| Preface | 6 |
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| Contents | 12 |
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| 1 Introduction | 17 |
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| 2 Background of Lake Victoria | 20 |
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| 2.1 Features of the Lake and its Environs | 20 |
| 2.1.1 The Origin | 20 |
| 2.1.2 Physical Description | 22 |
| 2.1.3 The Name Lake Victoria | 23 |
| 2.2 Population and Demographic Features | 26 |
| 2.2.1 Historical Perspective of Early Settlements | 29 |
| 2.2.2 Impact of Colonialism | 30 |
| 2.3 Concluding Remarks | 31 |
| 3 Resources | 32 |
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| 3.1 Introductory Remarks | 32 |
| 3.2 Water | 33 |
| 3.2.1 Lake Water | 33 |
| 3.2.2 Groundwater Potential | 37 |
| 3.2.3 Water Balance | 38 |
| 3.3 Fisheries | 40 |
| 3.3.1 Importance of the Fisheries of Lake Victoria | 46 |
| 3.3.2 Fish Species | 48 |
| 3.3.3 Exploitation of Fisheries Resources | 52 |
| Applied Fishing Gears | 54 |
| Tilapia Gillnet Fishery: | 57 |
| Long-Line Fishery: | 58 |
| Mosquito and Beach Seine Fishery: | 58 |
| Traps and Set Net Fishery: | 58 |
| Trawlers: | 59 |
| 3.3.5 Fish Supply and Marketing | 60 |
| Agents and Brokers | 60 |
| Fish Processing | 61 |
| Fish Marketing | 61 |
| Marketing Problems | 63 |
| Fish Demand | 63 |
| Income from Fish Export | 64 |
| Fishermen Co-operative Societies | 66 |
| Problems Facing these Co-operative Societies | 66 |
| 3.3.6 Level of Fish Stocks | 67 |
| Depletion of Fishes in Lake Victoria: A Historical | 68 |
| Perspective | 68 |
| Negotiations on Fishing Ban | 69 |
| Competition for Fish Harvest | 70 |
| 3.3.7 Role of Governments in Fisheries Sector | 72 |
| The East African Community Development Strategy | 72 |
| Project on Lake Victoria Fisheries Management | 74 |
| Government of Kenya | 74 |
| Fisheries Laws: | 75 |
| Fisheries Licenses and Fees: | 75 |
| Local Authorities: | 77 |
| Management of Fisheries | 78 |
| Boundary Con.icts and Fishing Rights | 79 |
| Unresolved Management Issues | 82 |
| The Beach Management Units (BMUs:) | 83 |
| Current Governmental Research and Development Focus | 83 |
| Establishment of Fish Levy Trust | 84 |
| Training Needs for BMUs and Fisheries O.cers. | 84 |
| Establishment of the Fish Board of Kenya | 85 |
| 3.3.8 Introduction of the Nile Perch and its Impact | 85 |
| Cultural Impact: | 86 |
| Uses of Nile Perch: | 87 |
| 3.4 Forests | 88 |
| 3.5 Minerals | 89 |
| 3.6 Human | 90 |
| 3.7 Energy | 92 |
| 3.8 Land | 95 |
| 3.9 Wildlife | 95 |
| 3.10 Wetlands | 95 |
| 3.11 Agricultural | 96 |
| 3.12 Concluding Remarks | 97 |
| 4 Eco-Tourism | 99 |
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| 4.1 Introductory Remarks | 99 |
| 4.2 Eco-tourism: Bene.ts and Dangers | 100 |
| 4.3 Successful Eco-tourism in Lake Victoria | 102 |
| 4.4 Rich Cultural and Tourist Attraction Sites | 102 |
| 4.4.1 Impala Park | 106 |
| 4.4.2 Kisumu Museum | 107 |
| 4.4.3 Cultural sites in Tanzania and Uganda) | 109 |
| 4.4.4 Kit Mikayi (The Stone of the First Wife) | 112 |
| 4.4.5 Thimlich Ohinga (The Haunting Forest) | 116 |
| 4.4.6 Bird Watching and Sport Fishing | 117 |
| 4.4.7 The Magic Of Lambwe Valley | 118 |
| Magical Safaris | 120 |
| 4.4.8 Ruma National Park | 120 |
| 4.5 Concluding Remarks | 123 |
| 5 Environmental Concerns and Management | 126 |
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| 5.1 Introductory Remarks | 126 |
| 5.2 Environmental State of Lake Victoria | 126 |
| 5.2.1 Nyanza Gulf | 127 |
| 5.2.2 Lake Biwa | 130 |
| 5.2.3 Comparison: Nyanza Gulf and Lake Biwa | 132 |
| 5.3 The Lake’s Contribution to Environment | 133 |
| 5.3.1 In.uence on Weather and Climate | 133 |
| 5.3.2 The Lake and the Physical Environment | 136 |
| 5.4 Choking of Lake Victoria | 137 |
| 5.4.1 Water Hyacinth | 137 |
| Ecological Impact | 139 |
| Evapotranspiration: | 139 |
| Eutrophication: | 139 |
| Reduction of Biodiversity: | 140 |
| Impacts on Human Activities | 141 |
| Controlling the Water Hyacinth | 142 |
| Economic Potential of Water Hyacinth | 146 |
| Composting: | 146 |
| Fodder and Silage: | 146 |
| Production of Dry Fuel: | 146 |
| Yarn and Rope: | 146 |
| Making of Furniture and Handicraft: | 146 |
| Biogas Production: | 147 |
| Production of Building Boards: | 147 |
| Production of Paper: | 148 |
| 5.4.2 Pollution of the Lake’s Waters | 148 |
| Eutrophication of the Lake | 152 |
| Sedimentation of the Lake | 155 |
| Toxic Chemical Pollution of the Lake | 158 |
| Biological | 160 |
| Oxygen Demand | 160 |
| 5.5 Pollution from Transportation Sector | 161 |
| 5.5.1 Transportation Sector: General Pollution of Lake | 163 |
