Light-based small pelagic species fishing in Lake Albert: Divergent perceptions, conflicts, and implications for multispecies fishery management

Introduced around the turn of the 21st century, light-based fishing targeting small pelagic species (SPS) like Engraulicypris bredoi and Brycinus nurse (belonging to orders Cypriniformes and Characiformes, respectively, and known locally as muziri and rogoogi) has markedly transformed Lake Albert’s artisanal fishery. SPS now constitute an estimated 60–70 % of the lake’s annual catch, signalling a shift from the previously dominant large-bodied demersal species that defined the fishery until the 1990s. While this expansion reflects growing significance of SPS in contemporary fisheries, it has generated divergent perceptions and conflicts among stakeholders. These tensions are exacerbated by the lack of empirical evidence on the ecosystem-wide effects of light-based fishing, particularly its impacts on stocks of large-bodied species. This study, conducted across three landing sites (Dei, Kaiso, and Ntoroko) spatially spread along the Lake Albert shoreline, employed qualitative methods, including structured questionnaires and interviews, to investigate stakeholder perceptions of light-based fishing. Fishers targeting large-bodied species reported concerns over increased bycatch, gear damage, habitat degradation, and spatial competition. In contrast, stakeholders in the SPS sector emphasized the socio-economic benefits of the light fishery, particularly employment and income opportunities for youth and women along the entire value chain, from fishing to processing and trade. The contrasting views underscore the complexity of managing a rapidly evolving multispecies fishery. The findings highlight the urgent need for ecosystem-based assessments of light-based fishing impacts to inform science-based management strategies that can promote the sustainable growth of the SPS fishery while fostering coexistence and equity among diverse fisher groups.