Economic Value |
Lake Victoria supports what may be the most productive freshwater fishery in the world. Annual fish yields exceed 500,000 tons, with a value of $400 million.
The lake's fisheries are currently dominated by three commercial species: the Nile perch, tilapia and dagaa. The Nile perch has a lucrative market abroad, particularly in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Over 80 per cent of the fish in Lake Victoria is the Nile perch, a non-native species introduced in the lake a few decades ago.
Tilapia is the only indigenous fish species left as food for the local communities in Mwanza region and many parts of Tanzania.
In addition to fishing, economic activities in the basin include agriculture, livestock, forestry, tourism, floriculture, hydropower generation, and transport. Crops grown in the watershed include maize, cotton, sisal, tobacco, beans, sugarcane, and coffee. The human population in the catchment has been increasing at the rate of 3%-4% per year.
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