Stock Assessment of Lates niloticus in Upper Victoria Nile and its Impact on Uganda’s Economy

This study investigated the growth, mortality, recruitment, and catch estimates of Nile perch, Lates niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), in Upper Victoria Nile, basing on total catches length-frequency data collected between 2008 2018. The asymptotic length (L∞) had a value 93.45 cm TL, growth curvature (K) was 0.446 year-1, mortality (Z) 1.85year-1, natural (M) 0.79 fishing (F) 1.09 exploitation rate (E) 0.59 performance index(ᴓ) 3.604. There were two peaks recruitment period, minor one March major August. These respectively accounted for 12.8 26.3 percent catch. optimum sustainable yield (E0.5), maximum (Emax) and, economic (E0.1) 0.278, 0.421 0.355 respectively. findings suggest that there is decline population Nile. Therefore, strict management fishery by adhering to recommended slot size 50-85 TL curtailing use illegal gears needed. will be possible through enforcement regulations, monitoring, control surveillance order ensure sustainability perch ecosystem restoration VictoriaNile.Keywords: niloticus; Catch rates; Growth parameters,