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The status of fish stocks in a water body at any one time is a function of several factors affecting the quantity of fish in that water body. These include:a) Total number (abundance) and biomass (weight) present,b) Growth (size and age),c) Recruitment (the quantity offish entering the fishery) including reproduction,d) Mortality which is caused by fishing or natural causes.Other indirect factors of major importance to the status of the stocks include productionfactors (water quality and availability of natural food for fish), the life history parameters ofthe different species making up the stocks (e.g. sex ratios, condition of the fish, reproductivepotential (i.e. fecundity) etc). Changes in fish stocks do occur when any of the above listedfactors directly influence aspects of growth, reproduction and mortality and therefore,numbers and standing stock (biomass). Sensitisation Workshop on Statns of Fish Stocks of Lake Victoria 29th July 2004, Colline Hotel, Mukono

Annual fish harvested from production systems (lakes and rivers) in Uganda isabout 300,000 mt. Fish production from aquaculture contributes about 0.02% (i.e.less than 100mt) of total fish production. Fish is currently one of the two mostimportant agricultural export commodities from Uganda with factory-processedfish (mostly Nile perch) exported mainly to Europe, South East Asia and theMiddle East worth at least USD 100 m annually. Regional fish exports to Kenya,Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan, DR Congo and some parts of Central Africa are alsoimportant contributing about USD 20m annually. All recorded fish exports relyheavily (95%) on factory-processed Nile perch with the Nile tilapia increasinglyentering the export market chain. Regional fish exports are more diversified interms of species and include Nile tilapia, Nile perch, "mukene", Tiger fish and"Angara", the last two fished from Lake Albert.

Fish is currently one of the two most important agricultural export commodities from Uganda with factory-processed fish exported mainly to Europe, South East Asia and the Middle East worth at least USD 100 m annually. Regional exports are probably of similar significance. All recorded fish exports rely heavily (95%) on factory-processed Nile perch with the Nile tilapia increasingly entering the export market chain. Regional fish exports are more diversified in terms of species and include Nile tilapia, Nile perch, "mukene", Tiger fish and "Angara", the last two fished from Lake Albert. Regional fish destinations include Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan, DR Congo and some parts of Central Africa. Internal consumption relies on subsistence to semi-commercial fishes for a variety and species dominated by Nile tilapia