Dynamics of fishers’ Livelihoods in the wake of declining fisheries resources in Lake Victoria

This paper explores the diversity of livelihoods to fishing communities in the wake of declined fisheries resources. A total of 246 respondents were involved in a cross-sectional research design whereby interviews, focus group discussions and observations administered in data collection. Findings from the study indicated that unabated dwindling of fish catch transformed people's lives along Lake Victoria basin. In due course community members particularly those residing along shorelines indulged into devising a range of alternative strategies, including investment into heavy and modern fishing outfits, unscrupulous fishing practices, and migration. The dwindling of fish catches and disappearances of the native fish species stood as intriguing reason for life difficulties experienced by fishing communities on islands of Lake Victoria. Of total interviewed fishers in this study, about 91.6% indicated to have already felt difficulties in making a living from fisheries activities. Fishermen indicated to experience much difficulties in making a living from fishing activity compared to other categories of respondents engaged in other fisheries related activities at shore. Since fishing is of free access whereas everyone can access the fishing grounds, it absorbs majority of fishing communities’ population. Hence a persistent declined remuneration from fishing activities paralyses livelihood options to majority of inhabitants in fishing communities more particularly the fishing dependent communities. Change in fish consumption pattern, fish trade channel, gender division of labour, fishing techniques, and fish processing techniques were the very eminent diversification options undertaken by fishers to counteract the effects of declined fish catches.