Industrial fishing and invasive catfish threaten Victoria Lake's native fish

Victoria Lake, Africa's largest lake, once supported abundant native fish that reproduced freely. Colonial-era industrial fishing introduced efficient killing tools, causing a steep drop in fish numbers. To address perceived shortages, officials released Nile perch in 1954; the predator grew quickly, displacing most native fish within decades.

The loss of algae-eating species triggered massive algal growth, which, after dying, consumed deep-water oxygen and suffocated remaining fish. Today, more than half of the original species are extinct or near extinction, and the lake's ecological balance is fragile. Scientists continue attempts to stabilize surviving native populations, though success remains uncertain.