40 SEPTEMBER 2012 A fish trader in Bwaise attempted to grow seven juveniles (20 cm) in a concrete tank (1 x 1 x 0.5 m) with stagnant water. Fish were fed with an unknown quantity of food waste and harvested after seven months at >500 g (average 80 cm) when water quality deteriorated. In Kumi, some fishermen excavate holes (40-cm diameter, 1-m deep) adjacent to Lake Opeta and stock 5-10 lungfish juveniles (15-30 cm each). Lungfish are raised on by-catches and fry of tilapia and catfish, grasshoppers, snails and food waste. After one year, lungfish about 70 cm are harvested with hooks. Only a few fish were recovered; the loss was attributed to either cannibalism or its burrowing habits. In areas prone to floods in Soroti, Pallisa and Kumi districts, farmers accidentally culture lungfish in ponds that are flooded. During the rainy season, mature lungfish make spawning migrations to shallow inshore areas and flooded wetlands (Greenwood 1958, 1986), with some ending up in aquaculture ponds, particularly those where the water supply is not screened properly. Most fish farmers blame the loss of stocked fish to predation and leakages caused by lungfish that enter ponds. Other farmers relate the turbidity of pond water to the presence of lungfish. Thus, lungfish are seen as a pest. Nevertheless, wild lungfish can be easily seined out when ponds are harvested and either consumed at home or sold in local markets. Farmers routinely harvest lungfish after completely draining their ponds while others successfully seine them out. Lungfish that burrow into pond bottoms can be extracted using hoes and spears. Where available, baits—preferably Clarias spp. and earthworms—are used to harvest lungfish from ponds. In Soroti and Kumi, some farmers use dangerous approaches to harvest lungfish, tying a tuft of grass around the leg or a wooden pole to detect the presence of lungfish inside the pond dyke. The sharp blade-like teeth and aggression make African lungfish dangerous to handle. Fish should be handled around the neck or pectoral region. Overall, 56 percent of the fish farmers in the survey were willing to invest in lungfish culture, if production technologies were available. They recognized the availability of lungfish markets, locally and regionally, that presented potential to increase their household income. Lungfish Marketing Per capita fish consumption in Uganda was 12 kg in the late 1990s but has gradually declined to 5.7 kg (UBOS 2001, 2002, 2011, DFR-MAAIF 2011). High prices of tilapia and Nile perch have forced many people to reduce fish consumption. Lungfish from the fishery are sold locally or exported regionally to western Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo or South Sudan. Lungfish is a delicacy among groups in northern, eastern and some parts of central and western Uganda (Kayiso 2009). Lungfish is most popular in eastern Uganda, especially among the Teso community. Lungfish is usually purchased fresh, but smoked or cured lungfish is also available in markets. Wholesale prices for fresh lungfish range between US$ 0.90 to 1.80/ kg while retail prices can exceed US$ 2.50 / kg depending on location. Price for cured products (smoked) ranged from US$ 3.00-4.00 /piece. By-catch of lungfish juveniles (< 15 cm) are marketed in clusters of 3-5 pieces for about US$ 1.00. Prices are lower in rural areas than populated town centers or cities. In this study, 55 percent of respondents regularly consume lungfish at home with a majority from Kumi, Soroti, Busia and Kampala districts. Women, constituting more than 70 percent of consumer respondents, eat lungfish with their families. Cultural influences that formerly deterred women from consuming lungfish (Bruton 1998) may have changed. As the demand for fish increases, people find alternatives to access fish; likewise changes in social norms occur (Ajzen and Fishbein 1980). FIGURE 3. Capture fisheries production of African lungfish in Kenya and Uganda (FAO 2010). FIGURE 4. Trends of fisheries production of main species in Uganda (FAO 2010).
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