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Scientists to revive lost fish species
Researchers are currently conducting research on various types of fish including Tilapia, Cat fish and Ningu fish which can hardly be found in Lake Victoria. FILE PHOTO.
As crop scientists in the country are busy conducting research on various types of crops using laboratory based modern technology techniques, scientists specialising in conducting research on fish species are doing the same for purposes of reviving the lost species. Researchers at the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (Nafirri) based at the Aquaculture Research and Development Centre at Kanjansi are currently conducting research on various types of fish including Tilapia, Cat fish and Ningu fish which can now not be found in lake Victoria and a foreign fish called Mirror carp for purposes of improving on their quality.
According to Dr Owori Wadunde, a senior research officer at Kanjasi, each fish species has its own biological set up in its growth stage therefore the need to conduct research in this area for purposes of giving information to farmers who are involved in aqua farming. He said apart from conducting research on the common species of fish, his team realised the Ningu fish which used to breed in lake Victoria in the 1960s was no longer available due to over fishing. Therefore his team decided to revive its existence in 2000. The species was found in River Sio and River Kagera and began studying its biological growth system.
“When we started simulating its growth system, we found its breeding place and we further discovered that it breeds during rainy seasons which is not the case with other fish species,” Dr Owori said. Dr Owori said by the year 2002 his team succeeded with this research work and they are now involved in growing the species on various trial farms in different parts of the country. Once it starts growing well, it will be distributed to farmers for commercialisation. Apart from conducting research on the Ningu fish species, the scientist are carrying out research on the tilapia species for purposes of improving its growth both in size and yields and for Semutundu species which is found on Lakes Edward, Albert and River Nile, they are following its breeding biology. The same research is being conducted on the Nile Perch species and Kisinja fish found on Lake Victoria
The team says due to overfishing in the various lakes and rivers, fishermen are no longer letting fish reach maturity which calls for the need to sensitise aqua farmers on when to catch the species.According to the researchers, this work is basically being done with the aim of improving aqua farming in the country with a call of more farmers coming on board. Dr Owori said the available statistics indicates that there are about 20,000 farmers dealing in aqua fish farming with approximately 30,000 fish ponds but his team wants the number of ponds to increase to cater for the growing number of aqua farmers in the country.
He said that breeding of fish in Uganda started in the early 1950s, conducted under the fisheries department during the colonial time.“There was a lot of fish from the lakes and rivers, it was therefore not taken so serious but since the production of fish has now declined to about 80 per cent yet there is an increase in the population, this has created a demand gap and that is why a lot of emphasis is put on aqua fish farming.”
He says that the research will guide the farmers on the aqua fish production process which takes approximately nine months to be mature depending on the temperature of the areas the higher the temperature the faster the fish grows. If the ponds are on the slopes of mountain Elgon then it will take longer to grow. Aqua fish growing according to the scientists does well in northern Uganda due to the high temperature in the area. Therefore there is a call for farmers there to eng
