Feasibility of hydropower reservoirs for fish cage Aquaculture: A strategy for fish farming in drought risk areas in Kenya

Year 2023, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 16 - 25, 25.10.2023

Jacob Abwao , Mary Opiyo , Domitila Kyule , Josyline Kendi , Dan Mungai , Tom Ojuok

https://doi.org/10.51756/marlife.1221254

Abstract

A significant portion of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands rural population in Kenya suffers from social challenges linked to hunger, starvation, and malnutrition. The existing hydropower dams in these areas can be leveraged upon for fish production through the adoption of cage culture. This study sought to assess the suitability and feasibility of these dams for cage culture as a strategy for socio-economic and nutritional empowerment of the rural communities. In this study, a survey was conducted including fish farmers, fishermen, and communities who use the dam waters for domestic and agricultural purposes. The main research approaches were semi-structured questionnaires for in-depth, one-on-one interviews with participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarize the data sets on socio-demographic indicators, such as age, economic status, education, and economic activities. The Majority of the respondents 49.6% cited fishing from the dam as the most important benefit accrued although the dams have been overfished and the harvests are dwindling from the observation. In the survey, 26.8% of the respondents identified water level fluctuation as the main challenge to cage establishment, followed by theft (25%) and wild animal menace (16.07%). Water quality analysis revealed both in situ parameters (Dissolved oxygen, temperature and pH) and nutrient concentrations as within levels acceptable for fish farming.

Keywords

Cages, ASAL, Productivity

Supporting Institution

Government of Kenya

Project Number

GoK seed Research funds

Balık kafesi su ürünleri yetiştiriciliği için hidroelektrik rezervuarların fizibilitesi: Kenya'daki kuraklık riski olan bölgelerde balık yetiştiriciliğine yönelik bir strateji

Abstract

Kenya'daki Kurak ve Yarı Kurak Toprakların kırsal nüfusunun önemli bir kısmı açlık, açlık ve yetersiz beslenmeyle bağlantılı sosyal zorluklarla karşı karşıyadır. Kafes kültürünün benimsenmesi yoluyla bu bölgelerdeki mevcut hidroelektrik barajlardan balık üretimi için yararlanılabilir. Bu çalışma, kırsal toplulukların sosyo-ekonomik ve beslenme açısından güçlendirilmesine yönelik bir strateji olarak bu barajların kafes kültürü için uygunluğunu ve fizibilitesini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamıştır. Bu çalışmada balık yetiştiricileri, balıkçılar ve baraj sularını evsel ve tarımsal amaçlı kullanan toplulukları kapsayan bir anket yapılmıştır. Ana araştırma yaklaşımları, katılımcılarla derinlemesine, birebir görüşmeler için yarı yapılandırılmış anketlerdi. Yaş, ekonomik durum, eğitim ve ekonomik faaliyetler gibi sosyo-demografik göstergelere ilişkin veri setlerini özetlemek için tanımlayıcı ve çıkarımsal istatistikler kullanıldı. Ankete katılanların çoğunluğu (%49,6), barajlarda aşırı avlanma olmasına ve gözlemlere göre hasatların azalmasına rağmen, elde edilen en önemli faydanın barajdan balık tutmak olduğunu belirtti. Ankette, yanıt verenlerin %26,8'i kafes kurulumundaki en büyük zorluğun su seviyesindeki dalgalanma olduğunu, bunu hırsızlık (%25) ve vahşi hayvan tehdidinin (%16,07) takip ettiğini belirtti. Su kalitesi analizi, hem yerinde parametrelerin (Çözünmüş oksijen, sıcaklık ve pH) hem de besin konsantrasyonlarının balık yetiştiriciliği için kabul edilebilir seviyelerde olduğunu ortaya çıkardı.

Keywords

Kafes kültürü, ASAL, Yemek üretimi, Sosyo-ekonomik etkiler

Project Number

GoK seed Research funds

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