Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu

Lake Victoria the world’s second largest inland water mass is rapidly losing its fish stock. The worse affected is the economically prized Nile Perch species.

According to the information contained in statistics compiled from various fish landing beaches on the Kenyan side of the lake, the Nile Perch, which is commonly known as “Mbuta”, is an asset to the country because Kenya export tones of its fillets to the European, Japan, US and Israel markets.

The statistics are backed up by a study report by the Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute {KMFRU}. Nile Perch species stocks in the lake has reduced to 34 per cent.

Mbuta was among many alien species of fish introduced into Lake Victoria in 1950s by the British colonial authorities to boost its economic benefits, but this has turned to be unsustainable in the long term since the lake ‘s ecological function and ecosystem suffer from elements beyond its boundaries.

According to the research, 49 per cent of Nile Perch is harvested before it reaches maturity stage, thereby interfering with the reproduction process.

A mature Nile Perch weights over 200kgs and is more than six feet long; but the KMFRI study says fishermen do not let the fish grow to this size. The Nile Perch is also a predator that dominates its surrounding and feeds on other fish as well as its own offspring.

KMFRI researcher Simon Agembe was recently quoted as saying that due to reduced fish yields, reducing biodiversity and water borne diseases, the livelihood and well being of more than 40 million people who depended on the lake’s resources, remains at risk.

Dr Agembe said if the fishing is not regulated, stocks of other species like dagaa {Omena} is likely to decline since fishermen are piling pressure on them.

Dagaa’s decline stands at 54 per cent. The study recommends that the government puts measures that will protect Nile Perch and other species in place.

The study proposed the protection of breeding areas and introduction of an alternative source of food in the lake region and income for fishermen to reduce the pressure on the lake.

Expert attribute the deflation of fish stocks in Lake Victoria to over-fishing, the use of unlawful and wrong fishing gears such as fish nets, the illegal use of chemicals which kills fish in their thousands, .

Fishermen and villagers around Luanda Koteno in Rarieda district were recently reported to have cornered and killed one fisherman who was caught red-handed while using chemicals at night in this way.\

A good number of youths, who are suspected to have lynched the fisherman they found using chemicals on fish, were later rounded up and charged with the murder in a Kisumu court., But the use of chemicals on fish is said to be still on the upsurge.

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