| dc.description.abstract | Pollution is the biggest killer in developing countries with contaminated air, water, and soil
claiming millions of lives every year. However, its impact on fish and fisheries resources in
Uganda has not been ascertained. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of
pollutants on the fisheries resources at Kirinya and Wanyange wetlands specifically through; a)
determining the specific physico-chemical parameters; b) ascertain fish species composition and
diversity; c) determining the heavy metal pollutants with in-situ water quality; and d) evaluating
heavy metal pollutants in fish. Field visits for field tests were done for sample collection and by
acid digestion and spectra photo metric analysis results were obtained. High significant
differences (P>0.001) were observed in the total depth, Secchi depth, dissolved oxygen, across
sections of the wetlands (inshore, midshore, and offshore), whereas high significant differences
(P>0.01) were observed in the temperature, electrical conductivity. There were very high
significant differences (P>0.001) in species composition across the wetlands, with Kirinya
having the highest number of species of 195 with a percentage composition of 42% of
Oreochromis spp. Cichlidae was the most abundant Family composed of 57.1 % of the species
and these were predetermined by Shannon index and Margalef index. Heavy metals such as Pb,
Zn, and Mn had concentration levels that exceeded the limits of WHO and UNBS standards in
both first and second sampling. Heavy metal (Pb, Cu and Mn) concentrations were detected in
fish with high significant differences (P>0.001) among the fish species (L.n, O.n and C.g) and
also in organs i.e. Muscle, Liver and Gills. Conclusively, the study found that Kirinya was more
polluted than Wanyange with limits above the WHO and UNBS Standard, species were more
abundant at Kirinya and that Kirinya waters were shallow compared to Wanyange. Finally, the
study recommends that; there should be regular monitoring for changes in physico-chemical
parameters for easy identification of causes to these changes and to devise means of proper
management of these resources to reduce negative impacts on the ecosystem. Management
strategies for wetlands should be put in place as they act as breeding areas and refugia from
predatory fish. Pollution from agricultural runoff, industrial runoff, domestic waste, municipal
waste water and land use should be minimized and monitored, waste water should be treated
before disposal. Lastly, Collective multidisciplinary measures should be taken to control
pollution from industrial waste as these are the major sources of heavy metals. | en_US |
