Gender Integration in the Management of the Lake Victoria Fisheries

Abstract

The riparian governments of Lake Victoria have adopted co-management approach in fisheries management. This paper discusses gender mainstreaming in fisheries management of Lake Victoria, user rights, successes and challenges of the process. This paper has used gender-disaggregated data from several studies carried out around Lake Victoria using quantitative and qualitative methods. Results revealed an increase in female-headed households in the fisher communities. Men earned an average of $17.8 per landing while females earned about $7.72 per day, signifying unequal distributions of benefits by gender related activities. There has been an increase in registration of both men and women in the BMU, but women were lowly positioned in committees. In conclusion, the representation of women in decision making has improved, but not significantly translated into increased benefits, access to and control of assets and resources. There is a need to achieve an equitable gender responsive fisheries management regime.

Key words: Lake Victoria, gender, user rights, resource access, fish marketing, incomes co-management