The Nile Perch decline in Lake Victoria artificial

The Nile Perch decline in Lake Victoria artificial

Saturday, September 10, 2016

By Pascal Shao

Charles Robert Darwins’ theory of natural theory proposed among others that competition from humans would lead to extinction of some species in the environment. Human activities to meet their daily needs are attributed to the disappearance of different species making it difficult for people to get their daily basic needs, food, shelter and clothing.

In the Lake Victoria, that is shared by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, the drop in Nile Perch stock and catch have fallen at an alarming rate, threatening the lives of inhabitants surrounding whose livelihood is dependent to entirely to the lake. The Nile Perch or scientifically known as Lates niloticus was first introduced to the lake in 1950s by the British colonial government, was not a much preferred meal at the table only for ordinary families. According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, “Originally, the fishermen did not like Nile perch, because they had problems with handling, processing and marketing the fish; the larger and relatively fat perches could not easily be dried or transported”.

However, as the demand for Nile Perch in the European market and the growing population of Mwanza as well as the neighbouring regions, lead to the heavy investment in fishing activities. A number of fish processing plants mushroomed in Mwanza and other regions surrounding Lake Victoria.  With this situation, a number of benefits were registered in the country, a large of people was employed in the sector, the economy of Mwanza soared and the government collected tax from fishery, to mention only three and development in terms of infrastructure and other economic activities to support the growing population in the region.  

Nile Perch fillet as processed in the factory for export
(A courtesy of the Google pictures)

Despite the paradox of the Nile Perch of feeding on the other species causing making them extinct, fishermen started using illicit ways of harvesting fish, the use of chemicals, catching immature fish, corrupting fishery officials as well as using small size fishing gears, are rampant in the lake. The habit has lead to the sharp drop in the fish stock and catch in the lake. The Mwananchi Tanzanian Kiswahili daily reports that if this habit continues, Nile perch will become extinct in thirty years to come.

Efforts to curb the drop has been in place including patrols, a ban of beach seines, experts from three riparian countries suggested seasonal fishing to allow their replenishment as well as European Union threat to buy fish from Lake Victoria. All these efforts turned futile and business as usual continues in the lake. 

If this trend is left unchecked, fishermen, and fish processing firms will have not option rather than to close, the demand for fish will hike, the economy will drop and the people will turn to be employment refugees, leading to crimes in the region.

Nile Perch skeletons with its head processed from the factory for the ordinary people and animal feeds (A courtesy of the Google pictures).

The drop in Nile Perch stock and catch in Lake Victoria is artificial and not a natural phenomenon as Darwins postulated in the past.