Effects Of The Water Hyacinth On The Fisheries Industry In Kisumu Municipality.

Abstract

This study is divided into five chapters. The first chapter provides an introduction to the study in terms of background, statement of the problem, justification of the study, study objectives and research questions. Chapter two presents literature review related to the study and theoretical framework. In chapter three, the methodology of the study is discussed. Chapter four presents the data analysis, findings and discussion of these findings. Chapter five concludes the study and various recommendations are proposed. The study addresses itself to the effects of the water hyacinth in Lake Victoria on the fisheries industry in Kisumu municipality. The study focuses on fish based activities in the area both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from residents whose livelihood is based on these activities . This being a survey study quantitative data were collected, with the questionnaire as the main tool. of data collection. Qualitative methods of data collection were also used to get information from fishermen/women, traders, boat operators and industrial fish processors. The out data gathered was analyzed using basic statistics both qualitatively and quantitatively. Data analysis indicates that the presence of the water hyacinth in Lake Victoria affects the lives of the residents of Kisumu Municipality in many ways. Fish production has drastically fallen and therefore income for those whose income generation activities revolve around fish production has fallen too. Some fish processing plants have closed down and water transport operators are almost out of business. The people's food habits have changed, inclining towards the production, consumption and marketing of grains and vegetables rather than fish and other sorts of meat that were favored before the infestation by the water hyacinth of the lake. The findings therefore suggest that the lifestyle of the people living near Lake Victoria and depend on it, in one way or another, has changed considerably. On the basis of the findings, it is generally recommended that the government, NGO's and other interest groups should involve the local residents in both policy making and practical removal of the weed from the lake. It is also recommended that this be treated with urgency as the effects of the weed are growing with time.