Mukene resurrects in Lake Victoria

Oct 08, 2006

<br>RARE fish species that were believed to have become extinct from Lake Victoria decades ago have resurfaced, baffling experts who have attributed it to success in conservation of biodiversity.

By Reuben Olita

RARE fish species that were believed to have become extinct from Lake Victoria decades ago have resurfaced, baffling experts who have attributed it to success in conservation of biodiversity.

Haplochromis, locally known as ‘Mukene’ in Uganda or ‘Fulu’ in Kenya, was last seen in Africa’s largest lake in 1970s, accounting for over 70% of the total fish harvest in the lake.

Haplochromis is a common name representing more than 350 species — some of which could be extinct or endangered.

Since then, nothing was heard of it as researchers thought the fish species was no more. However, their increase in population has increased fish population even with rapid disappearance of Nile perch owing to over-fishing.

The colonial government introduced Nile Perch in the lake in the early 1960s for its economic value. The much bigger newcomer fed on Fulu, which the Europeans deemed to be of no economic value.

A paper titled “Status of Exploitation of the Fisheries Resources of Lake Victoria” by Dr. Levi Muhoozi, said a recent research indicates an increase in catches of Mukene, Kenya’s The Standard newspaper reported recently.

Muhoozi, who is a fisheries researcher in Uganda, said a total of 110,000 metric tons of Fulu, which is 14% of the total catch of the lake, were landed last year.

“Approximately 91% of the species was caught in Tanzania and four percent in Kenya which represents 4,400 metric tons,” he said.

Researchers said the species would be exported to the US, EU, Israel and Japan for the manufacture of fish feed contributing immensely to the economy.

Riparian communities enjoyed the five-centimetre bony fish due to its nutrition value. It is said to be rich in calcium, which is good for children.

But, the resurgence may not be a blessing to the fishing sub-sector. Industry players view the Mukene dominance as a blow to the Nile Perch processing industry, which has been the Lake Victoria fisheries flagship for over three decades.

Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (Kemfri) assistant director Dr Richard Abila attributes the resurgence to declining Nile Perch stocks.

“The species (Mukene) was one of the most preferred food of the Nile perch, which predated on it to near extinction,” he said.

Unchecked pollution of the lake over the years and change in water quality also meant that the environment was a poor habitat for Mukene.

Environmentalists argue that the resurgence of the species, endemic in the fresh water mass, may change the feeding habits of riparian communities and give an opportunity to study and understand its value.

A report by the Catch and Effort Assessment Survey Group of Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation indicates that Mukene would be the major fish in the lake after Nile Perch, Tilapia and Omena, which have been the most dominant fish species for more than 30 years.

The assistant director explains that the increase of algae blooms in the lake means more food for the omnivorous fish with diverse feeding habits. “Mukene was highly valued by local communities. It was the ultimate indicator of a healthy biodiversity in the lake,” said Abila.

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