The socio-economic and cultural structures of the fisherfolk communities

Abstract

Fishing communities that have exploited the resource forgenerations constitute the main stakeholder groups in thefisheries of Lake Victoria. Several studies have examinedUganda's Lake Victoria fishing communities andcharacterised key stakeholders at community level over thelast decade (SEDAWOG 1999a and b; Geheb 1997;FeSEP 1997; Kitakule 1991).The communities are made up of scattered settlements at the shores and on islands.The categories of people living in these communities include fishers who consist primarily of large numbers of male youths who provide labour to boat and gear owners.There are resident and non-resident fish traders who after securing their supplies at the beaches, depart for their market destinations. In addition, there are fish processors,mostly operating traditional and improved smoking kilns. Many other people, dealing in provisions and supplies also stay at the beaches, their activities depending on thelevel of fish catch. The fishing communities of Lake Victoria, Uganda, include auxiliary livelihood activities such as boat building, net repairing and transportation; bait supply and beachside kiosks, video halls and retail shop business. Other economic activities are brick making, charcoal burning/wood trade, farming and livestock keeping.