CAPTURE FISHERIES IN UGANDA

Why Bujagali Hydro-power Project and Ecological Monitoring?

POLICY BRIEF NO.3 OF 2012

A section of the Bujagali power hou e under construction (above) and after construction (below).

Bnjag'aliE. ERG YI PO"" For Prosprri~'

National Fisheries Resources Research Institute

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Copyright {!: alional Fisherie Re 0 lrces Research In titute ( aFIRRf)This publicati n may be reproduced in whole r in part and in any form for educationalor non-pr fit purposes without special pennissi n from the c pyright holder, pro idedacknowledgement of th source is made. 0 use of this publication may be made forresale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without the pri r pennission inwriting from the Director, ational Fisheries Resources Re earch Institute. Any enquiriescan also be addressed to the same at the following addr

alional Fisheries Resources R search InstituteP.O. Box 343. Jinja, gandaTel: 256-434-120484/121369FelX: 256-434-120192.mail: directorfiri.go.ug:firi@infocom.co.ug;firicv.nri.go.ugURL: www.firi.go.ug

r bibliographic purpose, thi d cum nl h uld be cited as: Na IRRI,2 12. CaptureFisheries in Uganda; Policy BriefNo.3 of20 f 2; Why Bujagali HvdropolI'er Project andEcological Monitoring? ational Fi heries Resources Research Institute, Jinja. ganda.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS (iii)

PREFACE (iv)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. (vi)

INTRODUCTION , 1

APPROACH TO THE ASSIGNMENTIMETHODOLOGY .4

RESULTS 6

CONCLUSIONS 10

RECOMMENDATIONS 11

BIBLIOGRAPHy , ".12

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. 13

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ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONY

AES Applied Energy Servic(

AESNP Applied Energy Servic(

BEL Bujagali Energy Limite

BHPP Bujagali Hydropower P

EIA Environmental Impact}

EIS Environmental Impact ~

FIRRI Fisheries Resources Re~

NEMA National Environmental

NaFIRRI National Fisheries Reso

SOPs Standard Operating Prol

NARO National Agricultural Rl

...

ABBREVIATIO S AND AeRO VMS

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(MS (iii)

......................................................... (iv)

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TIMETHOD LOGY .4

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......................................................... [a

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AES

AESNP

BEL

BHPP

tA.

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FIRRI

EMA

NaFIRRI

SOPs

NARO

Appli d Energy Services

Applied Energy Services Nile Power

Bujagali Energy Limited

Bujagali Hydropower Project

Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Stat ment

Fisheries Resources Research In titute

ational Environmental Management Authority

National Fisheries Resources Research Institute

Standard Operating Procedures

National Agricultural Research Organization

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PREFACE

The mandate of the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute(NaFIRR[) is to undertake basic and applied research of strategicand national importance in Aquaculture, Capture fisheries, the waterenvironment, socio-economics and marketing, In romlation CommunicationManagement and any emerging issues rdated to the fisheries. As a result,

aFIRRI recognises the significance of '>oclo-economic developments inthe water sector and works closely \\ ith '>takeholders to provide the requiredprofessional knowledge to gutde the developments that could impact theInstitute's Mandate areas.

With respect to Capture Fisheries, there are fisheries-dependent andwater-related activities that lead to positive and negative impacts on theproductivity of the diverse watel bodies in Uganda. Some of the waterbodies arc transboundary as are the Impacts. Through the various diSCIpline"ranging from fish biology and ecology, primary and secondary productivity(liminology), aquatic ecology, biodivcrsity studies, ,",oeio-economics andaquaculture disciplines to information disseminatIon tools, NaFIR.RI relicson intemationally provcn Standard Operating Procedures that guaranteerehabilitv of the information generated.

The Upper Victoria Nile is that segment ofthe RIver Nile that connects LakeVictoria to Lake Kyoga. This part of the river is inhabited by many specieof fish that are common to the tvvo lake systems including the introduced

ile perch and the tilapias in addition to some haplochrominc species thatmay be found only in this stretch The river supports fisheries-dependentlivelihoods in those sections that arc fishable as well as a tourist industrybased on rafting and sight-seeing. There arc two developed hydropowerschemes upstream of the BHPP. This implies that whatever longitudinaldistribution of fishes between Lake Victoria and Upper Victoria Nilethat existed, this pattern was cut otT 111 1954 when the Owen Falls Dam(Nalubale) was commissioned.

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Hydro-power provision is a key devleconomic growth of the country. Hprojects incorporate mitigation m~

impacts the National Environmentirecognises NaFIRRl as the Lead Pcountry. Therefore, from 2000 todevelopers, NaFIRRl carried out a bNile aquatic ecosystem that was idenlHydropower Project (BHPP). Thisduring the construction phase from 2(

The BHPP has been commissioned ~

The BHPP is a barrier that harnessesBujagali falls. This has created a resketch of the river with widespread npossible impacts on riverine fishes inthe damming of this section, NaFIRFfishes occupying the rapids and somefound further down stream. The positi·the BHPP have frequently been discu

This policy briefsheds light on how th€the development of the BHPP and whaThe infonnation in the brief is generatby a large team of NaFIRRl Scientists

Dr John S. BalirwaDirector of Research

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leries Resources Research rnstituteand applied research of strategic

ulture. Capture fi 'heries, tbe waterlrketing, Information Communication's related to the fisheries. A a result,: of socio-economic de elopment in:h stakeholders to provide the requireddevelopments that could impact the

, there are fisheries-dependent and>ositive and negative impacts on thedies in Uganda. Some of the waterpacts. Through the various disciplinef, primary and ccondary productivityver ity studies. socio-economics and1 dissemination tools, aFIRRI relics)perating Procedures that guarantee:d.

It of the River Nil that connects Lake:he river is inhabited by many specie.Ike systems including the introducedto some haplochromine species that

le river supports fisheries-dependentfishable as well a a tourist industryhere are two developed hydropower

implies that whatever longitudinalVictoria and Upp r Victoria ile

in 1954 when the Owen Falls Dam

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Hydro-power provision is a key developmental aspect to continued socio­economic growth of the country. However, in order to ensure that such~roj cts incorporate mitigation measures to forestall likely negativeimpact~ the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA)recogmses NaFIRRI as the Lead Agency for fisherie research in thecountry. Therefore, from 2000 to 2005 and in collaboration with the

• developers, NaFIRRI carried out a baseline survey of the Upp l' VictoriaNile aquatic ecosystem that was identified for development of the BujagaliHydropower Project (BHPP). This was followed by monitoring studiesduring the construction phase from 2007.

The BHPP has been commissioned and electricity supply has increased.The BHPP is a barrier that harnesses water from upstream of the formerBujagali falls. This has created a reservoir in a previously fast flowingsket~h o~ the river with widespread rapid. The change in hydrology andpOSSible impacts on riverine fishes in this area has been studied. Prior tothe damming of this section, NaFIRRI observations did not reveal manyfishes occupying the rapids and some of the su pected forms could still befound further down stream. The positive and perceived negative impacts ofthe BHPP have frequently been discussed at various levels.

This policy brief sheds light on how the ecology of the area has responded tothe d.evelopm.ent ?fthe BHPP and what is required fier its commissioning.The m£ rn1atlOn m th brief is generated from specialist studies conductedby a large team ofNaFIRRI Scientists and collaborators.

Dr John S. BalirwaDirector of Research

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FXECl 'I'I\'E SU'Il\IAR'

Human use of water resow-ces in Uganda has grown and intensified alongwith population growth and increasing demand to meet the diverse humanneeds. In the case of Uganda's rivers, the main uses include fisheries,hydropower generation, abstraction for potable water supply, dischargeof sewage and navigation. All these uses can disrupt the integrity of theaquatic ecosystem and may affect the survival of the diversity oforganisms.In consideration of the need to increase electricity to meet demand, theBujagali Hydro-power Project (BHPP) and the National EnvironmentManagement Authority (NEMA) recognised the importance of safeguardsto mitigate impacts of the project. The National Fisheries ResourcesResearch Institute (NaFIRRI) was assigned the role of providing baselineinformation on the aquatic ecosystem of the Upper Victoria Nile and tofollow up the findings with a monitoring framework during constructionand post-commissioning phases.

Ecological monitoring provides early warning signals on activities that maydisrupt ecosystem services such as fisheries, biodiversity, and rivcr waterquality and flow. Upon such information therefore, the power plant is builtin such way that water is allocated to sustain the ecology of the river to avoidloss of biodiversity, deterioration of water quality and invasion by exoticspecies. This Policy Brief is based on ecological monitoring conducted inthe Upper Victoria Nile at an upstream transect and a downstream transectof BHPP since 2000.

The Bujagali Hydropower Project (BHPP) on the Upper Victoria Nilenear Jinja with an installed capacity of 250 mega watts has been underconstruction since 2007. The plant is currently the largest in Uganda andwill contribute to alleviating power shortages in the country.

Research findings show that representatives of the original biodiversitybefore the damming process of the hydropower dam construction arebuilding up in the reservoir. Therefore, NaFIRRI is calling for continued

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monitoring of this new ecosystem through formative stages to a pointwhen the system will be considered as stable. The National EnvironmentManagement Authority (NEMA) will need to set clear parameters formonitoring the evolving ecosystem while Bujagali Energy Limited (BEL)and the responsible Ministry of Energy have to set aside resources tosupport not only the biological and physical chemical monitoring of thenew system but also riparian communities that will be attracted by thisnew ecosystem. NaFIRRI calls for an ecosystem approach to research andmanagement of this new system.

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Figure 1. Upper Victoria Nile where the BHPP is located andriver segments where baseline und monitoring samples were taken

The Upper Victoria Nile is a recognised hydro-power resource, and in

addition to the existing schemes, AES Nile Power planned to develop

the Bujagali (AESNP) Hydro-power Project (BHPP) at the then existing

Dumbbell Island, 2.5 km downstream of Bujagali Falls. Projects of this

nature in Uganda are regulated by the National Environment Statute

of 1995 which is enforced by the National Environment Management

Authority (NEMA). Therefore, in order to comply with NEMAs

requirement, AESNP submitted an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

to Government of Uganda in March 1999. Subsequently the National

Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) at the time FIRRI was

commissioned to undertake a baseline study of the Upper Victoria Nile

aquatic ecosystem and the fisheries in 2000 and later in 2006.

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The water resources of the c.l OOkIn long Upper Victoria Nile (Fig. 1) arepart ofa wider complex of water bodies in Uganda. For example, this partof the river connects Lake Victoria, the source of the larger part of the riverwater, to downstream Lake Kyoga. This part of the river is of immensesocio-economic importance as it is a base of the fisheries, energy (hydro­power), irrigation and drinking water, navigation and biodiversity.

I~TRO[)UCTION

Uganda is endowed with water resources (lakes, rivers, streams andwetlands) that make up at least 25% of the country's surface. There arefive large lakes (>30km2 surface (Victoria, Kyoga, Albert, Edward andGeorge) and more than 150 smaller lakes that range in size from 5km2

to 300km2 . However, human use of the water resources has grown inintensity and diversity along with rapid population growth and increasingdemand to meet socio-economic needs of the country. For example, eventhe current annual fish production of 450,000 t, the gap between supply anddemand for local consumption and for exports has grown to the extent thatper capita fish supply has dropped fTom 16kg in the 1980 to 7kg. In thecase of hydropower, the gap between supply and demand is 100 MW and. .IS growmg.

\PPROACII TO TilE ASSIGi'lMENT/i\IETHODOLOG\

rigur~ 2. Sampling transects: Tran",cl't 1 Kalangc-rvlakwllnzi andrl'l1llScct 2 = BlIyala-Kikllhal11l1tw~ and associated locations on th~

ppcr VIctoria Nile.

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In the monitoring studies carried out when construction activities started

111 2007, the two transects (one transect upstream and one downstream)

were investigated. Fish studies were complimented with aspects of water

quality and disease vectors. The studies followed Standard Operating

Procedures (SOPs) followed in the baseline studies that are contained in the

Final Reports ofAESNP assignments and were agreed with the developers.

The reporting was also agreed to follow a consultative and quality control

process to confonn to the scientific and developmental process needs.Plate I. An ~l:lll()gical monitoring station upstream theBujagali Hydropo\\'~r Plant on the L'pper Victoria Nik.

The two baseline surveys of 2000 and 2006 covered four transects, one

upstream of the BHPP and three downstream of the project area. The

objectives of the baseline were met through the Final Reports presented

in 2000 and 2007 that described and updated baseline conditions on the

aquatic ecosystem of the Upper Victoria Nile.

Bujagali Energy Limited (BEL) commissioned NaFIRRl to undertake

monitoring studies during the constmction phase that commenced in 2007.

This has been achieved through bi-annual assessments of water quality, fish

stocks and fish catch, fish biology, sanitation and disease prevalence at two

transects (Fig. I, 2; Plates I, 2, 3, 4).

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Plate 2. Ar('ul photograph of Bujagali dam and rcscl'\'oir

Plate 3. Completed Bujagali H~drt)pnwerPlanl CHI tht· Upper Victuria :\i11'

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The monitoring studies conducted revealed that water quality parameters(pH, Dissolved oxygen, Total phosphorus, Total nitrogen. Total suspendedsolids, Oil and grease) confonn to NEMA discharge standards. Theseparameters have not differed significantly over the monitoring period andfrom the baseline values, suggesting no adverse water quality impacts havebeen caused to the aquatic ecosystem by the project.

Water quality parameters (e.g. conductivity and Soluble Reactive Silica) arestill similar to values observed in Lake Victoria. Conductivity lacks NEMAdischarge standards.

Fish species diversity has remained generally constant upstream but hasdeclined downstream. Species catch per unit of effort downstreamdeclined from 1.21 in September 2010 to 0.95 fish per net per night in April20ll.

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The composition of food organisms for keystone fish species (mainly Nile

tilapia, Nile perch, mormyrids, cyprinids and the native red-bel1y tilapia)

in the two transects have not changed. However, the freshwater shrimp.

Caridina n;/otica and Rastrilleobola argentea (mukene) which were key

food items of the predatory Nile perch in all the seven previous baseline

surveys, were absent in the April 20 II survey. This observation is expected

in the fonnative stages of a new ecosystem but also indicates clear concern

on what might have happened to the natural food items for species such

as Nile perch. This infom1ation needs further monitoring and may only

become clear when the new ecosystem stabili7es.

Native tilapia (Oreochromis variabilis)

Elephant snout fish (Mormyrus kannume)

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Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Cyprinid (Bm'bus altianalis)

Semutundu (Bagms docmak)

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Freshwater shrimp (Caridina nilotica)

River blindness has not been detected since monitoring startedbut Bilharzia infection was detected in the vector snails and in thesurrounding population. This therefore requires that the monitoringof the ecosystem should go beyond biological and physico-chemicalparameters to include surrounding animals, human beings and otheraspects that may be impacted in one way or another by the newecosystem.

Plate 3: EcoJogicul 'iune~ for hilharJ:iaat the "ictoria !\..'q....:.(••. bank

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ONCLusro,/s

I. The studies have revealed that so far there have becn no significantadverse impacts of the RIIPP on the ecology orthe river bothin the immcdiate downstream and upstream scctions of the projcct.

2. There arc more breeding adults for 1110st of keystone fishes duringthe April than Sept~mber, indicating that April is a fish breedingseason in the project area as was before the project.

3. Since BEL provided mass chemotherapy to bilharzia patients inthe project area. the heavy infection rate reduced from 25 % in 2007to 0% in 20 II.

4. An ecosystem approach to research monitoring and managcmentis desirable due to the emerging settled human activities.

5. The neVi ecosystem is in its formative stages and requires continuedmonitoring and assessment to understand and guide management ofthe ecosystem.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Water quality parameters that change within short periods need tobe monitored more regularly, at least once in a quarter and following anymajor project activity such as changing water flow.

2. NEMA needs to develop standards for parameters such asConductivity and Soluble Reactive Silica.

3. Further detailed research is reqUired to estimate the extent ofinfestation of snails with bilharzia in the new ecosystem aboveBujagali Dam, and this investigation should also provide solutionsand approaches for curbing this menace. In the meantime, NaFIRRIrecommends that BEL continue providing mass chemotherapy tobilharzias patients to eliminate light infection that is still observedin the population in the project area.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Allan, J. D. 1995. Slream ecology, structure and function of running waters.Kluwer Academic Publishers, 388pp.

FIRRI-National Agricultural research Organization (NARO). 2000. Aquaticand Fisheries Survey of the Upper Victoria Nile. A report prepared for AESNile Power, Bujagali Hydropower Project. Second Quarter Survey 5-14April.

NaFIRRI, 2008. Environmental and Social Impact Moniloring of lheBujagali Hydropower Project (BHPP), Uganda Fisheries Component. AReport prepared for Bujagali Energy Limited (BEL) April 2008. 119p.

NEMA, 1999. State of the Environment Report for Uganda. Standards fordischarge of effluent into water or on land, Statutory instruments No.5 ofGovernment of Uganda, 1999.

4.

5.

Due to the practical and policy needs of the fisheries sector,monitoring should continue even when the plant is fully operational.

The studies carried out by NaFIRRI should provide a model for otherhydro power developers and for NEMA to follow.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMEN

111is work was conducted by the National Fisheries Resources ResearchInstitute, a Public Agricultural Research Institute of the NationalAgricultural Research Organization (NARO) with funding from BujagaliEnergy Limited (BEL), as part of the NEMA requirements to monitorimpacts of establishment of Bujagali Hydropower Dam on the ecologicalstatus of the Upper Victoria Nile.

The Policy Brief is also available online: http://www.fi.rLgo.ug/Publications.Interested stakeholders can sign up to receive the publication by email orpost. Comments and questions are welcome.

Prepared by:Stephen B.K. Sekirandal, John S. Balirwa 1 and Emmanuel Berah02

'National Fisheries Resources Research Institute, Jinja; 2Bujagali EnergyLimited, Kikubamutwe

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