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The proliferation of cages in the Great Lakes of Africa is accompanied by the potential socio-economic outcomes which underscores a significant trend in the aquaculture industry that is supplementing the traditional fisheries production. In light of these considerations, the study herein was undertaken to comprehensively evaluate the potential impacts of high intensity of cages at a site in Lake Victoria, Kenya with the leading numerical focus. Anyanga Beach has consistently registered the highest number of cages, making it a focal point for assessing the broader implications of cage aquaculture in the region. The survey exclusively targeted cage aquaculture farmers with the use of structured three-part questionnaires involving the particulars of cages, socio-demographic features and farm operations and investments. Majority of the cages surveyed were found to be locally fabricated, accounting for 93.3% (n = 28), with the main materials used for constructing cage frames being metallic. The use of locally sourced and fabricated materials may indicate a practical approach motivated by considerations such as ease of accessibility, cost-effectiveness and locally-sourced knowledge. Most of the cage aquaculture farmers reported managing between 1 to 6 cages (n = 20; 66.7%), with the most common dimensions being small-sized measuring 2.5 m × 2.5 m × 2 m, suggesting the need to create cohorts of firms that could lead to the development of cooperatives and ease the implementation of regulatory frameworks. Fish escapees from the cages were also reported, with approximately 60% of respondents indicating that they had experienced such incidents. Such occurrences pose a significant risk, which may result in genetic disruption and adversely impacting the overall fisheries. The study recommends for the need to enhance awareness and engagement with key institutions to foster a more informed and compliant approach, while ensuring that practice of cage culture intensification is alig

The extent of flooding in vulnerable inland and lacustrine systems can demonstrate the coverage and the magnitude of such phenomenon for policy enhancement. This study examined the extent of flooding due to rising water levels in selected Afrotropical lakes to guide interventions that would sustain the livelihoods of communities affected. The years that were most prone to flooding (2010 and 2020) were used as a baseline in the extraction of changes in spatial extent and area of lacustrine shoreline, and rainfall and satellite altimetry data, using geospatial and remote sensing technologies. The extent of flooding was strongly but insignificantly related (R2 = 0.63; p = 0.07) to the sizes of the studied lakes and the amount of rainfall. Lakes with the smallest surface areas such as Baringo and Naivasha showed the greatest increase in flooding of 52.63% and 42.62%, respectively. Larger lakes such as Lakes Victoria (1.05%), Turkana (3.77%), and Tanganyika (0.07%) had the lowest increases in areal extent. Furthermore, the topography of the lakes studied further determined the residence time and the extent of flooding, such that lakes such as Edward (−0.09%) and Rukwa (−3.25%) receded during the period when other lakes were flooding. The information and data presented here provides the most up-to-date quantification of flooding to support adaptation strategies for inland lake systems and guide policy implementation.