Fisheries monitoring survey at Sebaboleng Dam, Maseru Town, Lesotho
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A fisheries monitoring survey was carried out between March 1991 and February 1992, at the Sebaboleng dam, Maseru, Lesotho. It was undertaken by the Fisheries Section of the Ministry of Agriculture, Co-operatives and Marketing, Lesotho, and by the Department of Youth and Women's Affairs, in collaboration with ALCOM. The purposes of the survey were threefold. First, to collect catch and effort data over a 12-month period from small-scale fisheries at Sebaboleng and Maqalika Dams in Maseru Town, as a complement to fish sampling data. Second, to collect basic socio-economic data on individual fishermen and use it to prepare a profile of the fishermen. Last, but not the least, the method and the survey design were themselves the focus for testing and evaluation, since documented experiences from similar surveys in southern Africa are scarce. A census survey design covering the fishermen of Sebaboleng and Maqalika dams was chosen, in order to fully cover fishing activities and catches. A questionnaire was used for collecting fisheries data, and a key sheet (identification sheet) for socio-economic data on individuals fishing at the dams. The survey proved difficult to implement successfully, because of the suspicion of respondents about the purpose of the survey, and because of the survey design chosen. Initially, two reservoirs were included in the survey. However, one of them, Maqalika, had to be excluded after a short time, since fishermen refused to be interviewed there. This was because they were scared of being chased off by the authorities. (Access to the Maqalika dam is restricted since it is an important source of water supply for Maseru town). Fishing is a part-time activity for all fishermen included in the survey. A total of 240 fishermen were identified at the two reservoirs, of whom five fish exclusively at Maqalika Dam. Of the rest, a vast majority fished at Sebaboleng only.