Towards Resilient Ecosystems and Livelihoods: A PESTLE Examination of Lake Victoria’s Fisheries
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63236/ijmar.1.2.4Keywords:
Lake Victoria, Biodiversity, PESTLE Analysis, Nile Perch, FishingAbstract
Lake Victoria, shared by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, underpins the livelihoods of over 40 million people; however, it faces severe ecological and governance crises following the introduction of the Nile perch (Lates niloticus). This paper conducts a systematic PESTLE (political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental) review of the lake’s fisheries to examine how ecological, economic and institutional dynamics interact to shape resilience. Using predefined search strings across an academic database (Scopus), 4685 records were screened and 750 documents (peer-reviewed articles, policy reports, datasets and news sources) were retained. Thematic content analysis was used to code material into PESTLE domains and derive cross-cutting patterns. Three core vulnerabilities emerge: primary-commodity dependence on Nile perch exports, fragmented and politicised transboundary governance, and social pressures intertwined with accelerating environmental degradation. The paper proposes a portfolio of interventions, including livelihood diversification (aquaculture, value-added processing and non-fishing enterprises), strengthened community-based enforcement, and regionally harmonised regulatory frameworks under the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) and Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO). By linking a structured documentary review with a PESTLE lens, the study clarifies key leverage points for reconciling ecological integrity, economic security, and regional cooperation in Lake Victoria’s fisheries.
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