High prices, low stocks pull fish off the menu

Fish has long been a delicacy for many Kenyans. And Lake Victoria was the never-depleted granary where fishermen would cast their nets and land a bumper catch.

Not any more. The increased human population along with pollution have conspired to gradually pull fish out of the menus and the prices continue to rise. The factories that once churned out fillets destined for Europe and the United States have slowed down, while others have closed their doors all together.

Scientists are working on ways to reverse the dwindling fortunes of the water body that supports a population of over 30 million across the East African countries. The lake is also a major source of water for both domestic and industrial use in the region but has over the years been fighting pollution from dumping of waste as well as oil spill by car wash operators.

According to a report by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (Kemfri) in May this year, prices of the three commercial fish species in the lake have been gradually increasing for the last eight months. The researchers said that the low fish output from the lake had led to scarcity in the market, hence the increase in prices.

The report, indicating the mean fish prices per kilogramme at landing sites on the Kenyan side of Lake Victoria showed that Nile perch prices had increased from Sh135 per kilogramme in July, last year, to Sh161 last month. Tilapia price increased from Sh107 last July to Sh132 last month while dagaa prices increased from Sh60 per kilogramme to Sh73.

Overall, in the eight months between July 2009 and April 2010, the price of Nile perch rose by 19 per cent, tilapia by 23 per cent and dagaa by 22 per cent. Fisheries Development minister Paul Otuoma said that according to documented statistics, Nile perch stock in Lake Victoria steadily declined from 1.9 million tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes between 1991 and 2001 and further dropped to 544,000 tonnes in 2005.

The regional frame surveys carried out in 2008 also showed a further drop to approximately 299, 000 tonnes. The decline has led to reduced exports and loss of revenue for the three States sharing the lake, said the minister. “The total biomass of fish in the lake had been estimated to be two tonnes in 2007, of which 30 per cent was Nile Perch. This decreased to 15 per cent in 2008,” said Dr Otuoma.

Records show that in 2005, a total of 91,000 tonnes of Nile perch valued at $319.4 million (Sh25.7 billion) were exported but in 2007, this had dropped to 81,000 tonnes valued at $310 million (Sh25 billion). Even as this happened, illegal fishing has been rampant in some areas such as Osieko Beach in Bondo District, Bukoma and Marenga Beach, both in Bunyala District.

Large trucks have been lining up daily to transport immature fish to the Nairobi market. The managers of the fish factories in Kisumu are concerned that they might be forced out of business if the fish become extinct in the lake. They complained that even fish weighing less than 500 grammes were not spared in the illegal trade.

However, the launch of the research vessel RV Uvumbuzi in June has once again raised hopes that the lake could be on the way to recovery. Fisheries Development ministry Permanent Secretary Micheni Ntiba said that the vessel, donated to the government of Kenya by the European Union, had come at the right time.

“It will provide the necessary research and monitoring support to enhance management of the lake environment and living resources,” said Prof Ntiba. The vessel, which cost Sh75 million to build, has a fully equipped laboratory and top quality navigation equipment including radar, echo-sounder, marine campus and global positioning system.

Prof Ntiba said that the vessel was set to revolutionise the way research had been conducted in the lake. “The vessel has been designed to absorb future adjustments and development in response to the changing technologies and evolving needs for research and monitoring in Lake Victoria,” he said.

Dr Otuoma said RV Uvumbuzi would be fully utilised to improve the understanding of changes in the fish stocks, aquatic ecosystem and environmental factors. The minister said that the vessel would not just benefit fisheries but also agencies responsible for the environment.

“Kemfri will put in place mechanisms through which other research and academic institutions can make use of the vessel to enhance the benefits from this investment,” said Dr Otuoma. Prof Peninah Aloo-Obudho, chairman of Kemfri’s management board said that the vessel was a milestone in the institute’s research and development plan for excellence in aquatic research.

Alleviate poverty

“This is a demonstration of the importance of collaboration to all of us. Our scientists will now be able to sample all areas of the lake unlike before,” said Prof Aloo-Obudho. “This will lead to the generation of quality data required for the management of the lake’s resources to create employment and alleviate poverty.”

The Fisheries ministry has also been promoting aquaculture as a way of reducing pressure on Lake Victoria. Early this year, the ministry received Sh1.12 billion to support fish farming in the country. Some 140 constituencies were allocated Sh8 million each to support construction of 200 ponds per constituency to increase fish production in the country.