Fish Biol. Traditional hook and line and basket fishers are the major groups in the delta (Mosepele, 2001; Mosepele et al., 2003). Okavango report series No. Development potential and constraints of a fishing industry in the Okavango Delta, in Proceedings of the symposium on the Okavango Delta and its future utilization. Because of the complex and dynamic nature of the fishery (approximately 71 species and high seasonal variability, Mosepele, 2019), using conventional single-species fish stock assessment, based on steady state assumptions, is considered only partly adequate for a comprehensive and accommodating evaluation of the fishery. River fisheries. It is a large endorheic (no outlet) system that spans three countries (Angola, Namibia, and Botswana) (Ashton and Neal, 2003; McCarthy et al., 2003). Ecohydrol. fish consumption, employment creation, various kinds of biological data on species exploited, gear use and efficiencies, etc.) Welcomme, R. L. (1985). Model. Environ. Catch statistics are a major challenge in most fisheries around the world (FAO, 2020) particularly in inland fisheries (Welcomme, 2011) and Botswana is not an exception. The comparative biodiversity of seven globally important wetlands: A synthesis. The contribution of aerosol and water borne nutrients to the functioning of the Okavango Delta ecosystem, Botswana. Fenberg, P. B., and Roy, K. (2008). (PDF) Spatial variability in fish species assemblage and community On the dynamics of exploited fish populations. doi:10.1577/1548-8659(1974)103<281:gototk>2.0.co;2. The alternating wetting and drying processes in the delta facilitate optimum conditions for enhanced primary production in the system (Ramberg et al., 2006b). The deltas hydrology is dynamic (i.e. doi:10.1007/s10040-009-0436-0, Milzow, C., Burg, V., and Kinzelbach, W. (2010). Livelihoods and biodiversity in the Okavango delta, Botswana. There are about 70 fish species in the Okavango Delta. NORFICO (1986) defined fishers as either occasional, seasonal or professional. At inter-annual scale, growth of floodplain fish in Kafue, Zambia, differed significantly among years according to flooding and temperature (Dudley, 1974). Growing islands and sinking solutes: Processes maintaining the endorheic Okavango delta as a freshwater system. Hydrobiology 8 (2-4), 169182. World prospects for floodplain fisheries. Drive fishing is a traditional and efficient method for exploiting O. andersonii, O. macrochir and C. rendalli (Mosepele et al., 2007; Mosepele, 2019). Editors D. L. Kgathi, B. N. Ngwenya, and M. B. K. Darkoh (USA: Nova Science Publishers), 7598. (2013). Hydrol. According to Mosepele et al. doi:10.1002/1099-1085(200011/12)14:16/17<2861::aid-hyp124>3.0.co;2-f, Trippel, E. A. 56, 758773. . These dynamic processes illustrate the variability of floodplain fish dynamics and the need for adaptive approaches in both exploitation and conservation. Biodiversity & Ecology. (2018) observed that the small-scale commercial fishery also contributes to fish regional trade, which may contribute to a reduction of Botswanas food import bill. The tropical African mercury anomaly: Lower than expected mercury concentrations in fish and human hair. Mosepele, K., Mosepele, B., Bokhutlo, T., and Amutenya, K. (2011). (2006b). Characterization and monitoring of the Okavango delta artisanal fishery, in Environmental monitoring of tropical and subtropical wetlands. Sci. Cairo: WorldFish Center. The Okavango Delta is not a uniform system where fish of all species are distributed and breeding evenly all over it. (Gaborone, Botswana: Ministry of Agriculture). (2010). Floodplain fish communities are structured along a hydrology-water chemistry gradient at both seasonal and annual scales (Zeug et al., 2005; Zeug and Winemiller, 2007; Mosepele et al., 2017). Environmental variability and the fishery dynamics of the Okavango delta, Botswana: The case of subsistence fishing. (2019). A research agenda for small-scale fisheries. Mmopelwa, G., Raletsatsi, S., and Mosepele, K. (2005). The Okavango Delta, Botswana, is a major wetland surrounded by the Kalahari Desert. Why It Matters | National Geographic Society Mosepele, K. (2000). Flood variation and soil nutrient content in floodplain vegetation communities in the Okavango Delta. in Africa climate change 2007: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Species diversity of the Okavango Delta, Botswana See more current weather. doi:10.2307/40980412, Zeug, S. C., and Winemiller, K. O. Once a Nembwe has been landed, the opportunity to attempt an Okavango Grand Slam is available Accommodations: This is an exclusive "tented" lodge located in the Shakawe region in the Western Pan Handle of the Okavango Delta, on the main Okavango channel. Variation in assemblages of small fishes and micro-crustaceans after inundation of rarely flooded wetlands of the lower Okavango delta, Botswana. Essential mineral content of common fish species in Chanoga, Okavango doi:10.1046/j.1365-2400.2000.007004355.x, Clark, B. M. (2006). (Colombo, Sri Lanka: CGIAR). Barbus radiatus, Aplocheilichthys johnstoni, etc. Its teeming wildlife includes lions, cheetahs, buffalo, wildebeests, hippopotamuses, zebras, wild dogs, crocodiles, and other species. Subsequently, anecdotal evidence indicates that peoples livelihoods were curtailed through the implementation of these management approaches in the delta (Daily Maverick, 2017). Fish. Sci. ICES J. Mar. Major dilemmas in southern african freshwater fisheries, 2: Case studies. According to Mosepele (2019), fishery yield is driven by the deltas flood regime at a 2-year time lag. C gariepinus) while good/high flood years are dominated by opportunistic, highly fecund, total spawning species (i.e. Except for a few highly commercialized fisheries in freshwater systems like the Amazon and Mekong (Welcomme et al., 2014), most tropical floodplain fisheries are a major source of localized food and nutrition and mostly serving as subsistence for riparian households (Junk, 2002; Mosepele et al., 2006; Welcomme, 2011). Boko, M., Niang, I., Nyong, A., Vogel, C., Githeko, A., Medany, M., et al. Common species include Tilapia, Bass and Bream, although many anglers go after the ferocious river-bred Tiger Fish, found in some lagoons and where the Okavango River feeds into the Delta. In May 2023, Frontiers adopted a new reporting platform to be Counter 5 compliant, in line with industry standards. Booth, A. J., and Merron, G. S. (1996). Technical Paper 426/2. Developing countries remain overwhelmed by nutritional problems caused mainly by poverty, natural disasters and political instabilities. Lessons from the Okavango delta, Botswana. They are characterized by multi-species assemblages, of different sizes exploited by diverse fishing gears and methods (van Zwieten et al., 2003; Welcomme, 2011; Kolding and van Zwieten 2014; Mosepele, 2019). B 365 (1554), 28812896. FAO (2020). J. doi:10.1016/j.pce.2003.09.002. Petry, A. C., Agostinho, A. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher. Phil. Artisanal fishing and food security in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, in Global and local resources in achieving sustainable development. The only fish stock assessment of the delta so far (Mosepele and Kolding, 2003), showed that i) the fish stocks were generally under-exploited and ii) that the fish community was being rationally exploited by using several different fishing gears and methods to harvest the deltas diverse species assemblage (Mosepele, 2019, Figure 5). Large flood years result in extensive flooded areas which appear to particularly facilitate fish breeding, growth and survival and ultimately increased fish production (Lowe-McConnell, 1987; de Graff, 2003). J. Hydrology 335, 124132. Soc., 7 (4), 525526. In the Okavango Delta the inundated areas are dominated by juvenile cichlids (e.g. The principle of Balanced Harvest (BH) has been strongly criticized by Froese et al. Conversely, a rapid rise and fall in the hydrograph may offset the balanced time lag between primary production and fish production (Tockner et al., 2000), which may result in less successful fish production. Montcho, S. A., Chikou, A., Laly, P. A., and Linsenmair, K. E. (2011). A synopsis of presentations and discussions on the fish and fishery in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. London. Gaborone, Botswana: Centre for Applied Research. Acta Ichthyol. Paris, Paris, France 14 day weather forecast - timeanddate.com Flooding dynamics in the delta, coupled with the out-of-phase rainfall season, ensure that fresh primary vegetation is available much longer in the Delta for herbivore mammals, which increases the lands carrying capacity (Junk et al., 2006). The Okavango Delta is one of the largest freshwater wetlands in southern Africa and is home to over 1,000 species of plants, more than 480 species of birds, 130 species of mammals, and numerous species of reptiles and fish. Mgmt. doi:10.1002/rra.904. Rome: FAO. The boom of primary producers and zooplankton initiated by the seasonal flooding, serves as abundant food sources for the juvenile fish and small fishes (Siziba et al., 2013) and also some adult fish (Mosepele et al., 2012). Mosepele, K. (2019). These micro-crustacea, which are key fish food (Siziba et al., 2013), then inoculate new flood waters in the seasonal floodplains (Siziba et al., 2012). Lowe-McConnell, R. H. (1982). Aquat. Spatial and temporal variations in densities of small fishes across different temporary floodplain types of the lower Okavango Delta, Botswana. An overview of global catch statistics for inland fish. Environ. Mosepele, K., and Kolding, J. J. Ecol. Paris 14 Day Extended Forecast. 57, 659668. Earth Syst. Turpie et al. Influence of the annual flood-pulse on catch per unit effort, condition and reproduction of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1882) in the upper Okavango Delta, Botswana. Short-term effects of fishing on life history traits of fishes. FIGURE 5. (2011). 409 (10), 19671975. Challenge program on water and food - aquatic ecosystems and fisheries review series 1. It also allows impoverished households (especially those headed by women), to have access to high quality protein and nutrients, which again ensures that young children from these fishing households have a relatively good nutritional status (Nnyepi et al., 2007; Longley et al., 2014; Kolding et al., 2019). The Role of fish in the first 1,000 days in Zambia. J. Spatial and temporal variability in fishery and fish community structure in the Okavango delta, Botswana: Implications towards fisheries management. Factors affecting growth rates of young tropical floodplain fishes: Seasonality and density-dependence. Proper understanding of floodplains is essential towards their conservation aligned with the socio-economic development of riparian communities. Earth Parts A/B/C 33 (8-13), 687694. Earth 31, 944951. S. Afr. However, a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the hydrological regime and the dynamics of the fishery, the productivity, and the trophic interrelationships remains limited and dispersed. Climatic and anthropogenic effects on fish diversity and fish yields in the Central Delta of the Niger River. However, there is not enough knowledge to accurately predict the scale, significance and resilience of ecosystem responses within the Delta to the anticipated decreased flows (Ashton and Neal, 2003). cultural values and traditional knowledge) into their management objectives. doi:10.1007/s11273-005-1115-0, La, R. (1995). Fishes 37, 2546. Surface water quality analysis. Environ. Generally, upper delta lagoons have higher fish species richness than lower Delta lagoons. (2020). During the low flood season, intra-specific competition for food (Mosepele et al., 2012) decreases growth rates (Dudley, 1974; Martin et al., 2011). 381, 89100. This is also coupled with an increase in Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) in the seasonal floodplains (Mladenov, et al., 2005), due to high organic matter loading (Mladenov, et al., 2007). Geophys. Age at maturity as a stress indicator in fisheries. Fish assemblages of tropical floodplain lagoons: Exploring the role of connectivity in a dry year. Sorted by ascending maximum size as shown in Figure 3. Lakes and Reservoirs 16 (1), 1522. After the feeding and growth of the juveniles on the floodplains during high water, a dominant feature is increased piscivory at receding water levels by fish predators when all the young fish are forced back into the main channels (Bayley, 1988; Mosepele et al., 2012). Hence, selective harvesting with large mesh sizes would tend to select the males from the populations of these three species resulting in unbalanced sex ratios. Spatial variations of microinvertebrates across different microhabitats of temporary floodplains of lower Okavango Delta, Botswana. J. Sci. Gear restrictions and mesh regulations are fixed constant attributes and remain some of the easiest and cheapest regulations to implement in fisheries management regimes (Misund et al., 2002), and these have been widely implemented in floodplain fisheries. Learn when is the best time to see them! King, A. J., Humphries, P., and Lake, P. S. (2003). A comprehensive guide to the freshwater fishes of the Okavango Delta and Chobe River, this book offers background information on the diverse aquatic habitats of the region and on fish feeding, breeding and survival strategies. The seasonally inundated floodplains in the delta have higher concentrations of DOC, K, SiO2, Mg, HCO3, Na and NO3 than permanently flooded areas (Mackay et al., 2011). doi:10.1111/j.1440-1770.2011.00462.x, Martin, S. M., Lorenzen, K., Arthur, R. I., Kaisone, P., and Souvannalangsy, K. (2011). doi:10.1046/j.1365-2400.2003.00341.x, de Oliveira, A. G., Lopes, T. M., Angulo-Valencia, M. A., Dias, R. M., Suzuki, H. I., Costa, I. C. B., et al. Wilson, B. H. (1973). Daily Maverick (2017). Okavango Delta fishery frame survey. 8 (1), 4358. Restricting this gear will result in decreased catches of these small sized underutilized species, which are primarily harvested by women for subsistence household consumption. However, prohibiting drive fishing (which would only legalise stationary gill net setting) will skew gill net fishing mortality towards O. andersonii (Mosepele, 2000; Mosepele, 2019), while Coptodon rendalli, well known for escaping stationary gillnets (Mosepele, 2000; Kolding et al., 2003; Mosepele et al., 2007), will remain relatively unexploited. Ecological and evolutionary consequences of size-selective harvesting: How much do we know? Understanding the dynamics of these systems is important for developing adaptive fisheries management paradigms that will facilitate access and sustainability to this cheap but high-quality food and nutrition source. J. The density of mammals in the Okavango Delta is 48 times higher than expected from its standing nutrient status, primarily because of its high efficiency in primary productivity from recycling nutrients (Ramberg et al., 2006b). Turpie, J., Barnes, J., Arntzen, J., Nherera, B., Lange, G-M., and Buzwani, B. Using Population Parameters to Separate Fish Stocks in the Okavango Botswana Notes Rec. A blanket prohibition of some fishing methods and gears, without informed justification may not only cause ecosystem imbalances, but may also reduce the food security aspect and socio-economic value of the fishery to riparian communities. Weather Today Weather Hourly 14 Day Forecast Yesterday/Past Weather Climate (Averages) Currently: 64 F. Therefore, there is a lack of accurate catch statistics from the Okavango Delta, and most of the initial records are best estimates (Mosepele, 2003). The flood pulse concept in river-floodplain systems, p 110-127, in Proceedings of the international large river symposium. Moreover, small fish are usually eaten whole, with heads, bones, skin and viscera, and represent a concentrated source of multiple essential nutrients compared to only eating the flesh of larger species (Longley et al., 2014). Botswana: Botswana Government Printing and Publishing Services Gaborone. The fundamental philosophy underpinning this review is that floodplains are dynamic, interconnected aquatic-terrestrial systems driven by seasonal flooding at variable intra and inter-annual scales and that management needs to be equally dynamic, flexible, and adaptive. KM: Conceptualization of the paper and did all the major work on the paper. (2014). Cladocerans, copepods and ostracods are the three major groups whose emergence from floodplain sediments is initiated by inundation. Fishes 28, 215235. doi:10.1525/bio.2009.59.1.9. Conserv. Ecological studies in tropical fish communities. Fish. (2009). Editor A. Ahmed (Australia: Griffith University), 292302. 291, Merron, G. S., Holden, K. K., and Bruton, M. N. (1990). Fisheries governance, management, and marginalization in developing countries: Insights from Botswana. Okavango Wilderness Project | National Geographic Society Valuing small fish from mosquito nets: A comment on jones & unsworth. Fox, P. J. The species entries describe each fish in detail, with key ID points and information on habits and occurrence. Gaborone, Botswana): Bay Publishing. Editors T. Tvedt, and T. Oestigaard (London: I.B. FIGURE 4. Like the habitat, the fisheries are dynamic, fluctuating, and constantly changing and are never in stable equilibrium and the environmental drivers are in general much more important in regulating productivity than the fishing effort (Jul-Larsen et al., 2003, Kolding and van Zwieten 2006; Kolding and van Zwieten 2012). Like the mosaic pattern of the delta itself, there are spatial and temporal variations in water chemistry. Zooplankton populations are then dominated by Daphnia laevis during the second month of flooding, while Chydorus spp. Total annual fish yield/estimates from the Okavango Delta fishery based on various sources where data with an * are estimates from the Fisheries Division while data with1 are from various sources. Lakes. Food losses and waste in the context of sustainable food systems in A report by the high level panel of experts on food security and nutrition of the committee on world food security (Rome: FAO). This is in accordance with Mmopelwa et al. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies. Most fishing gears are selective regarding species, sizes and habitats fished (Kolding and van Zwieten, 2014, Figure 3 and Table 2) but regulating selectivity on certain sizes or species will invariably change the natural composition of the various components in the ecosystem (Garcia et al., 2012). List of 63 fish species caught in the Okavango fishery with mean size, maximum size, and relative abundance in the catch (%). The seasonal flood pulse in the Okavango Delta, driving the dry and wet floodplain phases, is the main contributor towards enhanced ecosystem production in an otherwise oligotrophic and semi-arid environment. Spatial and temporal variations of microinvertebrates across temporary floodplains of the lower Okavango Delta, Botswana. Gaborone, Botswana: IUCN. doi:10.1006/jmsc.1997.0324, SADC (2016). Investing in water for food, ecosystems and livelihoods. Sci. doi:10.1080/08039410.2011.577798. 32, L23713. Similarly, Merron and Bruton (1988) observed that differences in hydrology between upper and lower delta habitats account for the phenotypic differences in cichlids between these habitats. Impacts of fishing by dewatering on fish assemblages of tropical floodplain wetlands: A matter of frequency and context. Fisheries Management and Ecology 7, 355374. These alternating micro-habitats ensure continuous succession in plant communities and enhanced plant biomass production (much of which is grazed by large herbivores), thereby contributing to nutrient recycling in the system. Botswana Notes Rec. Mweru-Luapula is an open exit fishery where a highly dynamic population of fishermen makes use of a resilient resource base, in Management, Co-management or No management? However, short lived hardy species in floodplain systems can adjust quickly to extreme hydrological events (Junk et al., 1989; Junk, 2002). doi:10.1098/rstb.2010.0168. More correctly an alluvial fan, the delta covers between 6 and 15 000 square kilometres of Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana and owes its existence to the Okavango (Kavango) River which flows from the Angolan highlands, across Namibia's Caprivi Strip and into the harsh Kalahari Desert. Res. (2003). Benthol. Hydrobiological studies of the Okavango delta and the kwando/linyanti/chobe river, Botswana. 27, 151226. doi:10.1139/F08-059, Kolding, J., Jacobsen, N. S., Andersen, K. H., and van Zwieten, P. A. M. (2015b). The alternative assumption would be that effort is controlled by the current production (Kolding and van Zwieten 2011; Kolding and van Zwieten 2014), and therefore largely self-regulated as in natural predator-prey relationships. Sci. Studies from other areas have shown that poor flood years are dominated by opportunistic fish species (La, 1995; Petry et al., 2003), which have fast growth rates and high fecundities. Mosepele, K. (2008). 2004/21 and FIPL/C 10009 (En). Soc. Oreochromis andersonii, Tilapia sparrmanii and Coptodon rendalli), catfish (Clarias gariepinus), and cyprinids (e.g. 10:854835. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.854835. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 426/2. Fish. Editors A. R. Turton, P. J. Ashton, and T. E. Cloete (Geneva: Green Cross International), 3163. 68, 310337. Floodplains are unstable, seasonally fluctuating ecosystems characterized by strong intra and inter annual variability, where the flood pulse is a key driver of practically all processes (Junk et al., 1989; Schongart and Junk, 2007). Gear signatures in terms of species and size selectivity of the seven most frequently encountered fishing methods in the Okavango Delta. Available at: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-10-06-botswana-government-fishing-ban-cuts-lifeline-to-impoverished-villagers/(Accessed May 6, 2022). Therefore, in order to maintain the natural structure and composition of fish communities it has been suggested to exploit populations in proportion to their natural productivity, the so-called Balanced harvest concept (Garcia et al., 2012; Law et al., 2012; Zhou et al., 2019). 10, 241247. Map of the Okavango River basin in southern Africa, with the three countries sharing the drainage basin. Milzow, C., Kgotlhang, L., Gottwein, P. B., Meier, P., and Kinzelbach, W. (2009). doi:10.1007/s00027-006-0857-y, Ramberg, L., and Wolski, P. (2008). Godinho, A. L., Lamas, I. R., and Godinho, H. P. (2010). Developing countries remain overwhelmed by nutritional problems caused mainly by poverty, natural disasters and political instabilities. Stud. doi:10.1007/s00027-006-0856-z. Therefore, we advocate for balanced fishing that allows the utilisation of diverse fishing gears and methods to exploit the deltas fish community. Okavango. The nutrients analyzed were moisture, ash, proteins, Na, K, Ca, Mg, P and Zn. Inland capture fisheries. Generally, most of the fish catch goes towards livelihood support (Arntzen, 2005) which makes fish not only a valuable safety-net (Mendelson et al., 2010) but also a resource (Mosepele, 2001). FIGURE 3. Kolding, J., van Zwieten, P. A. M., and Mosepele, K. (2016). doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.1998.96160.x, Schongart, J., and Junk, W. J. Floodplain fisheries are thus also a major source of traditional ecological knowledge (Mosepele, 2008) and cultural heritage (Junk, 2002). Water balance and infiltration in a seasonal floodplain in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. In D. L. Kgathi, E. N. Mosimanyana, J. E. Mbaiwa, and W. R. L. Masamba (Eds) Ecosystem services and human well-being at lake ngami, Botswana: Implications for sustainability (New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc). List of 63 fish species caught in the Okavango fishery and relative abundance (%) in each of the common gear types. The fan-shaped Delta is fed by the huge Okavango River. Fishes of the Okavango Delta & Chobe River - Google Books Regular flooding and drying episodes in the delta increase plant diversity (Tsheboeng et al., 2014), in accordance with Hustons (1979) intermediate disturbance hypothesis. It is located in a dry sub-tropical area with a mean annual rainfall of 475mm and experiences large annual variations in temperature where October is the hottest month while July is the coldest (Milzow et al., 2009). Mol. Theme 3 of CPWF. Sci. The serial discontinuity concept: Extending the model to floodplain rivers. Tilapias in fish communities, in The biology and culture of tilapias, ICLARM conference proceedings 7. Okavango Delta Dynamics of the feeding ecology of selected fish species from the Okavango River delta, Botswana. Cracks in the Kalahari's Emerald: Threats to the Okavango Delta For example, males of O. andersonii, O. macrochir and C. rendalli (these are the three most important commercial fish species in the Okavango Delta), grow larger than females (Dudley, 1974). Mosepele, K. (2009). Freshwater small pelagic fish and fisheries in major African lakes and reservoirs in relation to food security and nutrition. Maun, Botswana: EPSMO-OKACOM. When the new floods arrive, they carry allotropic nutrients from upstream runoff, which facilitate the primary production processes in the delta (Krah et al., 2006). Regional review: The hydrology of the Okavango delta, Botswanaprocesses, data and modelling. doi:10.1002/rrr.3450100211, Welcomme, R. L. (2011). Riding on the wave of seasonal flooding are strong fluctuations in zooplankton biomass over the flooding season in the seasonal floodplains (Hberg et al., 2002). The key approach to regulate the how question is to control gear selectivity (see next section), while effort on the other hand is sometimes regulated to maintain the aggregate fishing effort to obtain a maximum sustainable yield (MSY). Diversified fishing techniques, as traditionally practiced in the Okavango Delta and many other African inland fisheries (Kolding and van Zwieten, 2014), ensure that most species across various sizes and habitats-in the fish community are exploited.

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