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Fishermen in Kenya’s Lake Naivasha are struggling due to the invasive water hyacinth, which has drastically affected their fishing yields, impacting their livelihoods.
The plant, which was introduced in the 1980s, has taken over large portions of the lake
The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a beautiful but invasive aquatic plant native to tropical and subtropical South America.
It is known for its glossy green leaves, attractive purple flowers, and rapid growth rate.
Water hyacinths can reproduce vegetatively at a very fast rate, doubling their population size in as little as two weeks.
This rapid growth can quickly form dense mats that cover the water surface, blocking sunlight and hindering the growth of other aquatic plants.
When water hyacinths die and decompose, they use up oxygen in the water.
This can lead to oxygen depletion, which can harm fish and other aquatic life
Naivasha lake
Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in Kenya
It is situated in the Great Rift Valley.
Lake Naivasha is at the highest elevation of the Kenyan Rift valley at 1,884 metres
Apart from transient streams, the lake is fed by the perennial Malewa and Gilgil rivers.
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