An interdisciplinary evaluation of the status and health of African lake fisheries using a rapid appraisal technique

Data from biological, economic, sociological, and technological attribute lists for 32 African lake fisheries were analysed with multivariate statistics. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) was used to create two-dimensional graphic ordinations of the fisheries for each of these four attributes lists. An overall MDS ordination was also generated, based on the fisheries' scores in the four ordinations. Groupings in each MDS ordination were achieved through cluster analysis. Multiple correlations was used to help determine the attributes which were most important in creating the MDS ordinations. This work showed that relatively fast and simple assessments of the status of African lake and other fisheries can be achieved. The technique also provided insight to help resolve the confounding information often associated with fisheries assessment. Diagnostic information may also be a product of such investigations as this research identified African lake fisheries at risk of declining standards. Indeed, many of the fisheries studied demonstrated similar interdisciplinary symptoms of fisheries decline as other small-scale tropical fisheries.