The extent of cage aquaculture, adherence to best practices and reflections for sustainable aquaculture on African inland waters
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Great Lakes Research
Abstract
Cage aquaculture is expanding on African inland waters and has potential to close the fish supply deficit
in the region and provide other social benefits such as employment and income. However, if not appropriately
guided and regulated, cage aquaculture could become unsustainable, causing conflicts with other
water uses, environmental degradation and economic losses to aquaculture enterprises. To enhance sustainability
of cage aquaculture on the African inland waters, we developed an inventory of cage aquaculture
installations and used it to investigate the distribution and magnitude of cage aquaculture and
adherence to best practices for sustainable aquaculture. Our results show evidence of spatial expansion
of cage aquaculture on the African inland waters, of varying magnitude across and within water bodies
and partial adherence to best practices. Cage aquaculture was confirmed on 18 water bodies which
together share 263 installations with more than 20,000 cages. Lakes Victoria, Kariba, Volta and River
Volta host 82.9% of cage aquaculture installations on the African inland waters and are major areas for
cage aquaculture. Contrary to best practices, evidence shows cage aquaculture installations entirely or
in close proximity to protected areas, in eutrophic and hypertrophic waters, shallow water bodies and
sites ( 5 m average depth) and close to the shoreline. Cage aquaculture is qualified as an additional stressor
to the African inland waters and because it is expected to continue expanding, adherence to best practices
should be promoted for sustainability.
Description
Keywords
Cage aquaculture, Africa Freshwater, Ecosystem, approach to aquaculture
Citation
Musinguzi, L., Lugya, J., Rwezawula, P., Kamya, A., Nuwahereza, C., Halafo, J., ... & Ogutu-Ohwayo, R. (2019). The extent of cage aquaculture, adherence to best practices and reflections for sustainable aquaculture on African inland waters. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 45(6), 1340-1347.