The Effect of Water Quality on Aquaculture Produc 3 tivity in Ibanda District, Uganda

Abstract

Water quality plays a substantial role in maximizing fish productivity. Despite the efforts made by government to improve fish production, there are general complaints about small size of fish produced in aquaculture systems. The study was conducted to assess the effect of water quality on aquaculture productivity in Ibanda District. The specific objectives were to examine the status of water quality parameters (Temperature, Turbidity, pH, Alkalinity, Ammonia, Hardness, Carbon-dioxide and Iron) and assess their effect on fish pond productivity. Using data from fish farmers and water samples taken from restocked fish ponds in 10 sub-counties, the study revealed that out of the eight water quality parameters examined, only four parameters namely; average turbidity, alkalinity, hardness, Carbon-dioxide were within the acceptable ranges while Ammonia, temperature, pH and Iron were slightly outside the recom 30 mended ranges. The study also revealed that water quality parameters such as; Temperature, pH, Ammonia, Carbon-dioxide and Iron had a significant effect on the weight and size for both tilapia and catfish. The study concluded that some water quality parameters have a detrimental effect on fish farming. There is a need for educating fish farmers on how to maintain water quality at suitable levels in order to improve fish productivity in Ibanda district