Mass tilapia deaths in Lake Victoria due to poor regulation, say farmers

At the heart of the problem, according to the association, is what it terms “regulatory paralysis.”

by FAITH MATETE

Nyanza02 October 2025 - 08:09

In Summary

Lake Victoria Aquaculture Association officials and scientists have linked the incidents to low oxygen levels, industrial effluent, and poor waste management.
But despite the recurring devastation, the LVA says little has been done to address the underlying causes or provide farmers with a predictable environment in which to operate.

Audio By Vocalize

**Dozen cages filled with tilapia were wiped out in a mysterious mass death in Kisumu Dunga/FAITH MATETE**

Fish farmers have sounded the alarm over yet another wave of mass fish deaths in Lake Victoria, a crisis that has repeatedly struck over the past two years.

Lake Victoria Aquaculture Association officials and scientists have linked the incidents to low oxygen levels, industrial effluent, and poor waste management. But despite the recurring devastation, the LVA says little has been done to address the underlying causes or provide farmers with a predictable environment in which to operate.

At the heart of the problem, according to the association, is what it terms “regulatory paralysis.”

Since December 2024, the aquaculture sector has been running without a legal framework after the High Court suspended the Fisheries Management and Development (Aquaculture) Regulations. The suspension followed a petition by the LVA, which argued the rules were flawed.

“A joint task force appointed by Fisheries Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho completed its work earlier this year and submitted recommendations, with the CS promising to withdraw the contested regulations and gazette new ones,” the association said in a statement.

Nine months later, farmers are still waiting.

“The continued fish deaths are a symptom of deeper systemic failures,” said Ochieng’ Mbeo, chairman of the LVA board. “It is unacceptable that the government has done nothing to provide an alternative framework. This complacency has left the aquaculture sector in limbo, undermining food security, investments, and the livelihoods of thousands of Kenyans.”

Pete Ondeng, the board secretary, echoed the concerns, warning that aquaculture cannot thrive without clarity.

“Aquaculture is a vital pillar of Kenya’s blue economy, but without a clear and enforceable regulatory framework, the sector cannot grow. The government must urgently gazette the new regulations, as promised, before more farmers are driven out of business,” he said.

For farmers, the repeated losses are crippling. “Every time there is a fish kill, we suffer huge financial losses with no safety nets. We feel abandoned,” said Albert Altena, a cage fish farmer in Siaya county and LVA member.

The association warned that unless urgent measures are taken, Kenya risks reversing gains made in aquaculture development and deterring private sector investment.

It reiterated its willingness to work with the government to fast-track inclusive, fair, and enforceable regulations that protect farmers while safeguarding Lake Victoria’s ecology and long-term sustainability.