FISH LOSS IN L. VICTORIA
The death of fish in L. Victoria was researched by Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and found out that inadequate supply of oxygen when organic matter is decomposing in the lake was the cause of the death. Dumping of waste in the lake also caused the death. Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o said that what is happening to the lake is a natural phenomenal.
“What is happening in the lake is a natural but complex phenomenal that has affected the entire region including all the counties around Lake Victoria. The same has been reported in Uganda and Tanzania. This is strongly believed could be the effects of climate change” Governor Anyang Nyong’o said.
He has pledged to procure fingerlings worth 2 million shillings and fish feed worth 1 million shillings to supplement the cage farmers.
“My government is greatly concerned by the massive losses incurred by the cage fish farmers in the lake. This is because they offer employment to many people and help supplement fish supplies in the market. We will procure fingerlings worth 2 million shillings and fish feed worth 1 million shillings to be distributed to the affected fish farmers in the mentioned beaches to help them restock and recover the losses.” The Governor added.
Though Governor Anyang Nyongo recognizes the ecological imbalance in the lake, the neighboring counties like Homabay and Migori are experiencing the same thing. Last week, fish farmers in Kamolo beach in Karachuonyo constituency lost fish worth about one hundred million shillings in about 40 cages.
The governor has instructed the Ministry of environment to tighten surveillance to ensure compliance by local industries to avoid more loss.
“While L. Victoria is a victim of industrial runoff upstream, I also wish to instruct officers from the department of environment to tighten surveillance to ensure compliance by local industries.”
Scientists and environmentaists were also concerned about the pollution of the lake and wanted the issue to be addressed in the COP27 conference in Egypt.
“There is a lot of pollution that has taken place in the lake and right now people are counting millions and millions of losses due to the death of fish in the lake and especially in the fish cages. But we should not only look at the fish cages, we should also look at the aqua plants and several other animals that are depending on the water body for survival.” One of the environmentalists said (Willis Omulo).
By Calvin Angatia
