Cage fish farming is an old system across the world. In the far- east, the system has been used for tens of years. In Africa, it was first piloted in West Africa and then on Lake Kariba in Zambia in the 1980s. In Uganda, there are farmers carrying it out on Lake Victoria, especially in Jinja, Mayuge, Namayingo and Busia.
Fish cages are placed in lakes, ponds, rivers or oceans to contain and protect fish until they can be harvested. The method is also called “off-shore cultivation” when the cages are placed in the lake.
Fish is stocked in cages, artificially fed, and harvested when it reaches market size. The cages vary in size. Each of the boxes is about 3×3 metres in size. The boxes are interlinked by pipes and a wooden bridge on which care takers access them during harvesting and feeding. The interlinked structure can be as long as 100 metres.
