Abstract

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A study was conducted to assess the contribution of artisanal fisheries towards livelihoods and food security among communities of Chanyanya fishing camp in Kafue district. With the help of members of staff from the Department of Fisheries, fifty households were randomly selected and administered with semistructured questionnaires and personal interviews. The data was analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), while graphs and charts were done in Microsoft Excel. Results have shown that an artisanal fishery has immensely contributed towards improved livelihoods of many households in Chanyanya. It has provided employment, income and food security, both to the local people and the nation at large. The study revealed that, 94% of them derived their livelihood from fishing, which provided them with the much needed income and employment. Other fishers, over the years developed fishing skills such as net mending, fish processing and boat making. The money realised from fishing was used to build houses, buy fishing equipment and household needs, and pay for their children’s school fees and health care, which thus contributed to their improved livelihood and food security. The study further revealed that all the fishers ate and shared some of the fish they caught amongst their kinsmen. In the same vein, fish was the most abundant, cheap and readily available source of protein amongst the consumers. It can therefore, be concluded that artisanal fisheries, contributes significantly towards livelihoods and food security among communities of Chanyanya fishing camp.

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