezi and provide baseline information for recommendations for the sustainable management of the fish resources. Catches from the subsistence fishery are extremely important and must be documented to develop a management plan for the fishery. Where data was collected from fishermen in floodplains and data obtained from actual experimental gear used in the lake results showed that in general the floodplains are more productive. However, when statistical analysis were done to compare the two independent samples, the results showed that there is no significant difference between the catch per unit effort (CPUE) either from the different fishing gear (mono – and – multifilament) or from each different month. The harvest from the floodplains were high compared to Lake Liambezi for reasons not yet known; it could be due to its vast surface area and therefore a lack control or law enforcement, causing illegal fishing and bashing.