Types of fish in Uganda
There are two major sources of
Fish that are the target of most commercial and subsistence exploitation include species like Nile perch (
Nile Tilapia (
Nile Perch
The Nile Perch (
Singida Tilapia
The Singida Tilapia (
Nile Tilapia
The Nile Tilapia ( Numerous introduced populations exist outside its natural range. The Nile Tilapia reaches up to 60 cm in length, and can exceed 5 kg.
Semutundu Catfish
The Semutundu Catfish (Bagrus docmak) is locally known as "Semutundu" and a species of the bagrid catfishes, i.e. the genus Bagrus.[6] In Uganda, it is widely distributed in the Rift Valley Lakes Edward, George, Albert, Victoria and the Nile system. It is grey-black above, creamy white below. It lives in both shallow and deep water. It feeds on insects, crustaceans, mollusks and fish. Takes any live or dead bait fished on or near the bottom.[7]
Silver Cyprinid
The
Marbled Lungfish
The
Mudfish
Mudfish are locally known as "Ensonzi". They are a kind of catfish common in East African swamps. Once caught, they are individually rolled up and several of them in a row are put on a stick and then smoke dried. They are mostly put in ground nut soup to add a flavor of fish.
Sprat
Sprat is locally known as "Enkejje" in the central region. It is fished near the shore. Several of them in a row are put on a stick, dried and sold in local markets. Sprat is usually fried and eaten in soups, sauces and stews but it's mostly prepared in groundnut or peanut sauce locally referred to as "Ebinyeebwa" in central Uganda.
Clarias Catfishes
Clarias Catfishes (
Elongate Tiger Fish
The Elongate Tiger Fish (Hydrocynus forskahlii), locally known as Ngassa, is found in the Nile and Lake Albert. It is an open water predator often found near the surface and in fast flowing water. It forms shoals and feeds on fishes, preferring long-bodied fish, as they are easier to swallow. It also takes insects, grasshoppers and snails. Cannibalistic. Silver with long and slender profile. Tail fin forked with bright red color, rest of fins uniformly grey. Regularly takes spinners retrieved at high speed across fast-flowing water. It is used by fishermen as live bait for Nile Perch.[7]
African Tiger Fish
The African Tiger Fish (Hydrocynus vittatus) is locally known as Wagassa. It grows up to 105 cm long and 28 kg in weight. It has long gill rakers. The tips of adipose and dorsal fins black. The forked edge of its tail fin is black. It prefers warm, well-oxygenated water in larger rivers and lakes. All but the largest fish form roving schools of like-sized fish; aptly described as fierce and voracious. It feeds on whatever prey is most abundant.[7]
Niger Barb
The Niger Barb (
Lake Victoria Squeaker
The Lake Victoria Squeaker (
Pebbly Fish or Silversides
The Pebbly Fish or Silversides (Alestes baremoze) is locally known as Angara. It grows up to 43 cm in length, and 500 g in weight. It is silver coloured with blue-grey black and white belly, greyish fins with orange colours on the lower lobe of the tail fin. It is caught withspinners, spoons and fly. It also takes float fished dough and termites.[7]
Electric Catfish
The Electric Catfish (Malapterurus electricus) occurs in the Nile (exclusive of Lake Victoria). It grows up to 1 metre in length and 20 kg in weight, and lives in rocky waters or roots and favours sluggish or standing water. It is most active at night, feeding mainly on fish stunned by electric shocks. The electric organ, capable of discharging 300–400 volts, is derived from pectoral muscle and surrounds almost the entire body. It is used both for prey capture and defense. Forms pairs and breeds in excavated cavities or holes.[7]
See also
- Fishing in Uganda
References
- ^ "2013 STATISTICAL ABSTRACT" ubos.org.Retrieved on October 29, 2014.
- ^ "Review of Fish Marketing in Uganda" fao.org.Retrieved on October 30, 2014.
- ^ "List of Freshwater Fishes for Uganda" fish.mongabay.com.Retrieved on October 29, 2014.
- ^ a b c "FISHERY RESOURCE BASE FOR THE UGANDA SECTOR OF LAKE VICTORIA" fao.org. Retrieved December 12, 2014
- . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Semutundu is the snake-like fish that many find a delicacy" monitor.co.ug. Retrieved November 12, 2014
- ^ a b c d e f g "Fish to be caught" fishingmurchison.com.Retrieved December 12, 2014
- ^ "Uganda's Mukene Harvest the Lowest in East Africa" ugandaradionetwork.com. Retrieved November 14, 2014