The catfish species is wreaking havoc in Lake Naivasha where it was recently introduced, leading to a sharp drop in tilapia and common carp in the last two months.
Fisherfolk in the lake say the new species eats fingerlings and destroys the breeding grounds of other fish. They estimate the catch has dropped by over 60 per cent.
The population of catfish is on the rise but the fishermen are counting huge losses because consumers don't like the species.
Grace Nyambura, in charge of patrols in the lake, said the catfish species was currently dominating fish catch in the troubled water body.
She said the species contributes to over 50 per cent of fish catch as the tonnage of tilapia and common carp catch continues to drop by the day.
“The drop in fish catch mainly among the popular species of tilapia and common carp is due to the introduction of catfish that eats fingerlings and destroys breeding grounds,” Nyambura said.
She attributed the rise in the new species to the recent heavy rains in the catchment that saw various fish species washed downstream into the lake.
“We have farmers in the catchment area who are involved in catfish farming and we suspect that the heavy rains swept them into the lake,” Nyambura said on Thursday.
This comes amid revelations that traders are buying tilapia from Lake Nakuru despite reports of high levels of pollution.
The government formed a multi-agency team to investigate reports of high levels of poisonous metals in fish from Lake Nakuru.
Blue Economy and Fisheries PS Betsy Muthoni said the presence of heavy metals in the fish called for immediate action amid reports of increased cases of illegal fishing in the lake.
In a letter to various government agencies, the PS said that President William Ruto had directed immediate action to address the ongoing pollution of the lake.
“The President has directed that a multi-agency strategy be developed and implemented to protect the lake and aquatic life,” she said.
The team includes Kenya Fisheries Service, KEMFRI, KWS, Nema, Water Resources Authority and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute.
The PS said that the presence of biological, physical and chemical food hazards in the lake was a major cause of concern for food safety and human health.
“Consumption of contaminated fish can be a major food hazard exposure for human beings while illegal fishing poses an economic and environmental threat,” she said.
