EFFECTS OF FISH ATTRIBUTES ON LANDING PRICE IN SELECTED DISTRICTS ALONG LAKE VICTORIA, TANZANIA

Abstract

Studies around Lake Victoria documented various challenges hindering higher landing prices among artisanal fishers associated with varying attributes of fish. However, determination of the effects of fish attributes on landing price, which is potential to the wellbeing of fishermen, remains undisclosed during the landing of the fish harvest to the landing sites. This paper employed cross-section data from 300 fishermen to examine the effects of fish attributes on fish prices of the selected fish species. In contrast to the approach of previous studies, the analysis in this study applied the Log-linear multiple regression model and made an auxiliary step with hedonic price function. The empirical analysis demonstrated that freshness in the Islands, onshore Island markets, preserving methods, fish size, weighted measures, and freshness of fish at Mainland were statistically significant fish attributes at α = 0.05 level, affecting fish species landing price. These findings will contribute to filling the knowledge gap with hedonic price function approach, which is relatively unknown in view of Lake Victoria. Therefore, it is recommended that the supplies of fresh, well preserved, and large-sized fish to meet optimal price as per the demand requires the provision and availability of modern fishing vessels as well as an installed storage mechanism.