THE fisheries authorities in Nchelenge district of Luapula Province says an invasive fish species has invaded the Mweru-Luapula fishery.
Luapula District Research Officer Masiliso Phiri confirmed the presence of the alien fish known as the snakehead in an interview with ZANIS in Nchelenge yesterday.
Ms. Phiri said the predatory fish is indigenous to the South Eastern Asia, China, India and the Southern tip of Russia.
She said its presence is a source of worry because of its predatory nature to other fish species and that studies are underway to establish its impact on the natural fishery.
She raised fears that the decline of the fish stocks in the Mweru-Luapula Fishery may be partly blamed on its presence because of its versatility on the indigenous fish species.
She noted that 97 per cent of its diet is exclusively other fish species while the remaining three per cent comprise of birds, frogs, small reptiles and mammals among others.
She also noted that the snakehead fish excels in shallow ponds, swamps, canals and slow streams with mud or vegetated substrate.
She said initial studies have indicated that the strange fish locally known as ‘Gomogomo’ can survive for four days out of water in a moist environment and has the ability to cross from one water body to another on a moist land.
She added that the insidious species has posted an impressive four per cent of the total annual catches and that it can hatch between 25, 000 and 50, 000 young ones at once.
Ms. Phiri explained that the snakehead species was initially cultured by a European fish farmer in the ponds on the banks of the Lufubu river in the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC.
She said the notorious fish allegedly sneaked into the Lufubu river after the ponds burst because of the floods before it was eventually spotted at Chembe on the Luapula river in 1998.
She noted that over the years the alien fish has spread downstream into the rivers, streams and the Mweru Lake especially the breeding areas.
Ms. Phiri named Mifimbo and Mwatishi breeding areas, Kalungwishi river, Nshinda, and Kenani streams including the surrounding lagoons as some of the areas that have been invaded.
However, Ms. Phiri said the vicious fish has allegedly failed to go into the Bangweulu fishery because of the water rapids at Mumbotuta falls.
Is this fish edible? If it is why worry?
…because it is eating a lot of other fish before we eat it (i.e. if it is edible) and thus reducing our fish numbers
This fish is very edible and very tasty. It is a big fleshy fish. No major bones inside.
oh no !!!! not my beautiful kalungwishi river…. i just love that river..
so chi snakefishi chinecho kuti twalya? these are the same fish species that brings ebola
Don’t be silly. Ebola is caused by eating monkey meat. Welcome snake head fish. Time to change diet. Finish all the dry fleshed buka buka please.
hmmm isabi yami pamba iyi. ati it can cross between two water bodies and stay out of water for four days. this is another majavana/weevils case of kafue river. ecological balance yabena ng’umbo yalabipa!!!
awe this is a monstrous fish. uyo umusungu uwaletele isabi iyi should be brought to book or the congolese government should start paying reparations for allowing such a dangerous ecological imbalance. tesabi iyi iyakwangalilako. abasungu, they bring more damage than good konse ekobaya. the european (caucasian) continuosly proves that he is not acceptable to live with in peace anywhere on the planet. they always bring death and destruction. mwamona nomba!!!
it must be my sperm swimming in those waters. evans mfula at evaduco reporting live from chivolia compound in lusaka
These are the dangers of legalising Marijuana!!
This article is not inspiring at all as it only identifies a problem but does not offer any solution. Since no solution is being talked about, may I ask Ms. Phiri: how do we exterminate this predatory fish? Do we have to wait until all our various types of fish are eaten up by this fish? Fish stocks have already started dwindling partly due to this predatory fish. Any measures to address this predicament?
Chi picture of the same fish can do, so that we know how it looks like.
WATCHOUT the Chinese has come to stay they even brought their favorite fish to Africa
These fish species have been there for a long time. I remember my dad talking about this fish as early as 1994. They are actually called “inkomo” and not “gomogomo.”
Alale, alale mwebooo, wekisabi wafuma kwisa? Awe kwena beonaula imimana yakwesu mwe. Fweba too blue twachula nomba alale, alale, alale.
alale, nga iwe wekimuntu wafuma kwisa kanshi? waba uwakutusekesya sana tata wesu nangula mayo. twatotela!!!
Its a camouflage like without scales, but very tasty. U can find it at Kazembe market in Mwansabombwe district. But I dont think its the one depleting fish in Luapula. Its the fishing methods(using mosquito nets). Since u are saying its not in bangweulu, why is there no fish?when was the last time that fish restocking was done in lake Mweru, Mweru wantipa, mweru wa muchanga, Bangweulu, chifunabuli or indeed luapula river?
Snakeheads can become invasive species and cause ecological damage because they are top-level predators, meaning they have no natural enemies outside of their native environment. Not only can they breathe atmospheric air, but they can also survive on land for up to four days, provided they are wet, and are known to migrate up to 1/4 mile on wet land to other bodies of water by wriggling with their body and fins. National Geographic has referred to snakeheads as “Fishzilla”and the National Geographic Channel reported the “northern snakehead reaches sexual maturity by age two or three. Each spawning-age female can release up to 15,000 eggs at once. Snakeheads can mate as often as five times a year. This means in just two years, a single female can release up to 150,000 eggs.”
Since…
Bashe kwena te chi ngola ichi belelandapo? The description is like chi ngola.
I will make a plan to have some in Bangweulu cos of this reproductive rate nishi twalya futhi kwa mayo