KISUMU, Kenya, Sep 29 — Cage fishermen at Dunga Beach on Lake Victoria are counting heavy losses after thousands of dead fish were discovered floating in the waters on Monday morning, triggering alarm among residents.
The mass deaths, which mainly affected cage fish farmers, saw fish estimated at about five months littered across the shoreline, with locals worried about possible contamination.
While some fishermen suspect pollution or oxygen depletion in the lake, others fear the incident could point to a larger environmental problem.
The Kisumu County Government launched an emergency operation to clear thousands of dead fish from Lake Victoria following the incident.
Agriculture and Livestock County Executive Committee Member Kenneth Onyango said the priority is to ensure safe collection and disposal of the carcasses to prevent any from reaching local markets and endangering public health.
“We are working closely with relevant agencies to establish the cause, but in the meantime, it is crucial that no one attempts to sell the dead fish,” Onyango warned.
“All affected fish must be collected and buried safely.”
The Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) has already begun investigations, with preliminary suspicions pointing to possible pollution, though officials say it is too early to confirm. Fishermen and cage investors have been advised to relocate their cages deeper into the lake as a precaution.
“All fish in the 12 cages, some at the five-month growth stage, were wiped out. While we can’t yet rule out pollution, investigations will reveal the exact cause,” Onyango said.
150 cages
Dunga Beach currently hosts 150 cages, and the incident has sent shockwaves through the local community.
Cage farmer Joel Bob, one of those affected, said the losses were devastating. “A single cage can yield up to Sh800,000 after harvest. Losing 12 cages is a cool Sh9.4 million,” he lamented.
Bob noted that while all cage fish were killed, those in the open lake appeared unaffected — a mystery he believes may be linked to low oxygen levels inside the cages.
Farmers have also cited the recent reopening of River Auji, which discharges into the lake, as a possible source of pollutants.
Past fish kills in Kisumu and Siaya counties have been linked to pollution, lake upwelling, and decomposition of aquatic vegetation — all factors known to deplete oxygen in the water.
Meanwhile, panic has gripped unaffected farmers, many of whom have started harvesting and selling immature fish to avoid possible losses should the problem spread.
Onyango stressed that farmers must follow scientific guidance to reduce risks in future, saying the tragedy was a wake-up call for stricter management of cage fishing in Lake Victoria.
