Decline in Lake Naivasha fish stocks sparks calls for annual fishing ban

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Fishermen in Lake Naivasha. [File, Standard]

The Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) has called for the reinstatement of the annual fishing ban in Lake Naivasha, warning that fish stocks have declined sharply over the past six years and could worsen without urgent intervention.

According to the institute, annual fish landings in the lake have dropped from 3,400 metric tonnes in 2019 to about 1,050 metric tonnes last year, largely due to overfishing and illegal fishing activities.

KMFRI also warned that some fish species, including the popular black bass, are at risk of local extinction because of severe disruption to the lake's food web.