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By JOE OMBUOR
Studies have it that over 200 million Africans are regular consumers of fish, a natural resource that is increasingly getting endangered by over fishing, pollution and projects such as hydro-electric power dams as has happened in the river Niger
The Lake Victoria basin of which Kenya is an important stakeholder produces over one million tons of fish annually with a monetary value of $350 million. It comprises mainly of the predatory Nile Perch, blamed by experts for the decrease of traditional fish species in Africa’s largest fresh water lake.
Vitamin a
Apart from providing nutritional benefits, fish plays a key role in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Their consumption of plankton, plants, insects, and other fish is critical to the stability and resilience of river and lake habitats.
Fish also serve as important links between ecosystems. Nutrients and organic matter from fish eggs, carcasses and excretion help to support the production of algae, freshwater organisms and other fish species.
Equally important is the role of inland fisheries in supplying micronutrients, especially vitamin A, calcium, iron and zinc, studies have established.
Studies show that daily consumption of small fish eaten whole such as omena contributes 40 per cent of the total daily household requirement of vitamin A and 31 per cent of calcium in addition to iron from internal organs. Fish also play a key role in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Their consumption of plankton, plants, insects, and other fish is critical to the stability and resilience of river and lake habitats.
They serve as important links between ecosystems. Nutrients and organic matter from fish eggs, carcasses and excretion help to support the production of algae, freshwater organisms and other fish species
A report by the United Nation’s Environment Programme and the World Fish Centre warns of serious knock on effects for other organisms when fish populations decline.
It says widespread mortality of the cisco fish from Lake Mendota in the US, was responsible for changes in the plankton composition of the lake, decreasing the level of nutrients in the water column and causing a decline in the biomass of algae.
The report warns that despite over 40 years of steady production globally, rapid environmental changes are occurring which challenge the viability of future fish stocks.
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