The Fish Conservation Committees have a number of roles including protecting breeding areas.

In Salima District, the Mbalame Fish Conservation Committee have been busy removing water hyacinth from the breeding area so the baby fish can survive.

What is water hyacinth and why does it need to be cleared?

Water hyacinth comes originally from the Amazon basin and when it is not properly controlled, it can cover lakes, river mouths and ponds cutting off sunlight which kills off other aquatic plants. Decaying plants reduce the oxygen in the water which then kills fish. The plants also create a habitat for mosquitos and a species of snail known to host the parasite which causes schistosomiasis (bilharzia). 

Interested to learn more about our Fish Conservation project? Click here.