A comparison of bottom trawl catch rates in the Kenya waters of Lake Victoria

A comparison of mean trawl catch rates (kg/h) from 128 collections in 1969 and 1970 and 63 collections in the fourth quarter of 1976 showed the following changes.

• (1) 

  A reduction in mean total catch rates at all seven depth intervals from 1970–1976.
• (2) 

  Reductions of 6.8, 6.1, 3.9, 6.2, 1.5, 2.9 and 5.9 times from shallow to deepest 10m depths respectively.
• (3) 

  No Tilapiu esculenfu were collected in 1976.

The trend that emerges shows a marked reduction in mean total trawl catch rates in the Kenya waters of Lake Victoria which should sound a note of caution for proponents of a mechanized fishing industry.