A fish ecological study of rivers and floodplains in the Eastern Caprivi, Namibia

A pre-requisite for the formulation of a responsible fisheries management programme for an aquatic ecosystem is a comprehensive fish ecological study, which focuses on the various ecological and biological aspects of the fish population and related fisheries data. The fish ecological and fisheries data must be considered during the decision making process of management. The freshwater fish of the Eastern Caprivi, Namibia, has enormous value in terms of the local subsistence fishery. Fish is an affordable protein source in this region, and is of socioeconomic importance, as it generates income for up to 82% of the local households. Unfortunately commercialisation of the resource is becoming more and more prevalent in this region, as local commercial fishermen take advantage of the readily available fish resource, by the callous use of non-selective fishing gears such as drag nets. Unregulated fishing methods, such as the use of drag nets, is detrimental to the fish population and ecology of an aquatic ecosystem. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), Namibia, recognised the need for a fisheries management programme in the Eastern Caprivi region. Proper fisheries legislation, in terms of the recommended fishing gears which may be used by local fishermen, is however needed to achieve the goals set by such a management programme. The MFMR realised the need for a comprehensive fish ecological study in the Eastern Caprivi, which would thus aid in the formulation of legislation measures. Five, flood related, fish ecological surveys were consequently conducted in the Eastern Caprivi, between 1997 to 1999. The relevant ecological, biological, and fisheries data was gathered. This data will lay the basis for future studies in this region, and will aid management in their decision making process. Results derived from the experimental gill net data is of the most importance in the formulation of fisheries legislation. The data collected in the Eastern Caprivi was processed and the results presented and discussed in this study. Conclusions are made concerning the biological and ecological aspects of the fish species and the fish population. Recommendations, concerning the fisheries data, are made to the management of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in aid of their legislation process. The Eastern Caprivi is a productive and intricate wetland system, consisting of rivers, floodplains, canals, lakes, swamps and marshlands. Three perennial rivers, the Zambezi, Chobe, and Kwando Rivers with their associated floodplains were studied. A total of 82 fish species occur in the Eastern Caprivi, of which 69 were recorded during this studyProf. G.J. Stey