By Pius Sawa
Kisumu, Kenya: In 2015, a team of researchers from North Carolina State University’s department of marine, Earth and Atmosphere Sciences released a study that warned of raising water levels on Lake Victoria, as a result of climate change.
Dr. Richard Munang, Regional Climate Change Coordinator, United Nations Environment Programme UNEP Says climate change has been responsible for the drastic fluctuations in rainfall patterns over the years across Africa with Kenya experiencing frequent famine cycles that has resulted in increased drought frequency hence increased water scarcity which then impacts river and lake fisheries and aquaculture.
“With climate change comes the warming of the atmosphere. Africa is the fastest warming region of the globe. 20 of the fastest warming countries globally are in Africa. In a sample of 30 African countries, two-thirds or over 60% of them are warming faster than the globe, and the trend is projected to continue in the coming decades. The signs of this warming are apparent even in Kenya. Only 10 of the 18 glaciers that covered Mount Kenya’s summit a century ago remain.
It is projected that within the next 25 years, warming temperatures will deplete all the remaining ice on Mount Kenya. Warming then means warmer lakes which then depletes oxygen levels in water. Warm water means fish need more oxygen to perform daily activities, like feeding, breeding etc. This then reduces both their numbers as well as distribution as fish may move to less warmer areas of this transboundary water resource.”
Dr. Munang also sites human activities – including encroachment, pollution and degradation of the lake and its immediate surrounding that have contributed to degeneration of the lake. What would be referred to as its riparian ecosystem. “Degrading the riparian ecosystem means erosion in the surrounding ends up as siltation in the river. Pollution encourages growth of invasive weeds like the hyacinth which reduce oxygen levels and kill off fish. With weakened ecosystems, the lake becomes even more susceptible to the damage if climate change and this becomes a viscous cycle.”
At Dunga, the entire beach is submerged, restaurants and fish stores only accessible through metallic bridges and old car tyres. Most boats are stationed. There is no much activity, despite being on a Friday when most people flood the lake side for fun. Women with plastic basins are sitting in a hall, which is actually a fish collection and weighing area. The aluminum iron tables are empty. One boat arrives after another in a range of about 20 minute’s interval. One group of women heads towards the boat to get the fish, while the rest wait for their specific boats to arrive.
“Years back, you could come here in the morning pick as much fish as you want and go home. But that is not the case these days. You have to fight for the fish. There is no fish in the lake,” says Annah Anyango, in her 70s who has been selling fish for the last 30 years.
She is lucky to get half a basin of cut fish and not the common tilapia or Nile perch. With more than 11 orphans to look after, Annah is worried of how the future will be. “I used to make up to 3,000 Kenya shillings (about $30), but today I can only make around Ksh700 ($7) or less in a day. I educated my children through fish selling, but now I have orphans to feed and educate as well. Life is hard.”
Pamela Achieng, a mother of eight from Manyata estate has been selling fish since 2008, but life has totally changed. “In 2008, fish business was good. You could get good profit to enable you meet other needs, like paying school fees and feeding the family. The fish is always in plenty from April to August but look, there is nothing. I don’t know if the water is now too much that has caused the fish to disappear?”
With the worsening situation, many fishermen like Maurice Otieno opted to divert to other income generating activities. Maurice now does the bodaboda business, carrying passengers on his motorbike within Kisumu city. It is now three years since he abandoned fishing and he does not regret it.
“I used to be a fisherman but due to the lack of fish, I started doing bodaboda. I know fishing very well but that was not paying. I don’t know if the fish migrate or what is the problem.”
Not only Maurice but many fishermen have opted to leave the lake for other business like farming. Joyce Atieno Otieno has been selling fish at Dunga beach for fifteen years and has seen men running away from the fishing business.
“I can’t compare the years back and today. Today the fish is scarce and the fishermen are few, because many have gone back to their villages and have vacated the houses they used to rent near the lake, for fear that the situation will get worse in future. So you get that everything has gone down. If you get the little amount of fish, the price is up and when you increase the price for your clients, they complain.”
The earliest the fishermen return from the deep end to the shore is in the afternoon, a journey they begin at 4 O’clock in the morning. The women start picking the fish as late as 3 o’clock in the evening, expecting to start selling to their customers at around six. But with the curfew imposed by government over Corona Virus disease, fish business is becoming harder.
“We depend on workers who leave their jobs at around six, then they start coming to eat fish from around seven to nine. But because of the Corona Virus, the little fish you get is not eaten. The moment you expect clients to start coming, it is the time the curfew begins and police is chasing everyone away. You find that the little stock you could sell in one day, takes three days and people want fresh fish,” Says Joyce.
She says almost 95 percent of women depend on fishing for a living. “They depend on fish to educate their children, feed their families and pay house rent. Very few women here have husbands who can support them. I have educated all my children from selling fish.”
Sourcing fish from China and Uganda.
Most of the women who collect their fish from the lake are not aware of the Chinese fish that have flooded the market in Kenya. They say they share the little they get from the fishermen. Maurice is aware of the Chinese fish, saying Fish from China is on high supply in Kisumu city and other parts of the country.
“The Tilapia type from China is the most sold here in Kisumu because Nile Perch which is the best fish here is scarce. It is not in plenty because the Lake No longer produces enough.”
Data compiled by the State Department of Fisheries indicate that the value of fish imported from China in 2018 increased by 11.8 percent to Ksh 1.7 billion in 2018. Kenya shipped in 22,362 tonnes of fish, up from 19,127 tonnes imported in 2017.
In Kakamega town however, things are different. The fish business depends much on stocks from China, and the neighboring Uganda. At Kambi Somali fish market, Florence Makokha Onyango, who is the chair person of the fish sellers at the market, says since Corona started, fish from China does not come.
“The Kenyan fish has a very high demand and is very expensive. But the fish from China has been boosting our business, because they make us maintain the supply to our clients. It is easier to get the Chinese fish, as you just send the money to the factory and the fish is delivered by a track.”
With only 6 percent of Lake Victoria in Kenya, Uganda’s 42 percent has become a major seller to Kenya, but at a cost. Yvonne Khayechia from Amalemba in Kakamega has never sold fish from China and has been getting her supplies from Busia Uganda.
“I used to get fish from Kisumu but it is no more, I think it is due to climate change and over fishing that has led to fish in the lake to disappear. I get from Busia Uganda and it is a challenge. You have to fight for the fish. You must catch the earliest vehicle to Busia and reach the market before the Uganda sellers bring the fish at the border market. At times you miss and come back without.”
With Corona Virus pandemic, the situation has become worse for Yvonne and other traders who travel to Busia. “Uganda closed the border so no more fish comes to Kenya, or if it comes it has to be through hardship and getting it is a challenge,” says Florence.
The high cost of transport, increased fish prices and other underlying needs for a fish seller like Yvonne, the only way is to increase the price of fish, which causes another conflict with her clients. “Everything from transport, cooking oil and the fish price is high. So you are forced to make a profit but many of the clients will not understand. So the business has slowed down.”
Abandoning fish selling could be a quick decision for the women around Lake Victoria and Kakamega. However it is hard for them to start new business. “If you feel like closing the fish business, and you have responsibilities and dependants, it becomes a problem. But if you had a way out, you could abandon it given that the profit is little as compared to years back when we used to get plenty of supplies from the lake,” says Yvonne.
Florence has a suggestion to government in relation to returning back the fish population on Lake Victoria. “According to the fishermen, the fish population has been caused by too much fishing and the water hyacinth. If government can find a way of eradicating that weed, it can help. You know we are used to this business. Starting a new business is like giving birth to a new baby and taking care of it until it matures. If government can help restock the lake, so that we continue with our business, because fish is food and as you know, there are people who have been advised by doctors to stop eating red meat and eat fish.”
Reducing post harvest fish loses, providing alternative livelihoods for communities living near riparian areas of the lake and increasing policy coherence across different sectors, are some of the solutions that Dr. Munang suggests in addressing the fate of Lake Victoria.
