Save Lake Victoria from hyacinth weed spread

The Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute has expressed concern over the rapid growth of water hyacinth, affecting several beaches in Lake Victoria. As at January, 10, some 360 hectares of the lake were under the weed.

As such, it is imperative to think about strategies to reduce the weed growth. The weed has paralysed transport, fishing and leisure activities; death of aquatic life by increasing decomposing vegetation, deoxygenating the water and reducing nutrients for young fish.

To control excessive growth of the hyacinth, there is need to reduce industrial pollutants such as fish cleaning waste and discharges into the lake that increase the amount of lead, iron or soap in the water.There is also need to reduce runoff from the agricultural areas and deforested land into the lake.

Where possible, it’s important to remove the hyacinth since decomposition of its dead vegetation slowly releases nutrients over time thus increasing the amount of decomposing matter.