Assessment of Lake Liambezi gillnet fishery in the Zambezi region, Namibia

Abstract

Lake Liambezi in the Zambezi Region of Namibia, formerly known as the Caprivi Region, is shallow (< 6 meters deep) and characterised by cyclic episodes of filling and drying. When full the lake supports a highly productive fishery and when the lake is completely dry it is used for agriculture and grazing. In 2000 the lake filled, and between May 2011 and April 2012 catch landings were surveyed to obtain information for conservation and management recommendations for the fishery. An informal fishery has been established on the lake with more than 300 canoes and 120 fishermen using monofilament and multifilament gillnets. The annual average water temperature during the sampling period was 24.0 0C. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) was 15 kg/canoe/day and was significantly (P