The status of fish stocks in Lake Victoria: a research prospective and way forward

The status of fish stocks in a water body at any one time is a function of several factors affecting the quantity of fish in that water body. These include: a) Total number (abundance) and biomass (weight) present, b) Growth (size and age), c) Recruitment (the quantity offish entering the fishery) including reproduction, d) Mortality which is caused by fishing or natural causes. Other indirect factors of major importance to the status of the stocks include production factors (water quality and availability of natural food for fish), the life history parameters of the different species making up the stocks (e.g. sex ratios, condition of the fish, reproductive potential (i.e. fecundity) etc). Changes in fish stocks do occur when any of the above listed factors directly influence aspects of growth, reproduction and mortality and therefore, numbers and standing stock (biomass)