Small scale fishing and poverty reduction among local communities the case of selected villages around lake Victoria in Muleba district, Kagera region

This study aimed at assessing the contribution of small scale fishing activities to poverty reduction among local communities living in villages along Lake Victoria, Tanzania. The study was conducted in three villages namely Kimbugu B, Kabare A and Bugasha adjacent to Lake Victoria in Muleba District, Kagera Region The methodology utilized key informant interviews, focus group discussion and questionnaire interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS and t-test was done for statistical analysis. Findings from the study show that, mean monthly income of small scale fishermen of Tsh 92,836.066 was significantly higher than that of non-fishermen which amounted to Tsh 64,055.33 at 95% confidence level of difference. Obstacles such as decreases of fish availability, insufficient capital, poor tools and lack of security were mentioned to affect the activity. Also options thought to improve small scale fishing were priority access to community around the resource, reduction of tax paid for licence, security right to resource and capacity building for small scale fisher men. Furthermore, the study found that small scale fishermen had more assets such as land, bicycles, and motorcycles compared to non fishermen. However, some of small scale fishermen are poor, but the activity has some contribution to poverty reduction in term of income. Thus, the present study calls for practical implementation of fisheries policy and legislation to rescue the stock from the existing high fishing pressure that would lead to more depletion especially caused by illegal fishing