Saving Lake Victoria means going after the big fish

Lake Victoria is Africa's largest and the reservoir of the Nile PIC: MBONGENI MGUNI
Lake Victoria is Africa's largest and the reservoir of the Nile PIC: MBONGENI MGUNI

Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing is threatening the survival of Lake Victoria’s fish populations, and is putting local livelihoods at risk. Some 76% of fish species in the lake currently face extinction – including crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs. MOHAMED DAGHAR* writes

Corruption is one of the primary reasons that this problem thrives in Lake Victoria. A Kenyan state official who works with a national body that manages inland waterways told ENACT that crime syndicates typically “mix legal and illegal fish products”.

They then ship these consignments out using the waterways of the three countries surrounding the lake – Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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