Fishermen now want the county government to initiate disposal site where the hyacinth can be burned once it dries to avoid re-germination.
John Kidau, a fisherman on the shores of Lake Victoria, in Homa Bay County, is a frustrated man. His boat can no longer operate due to the re-emergence of water hyacinth.
The resurgence of the stubborn weed is once again posing a serious threat to his fishing trade.
Mr Kidau’s depressing situation is symptomatic of a larger problem on the lake. Without the weed, the lake is normally a beehive of activity. But it is a different story now with fishermen keeping off the waters thanks to the invasive weed.
“We are stuck. We can’t go fishing. It is quite tedious to fish with the infestation of weed,” says Mr Kidau.
He added that the weed is posing a threat to livelihood of hundreds of households. The fishermen also expressed fears that the situation might get worse if nothing is done to reverse the situation.
Lake Victoria Beach Management Units Chairman Tom Guda said for a month now, fishermen in Karachuonyo and Kochia have felt the pinch of water hyacinth infestation.
“Water hyacinth restricts the movement of boats. How do you cast your nets in water infested in hyacinth? Sometime you set out to go fishing only to be trapped in the water for eight hours,” said Mr Guda.
According to the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute Kisumu (KMFRI), periodic changes in wind patterns and human activities encourage the re-germination of the stubborn weed on the lake.
In January this year 10,360 hectares of the lake were covered by the weed.
He says the water hyacinth tends to settle where there is little pressure from the wind.
“Rachuonyo’s proximity to Homa Hills and trees which act as wind breakers bring water hyacinth to Rachuonyo,” Dr Aura noted.
Through application of a software, he said they are able to study the wind patterns and vegetation cover on the lake.
“At our station we have water hyacinth prediction map which shows the accurate spatial temporal availability of weed. Currently the area affected include Kisumu Bay, Homa Bay, Osodo Bay, Kendu Bay, Nyakach Bay and Ngege Bay.”
Fishermen now want the county government to initiate disposal site where the hyacinth can be burned once it dries to avoid re-germination.
“The National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) has designated water hyacinth disposal sites. After removal of the weed you are not allowed to throw it away,” said the environmental authority.
Some of the licensed water hyacinth disposal site in Homa Bay County include Alara Beach, Oginga Beach, Ngegu Beach, Rakwaro Beach, Achuodho, Kananga and Rarimba Beach.
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