NILE PERCH (LATES NILOTICUS) IN LAKE VICTORIA

LAKE VICTORIA

• Located in eastern central Africa, Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes and Africa’s largest lake.

• One of the most densely populated areas in Africa, the Lake Victoria region is home to 30 million people.

• The region’s economy depends heavily on the fishing resources of the lake.

PROBLEM

In the late 1940s the lake was home to over 500 species of fish, most of them

Haplochromis, a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cichlidae.

Why was Haplochromis a problem?

• Haplochromis are generally small and bony fish not prized as a catch.

• The economic stability of the fisheries on Lake Victoria were in question.

• Introducing a large and efficient predator known for its commercial value would create a boon for fisheries.

• As a bonus, a large fish would help improve the sport fishing industry on the lake.