Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.
Experts have once again sounded a stern warning that Lake Victoria is facing ecological disaster if the particles from dry hyacinth weed are left to rot and sink inside its waters.
The Kenya Marine and fisheries Research Institute {kemri} said in Kisumu this week that if the hyacinth weeds sunk, aquatic life would be placed at the high risk.
Several fish species in the lake, especially the much cherished Nile Perch and Tilapia and small fish like [Omena} that cannot survive inside the water with few oxygen concentration might be completely wiped out, said Dr Ojwang’ Oweke the KEMRI’s senior scientist.
Mad fish, locally known as “Kamongo” and cat fish locally called “Mumi”are among the specifies that can survive in the water with low oxygen concentration.
According to KEMRI’s researcher’s water hyacinth produces humid acid when it decomposes in the water-a process that used oxygen and deprives aquatic plants and animals of fresh air.
The acid contains harmful elements lie iron and manganese which the scientist attributed to the brown color of water supplied in the region by the Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company ltd.
Dr. Oweke called upon the government to make use of colleges and universities in the region to assist in removing the dry weed by use of conveyor belt.
“This is the time for the government to come and try to use the conveyor belt mechanism t remove the dry hyacinth so as to save the lake.:
“The manual removal used by Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project in 2011 and late last year was a total waste of money, and time because this poised a high risk to the laborers and it also led to ever sprouting of the dreadful weed.
The scientist the machine would clear the dry water hyacinth and ump on the shore where it would be burned.
Reupen Omondi, another scientist said the hyacinth had turned brown because weevils had fed on it as it was drying up.
He insects were introduced in the lake by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute in 2005.
“Weevils are killing the weed and the government need to respond quickly to remove danger from destroying ecosystem, he said.
Ends