RE-EMERGENCE OF WATER HYACINTH HAS SENT PRICES OF FISH SKYROCKETING IN LAKE VICTORIA REGIONS

01/26/2007
GRANTS ARCHIVES AGAJA KUYO BARUPE WECHE DONGRUOK MBAKA NONRO JEXJALUO NGECHE LUO GI GWENG' THUM TEDO LUO KITGI GI TIMBEGI SIGENDNI LUO THUOND WECHE ;	RE-EMERGENCE OF WATER HYACINTH HAS SENT PRICES OF FISH SKYROCKETING IN LAKE VICTORIA REGIONS By Leo Odera Omolo Luocome, Kisumu, 25/1/2007 FRESH fish has disappeared from the market stalls in Kisumu City and its environs following the re-emergence of the dreadful water hyacinth weeds. The prices of fish has gone up three times due to acute shortage in Nyanza and Coast provinces. The shortage in Kenya's largest producers of fish is blamed on the recent re-emergence of noxious water hyacinth weeds in Lake Victoria and the on-going armed conflict in the Horn of Africa, particularly the war in Somalia which has hampered fishing in the Indian Ocean. The situation has seen 60 per cent increase in prices and could render thousands of fishermen and traders jobless. Fishing industry earns about Kshs 7 billion annually, mainly from the exports to the European Union member countries, the Middle East, Japan and the United States. Fisheries officials have already sounded the warning to the consumers of much tougher times ahead unless the weeds growth, which has now covered the best part of fish breeding grounds along the shore line of Lake Victoria is checked and the volatile situation in Somalia stabilizes in the next few months. Poverty index, estimated at 70 and 57 per cent in the Lake and Coastal regions respectively, is likely to increase.There are also general fears of possible environmental degradation as the fishing communities search for alternative sources of livelihood. A survey has revealed that more fishermen in Lake Victoria have already abandoned their fishing nets and boats and gone into farming because the water hyacinth weeds have made fishing almost impossible. A cross check by this writer in various fishing landing beaches in Rachuonyo, ,Nyakach, Nyando, Kisumu, Seme and Uyoma as well as a far field in Yimbo in Bondo revealed that fish landing beaches in the Eastern shorelines of Lake Victoria are no longer functional. The fishermen have either pulled their boats and canoes out of water after finding it difficult to operate on the shorelines, which are currently covered and blocked by water hyacinth. And many families living along the lake shorelines have already removed fish from their menus. Kisumu Town, which is known and famous for delicious tilapia (Ngege) dishes, is now learning to do with other meals due to the acute shortage of fish supplies. The supply usually comes from Yimbo Usenge, Sakwa, Uyoma, Asembo, Seme, Kisumu, Nyando Nyakach and Rachuonyo. Fish is fast disappearing from Hotels menu and the residents have now resorted to other dishes such as chicken and beef, which are equally expensive and unaffordable. An average sized tilapia usually in the normal circumstances fetched between 60/- and 70/- is now selling at between 150/- and 180/- for both domestic consumption and for the hotels. The prices have now tripled when available. The scenario is the same at the Coast, where fish prices, according to the DAILY NATION report have been on increase in the past two weeks. Prices have increased by up to 100 per cent, with most fish retailing at 200/- up from 100/- a piece. "The combined onslaught of the water weed and algae, which have both increased in the lake are serious threats to fish stocks. They have cut off the supplies of oxygen leading to deaths of fish, according to Dr. Richard Abila, the deputy director of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. Also affected is the navigation of ships docking at the Kisumu pier. Meanwhile in the Coast province, most fishermen have shied away from deep sea fishing activities for fear of being caught up in the Crossfire due to the on-going war in the neighbouring Somalia. ENDS leooderaomolo@yahoo.com The writer is LUOCOME REPORTER based in Kisumu. We urge all LUOCOME members with pressing issues pertaining to media and press releases to kindly contact him from any where in world. He will assist you to get true picture of your Village Developement. LUOCOME-MEDIA ===================================================== Joluo.com Ka in gi mari moro ma di wandik ka to orni Akelo nyar Kager, jaluo@jaluo.com Daher winjo dwondi in bende, iwinjo?	IDWARO TICH? INJILI GOSPEL GALAMORO : Riwruok mar JOLUO e Piny Ngima, orwaku uduto mondo ubed e kanyakla mar burani. Ornwa nyingi gi nondi kaka obedo. Riwruok e teko joka Nyanam. WENDO MIWA PARO OD PAKRUOK

RE-EMERGENCE OF WATER HYACINTH HAS SENT PRICES OF FISH SKYROCKETING IN LAKE VICTORIA REGIONS

By Leo Odera Omolo
Luocome, Kisumu, 25/1/2007

FRESH fish has disappeared from the market stalls in Kisumu City and its environs following the re-emergence of the dreadful water hyacinth weeds.

The prices of fish has gone up three times due to acute shortage in Nyanza and Coast provinces.

The shortage in Kenya's largest producers of fish is blamed on the recent re-emergence of noxious water hyacinth weeds in Lake Victoria and the on-going armed conflict in the Horn of Africa, particularly the war in Somalia which has hampered fishing in the Indian Ocean.

The situation has seen 60 per cent increase in prices and could render thousands of fishermen and traders jobless.

Fishing industry earns about Kshs 7 billion annually, mainly from the exports to the European Union member countries, the Middle East, Japan and the United States.

Fisheries officials have already sounded the warning to the consumers of much tougher times ahead unless the weeds growth, which has now covered the best part of fish breeding grounds along the shore line of Lake Victoria is checked and the volatile situation in Somalia stabilizes in the next few months.

Poverty index, estimated at 70 and 57 per cent in the Lake and Coastal regions respectively, is likely to increase.There are also general fears of possible environmental degradation as the fishing communities search for alternative sources of livelihood.

A survey has revealed that more fishermen in Lake Victoria have already abandoned their fishing nets and boats and gone into farming because the water hyacinth weeds have made fishing almost impossible.

A cross check by this writer in various fishing landing beaches in Rachuonyo, ,Nyakach, Nyando, Kisumu, Seme and Uyoma as well as a far field in Yimbo in Bondo revealed that fish landing beaches in the Eastern shorelines of Lake Victoria are no longer functional.

The fishermen have either pulled their boats and canoes out of water after finding it difficult to operate on the shorelines, which are currently covered and blocked by water hyacinth. And many families living along the lake shorelines have already removed fish from their menus.

Kisumu Town, which is known and famous for delicious tilapia (Ngege) dishes, is now learning to do with other meals due to the acute shortage of fish supplies. The supply usually comes from Yimbo Usenge, Sakwa, Uyoma, Asembo, Seme, Kisumu, Nyando Nyakach and Rachuonyo.

Fish is fast disappearing from Hotels menu and the residents have now resorted to other dishes such as chicken and beef, which are equally expensive and unaffordable.

An average sized tilapia usually in the normal circumstances fetched between 60/- and 70/- is now selling at between 150/- and 180/- for both domestic consumption and for the hotels. The prices have now tripled when available.

The scenario is the same at the Coast, where fish prices, according to the DAILY NATION report have been on increase in the past two weeks. Prices have increased by up to 100 per cent, with most fish retailing at 200/- up from 100/- a piece.

"The combined onslaught of the water weed and algae, which have both increased in the lake are serious threats to fish stocks. They have cut off the supplies of oxygen leading to deaths of fish, according to Dr. Richard Abila, the deputy director of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. Also affected is the navigation of ships docking at the Kisumu pier.

Meanwhile in the Coast province, most fishermen have shied away from deep sea fishing activities for fear of being caught up in the Crossfire due to the on-going war in the neighbouring Somalia.

ENDS
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

The writer is LUOCOME REPORTER based in Kisumu. We urge all LUOCOME members with pressing issues pertaining to media and press releases to kindly contact him from any where in world. He will assist you to get true picture of your Village Developement.
LUOCOME-MEDIA