Effect of government policies on performance of the fisheries sub-sector: Acase of selected landing sites in Kalangala District

Abstract

The study was set to investigate the effect of government policies on performance of the fisheries sub sector; a case of selected Landing Sites of Mwena, Lutoboka and Kitobo in Kalangala District. Objectively the study concentrated on how enforcing the quality of fish yield standards, community involvement in fisheries management and sustainable management and development of fisheries affect performance of the fisheries sub sector in selected landing sites in Kalangala district.

The study used a target population of 308 from three (3) selected landing sites and a sample of 282 respondents was selected using Neumann’s formula (2000), out of 282 questionnaires submitted, only 250 were returned to the researcher for analysis. A cross section research design was employed and both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to analyse and interprete data. Data were also analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation, Coefficient and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Regression analysis resulted in adjusted R square of 0.798 or 79.8%. The hypothesis testing using multiple regression findings proved that there is a strong and positive relationship between government policies and performance of the fisheries sector in Mwena, Lutoboka and Kitobo landing sites in Kalangala district.

The study concluded that enforcing the quality of fish yield standards; community involvement in fisheries management and sustainable management and development of fisheries improves performance of the fisheries sector in selected landing sites of Mwena, Lutoboka and Kitobo landing sites in Kalangala district.

The study recommends that the government should intensify its efforts towards reprimanding any one accused of violating quality fish yield standards to deter others from doing the same. The government also needs to increase its funding towards the Beach Management Units by not only recruiting more members but also offering them more logistical support like motor cycles to ease their movement such that they can be able to monitor all the fishing activities on the landing sites. Furthermore, the government should make it mandatory for all fishermen to acquire fishing licenses which would also specify the maximum amount of fish businessmen are expected to catch from the lake in a given period of time.