Biodiversity Management Unit: Fisheries Component

Lesotho Highlands Water Project

The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) has created a Biodiversity Management Unit (BMU) responsible for conservation within the LHWP region. Advance Africa is tasked with skills development and mentoring of the BMU.

Mentoring activities thus far include:

• Subsistence fisheries survey of Katse Dam
  • Questionnaire and creel survey methods
  • Subsistence fisheries data analysis techniques
  • Scientific report writing
• Experimental gillnet surveys of Katse and Mohale Dam
  • Gillnet survey methods
  • Data analysis techniques including catch per unit effort (CPUE), species composition, index of relative importance (IRI), and modelling gillnet selectivity
  • Scientific report writing
• Electrofishing survey of Maloti minnow
  • Electrofishing survey methods
  • Data analysis including presence/absence and density estimates
  • Scientific report writing

The BMU fisheries team is now well-equiped to conduct its own monitoring of the reservoirs and rivers of the Lesotho Highlands.