Constraints and opportunities for community participation in the management of the Lake Victoria fisheries

The main objective of this paper is to discuss the concept of community participation in the context of Lake Victoria fisheries and to relate it to changes which have occurred here. The authors suggest that community participation should not only seek to involve local people in the management of the production sector of the fisheries, but also the processing and distribution sectors, and they emphasise how participation is closely linked to employment and income opportunities. The document suggests important areas for community participation and looks at the factors that influence opportunities for participation in these areas. It goes on to discuss the transformation of the Lake Victoria fisheries and how that has provided opportunities and set constraints for community participation.