DETERMINISTIC MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR FISH HARVESTING

Abstract

 Differential equations have been used to create mathematical models of real world systems in which rates of change are involved, for example in the study of how population grows or shrinks. One of the earliest models by Thomas Malthus has been found to be unrealistic since it predicts that population will grow exponentially and without bound – a prospect that defies physical limitations. Verhulst in his logistic population model developed a generalized version of the Malthusian model but added that natural factors such as disease and predators also affect mortality rate, and hence the rate of population growth. The Lokta – Voltera, which is a two species model, describes interactions between a predator and a prey in an ecosystem. The model forms the basis of many models used today in analysis of population dynamics, but unfortunately, in its original form, it lacks a stable equilibrium point. In mid 1980’s Ragozin and Brown, established the existence of a steady state and described a unique approach to it for a predator Prey System. Nile perch is a predator since it feeds on other small fish e.g. haplochromines, but it is also a prey because it is harvested for food. Rabuor and Polovina showed that there is a decline in the volume of Nile Perch and they attributed this to harvesting. So far, none of the models cited above considered harvesting as a factor affecting population growth. The need to develop a model for fish harvesting in general and in particular, the Lates Niloticus (Nile Perch) was Born out of this gap. The main objective of this study was to develop a model which can predict the amount of Nile perch harvested at any time t. The procedure in this study involved using differential equations to yield specific insights into the management of complex ecological systems e.g. population outbreaks. We have analyzed the existing logistics model for equilibrium solutions and stability. To test on the stability of the model, we obtain secondary data from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Institute (KMFRI) and Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA). The data so obtained has been analysed using the concept of stabilityin order to develop the required model. We have managed in this thesis to construct three different models viz: i) The Constant –rate harvesting model ii) The Proportional – rate harvesting model iii) A model depicting when harvesting is a function of P2(t) where P(t) represents the amount of Nile Perch harvested at any time t. Stability analysis and verification of the models revealed that the proportional – rate harvesting model is more reliable as compared to the other two. This is because its solutions are closer to actual values of the Nile perch harvested for the period under investigation. It is hoped that the model would help economic and social planners in controlling the population of Lates Niloticus. The result will also give more insight in research in mathematical modeling.

Authors and Affiliations

Joseph O. Nyakinda

Keywords

Related Articles

Effect of Bismuth in Trace Level on the Properties of Gray Cast Iron

In the present work an effort has been made to correlate the “Effect of Bismuth in trace level on the tensile strength, hardness and microstructure of gray cast iron”. Bismuth in trace level have a significant effect on...

 The Geometric Efficient Matching Algorithm For Firewalls

 Given a geographic query that is composed of query keywords and a location, a geographic search engine retrieves documents that are the most textually and spatially relevant to the query keywords and the location,...

 EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF DIFFERENT SHAPED ISOLATED FOOTINGS UNDER STATIC LOAD AND IMPACT LOADING ON SANDY SOIL AND BLACK COTTON SOIL

 Any Civil Engineering Structure must rest on a strong foundation or as per the strength criteria. Bearing capacity and settlement are the two major criteria for designing of foundation. Also it is not always s...

 Simulation and Analysis of Fuzzy Logic based Unified Power Flow Controller connected to Transmission Line

 The Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) is used to control the flow of power in the transmission systems by controlling the impedance, voltage magnitude and phase angle. The Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC)...

 Stability analysis of linear contraints nonholonomic systems based on conserved quantity

  In this paper, we derive the augmented Birkhoff equation of linear contraints nonholonomic systems firstly. Base on a conserved quantity or a combination of some conserved quantities, we study the stability of l...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP164287
  • DOI -
  • Views 83
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Joseph O. Nyakinda (0).  DETERMINISTIC MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR FISH HARVESTING. International Journal of Engineering Sciences & Research Technology, 5(1), 364-374. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-164287