Africa-Press – Eritrea. Africa’s freshwater fish are disappearing at alarming rates, with a new report from the World Wide Fund for Nature warning that over a quarter of species face extinction.
On Lake Victoria, the continent’s largest lake, fish catches have dropped sharply — a crisis that is already being felt by local traders.
Elizabeth Didi, fish trader:
The WWF report, , finds that invasive species, pollution, and overfishing are driving the decline. In Lake Victoria alone, more than 200 cichlid species have already been lost, while illegal nets continue to land undersized fish, making recovery harder.
Eric Oyare, Environmental Economist, WWF:
The report warns the problem stretches far beyond Lake Victoria. In the Zambezi floodplain, fish catches are down by 90 percent, while in Lake Malawi, populations of chambo tilapia have plunged by 94 percent.
Freshwater fish are vital for food security, income, and ecosystem health, but researchers say conservation efforts have long been underfunded compared to marine fisheries. WWF is now urging African governments to adopt an Emergency Recovery Plan, focused on cleaning up waterways, curbing invasive species, and ending unsustainable fishing practices.
The next decade, scientists say, will determine whether Africa’s inland waters can be restored — or whether more species will be lost forever.
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