Use of unsuitable fish feeds blamed for the mass deaths of fish in Lake Victoria

Researchers have blamed the death of fish cage stocks in the lake on the use of unsuitable fish feeds.

The Vice-Chancellor of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) Prof. Stephen Agong’ argued that as it is currently, the majority of fish farmers have been using fish feed which is not good for the lake.

He added that the fish feeds have depressed the oxygen level within the waters of Lake Victoria hence the mass deaths of fish witnessed in the region over the past few weeks.

The VC spoke to journalists at the university’s main campus in Bondo town, where he announced that they are now working on feeds for fish, that will be friendly for the ecosystem of that lake.

Prof. Agong’ stated that they are going to work with the fisher folk and the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KEMFRI) so that they can arrest potential pollutants that may cause further death of the fish.

“Currently, most fisher farmers have been using any kinds of fish which is not good for the lake,” said Agong adding that such feeds have depressed oxygen levels in the lake hence causing mass death of fish.

“As University, we are working on a fisher feed that will be user-friendly to the lake ecosystem. We are also going to work with fisherfolk, Kenya marine and KEFRI to delve deep in these areas so as to arrest the potential pollutants,” he added.

Agong was reacting following the outcry of fish farmers from Homa-Bay County after fish in their 40 cages died.

The loss worth Ksh1.3 billion come barely a month before the farmers start harvesting mature fish from the cages erected inside the lake.

According to a fish farmer Moses Owino from Ogal beach, they have lost fish worth Sh 364 million fish adding that each cage had a fish stock of 6000.

“I have 23 fish cages in the lake and 15 of them were due for harvest so have lost close to Sh 7 million,” he said adding that he is a frustrated farmer since he has an unsettled loan of Sh 3 million.

According to Grace Atieno, from the Ogal beach women’s group, we want the government of Kisumu to intervene and rescue us from the situation.

“Let our president William Ruto and county government help us restore the business,” he added.

However, the fish farmers were removing the gills and intestines of the fish to sell.

According to Kenya marine and research institute official dr Christopher Oura, we recommend the farmers to remove the visceral material(intestines) and gills that bacteria survive in.

“ Those are the areas that the fish start rotting or undergo composition due to the thriving bacteria,” However, Homa Bay County Fisheries Director George Okoth said the death of the fish is a natural phenomenon caused by the decomposition of organic matter in the lake.

Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute conducted a study that revealed the fish died due to inadequate supply of oxygen when organic matter is decomposing in the lake,” he said, adding that reports of fish dying in the lake started one month ago.

“During heavy rains, floods dump a lot of organic matter in the lake. When the organic matter decomposes, it uses oxygen which leads to competition for oxygen with fish,” Okoth said.

The Director said the remedy for the problem is to avoid cutting vegetation along the lake shore.

“The vegetation prevents entry of too much organic matter into the lake. This is a natural phenomenon which can only be prevented by conserving vegetation along the shores of Lake Victoria,” Okoth said.

Further, the dumping of waste into the lake also contributes to the death of fish.

Homa Bay County Beach Management Network Chairman Edward Oremo urged the government to conduct research that can rescue the ecosystem of Lake Victoria.

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