Integration of mapping and socio-economic status of cage culture: Towards balancing lake-use and culture fisheries in Lake Victoria, Kenya

Mapping of lacustrine aquaculture and socio-economic assessment of cage farmers operations can be employed as decision support tools in an integrated fashion for fisheries management. We simultaneously mapped and reported the location of cages and characterized socio-economic and indicators of cage farming in Lake Victoria, Kenya. Structured questionnaires and interviews from cage farmers generated socio-economic data and management information. Vital water quality parameters were analyzed in selected sampling sites. Cage culture was found to be a male-dominated activity with the majority of owners aged <45 years (n = 23; 59%). Siaya County had the highest cage establishments (n = 20) and number (n = 1,343). Proximity to Dominion Farm, pioneers of cage culture, as well as decreased presence of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) coverage may have contributed to high cage numbers in Siaya County. The only species cultured was Oreochromis niloticus. Most cage establishments (n = 30; 76%) were located within 200 m from the shoreline. Total operational costs for a cycle (8 months) amounted to USD 465,250 worth a total production value of USD 8,827,000, farmers often realizing a mark-up of >100%, indicative of its robust viability within “The Blue Economy” concept. With the increasing number of cages in the lake, there is the need for policy and regulations to guide its investment, both to protect local economies through improved business practices and to ensure sustainability for the lake ecosystem due to the likelihood of exacerbation in water quality deterioration in cage culture sites.