Introduction of the Nile Perch?

[BigSab]

Interested and concerned about the dwindling of native cichlid populations in lake Victoria I've been doing a lot of research lately on the so called Introduction of the Nile Perch in lake Victoria. I have a question. In the research I've done it shows that the Major feeding body of water to the Nile is lake Victoria. Obviously because of this they are considered joined bodies of water. Why would the Perch need to be Introduced if it natively inhabits the Nile river?

[BigSab]

Seneca Lake in upstate NY feeds Catherine Creek(a known Trout hot spot). All the species of fish you'll find in the creek you'll also find in the lake (Hence joint bodies of water). This is making me a little confused,any one who could shed some light on this would be nice.

[Chromedome]

The Nile Perch is naturally found in the Lower Nile, in Egypt and into Sudan, I think. There are numerous and large waterfalls, which prevented the fish from travelling all the way up the river to Lake Victoria, in Uganda. It was only when man helped them get past these natural barriers that they were set loose in the lake.

[BigSab]

thanks for shedding some light on that.............

[BigSab]

But on another note, Salmon (King,Red,Silver ETC) all swim upstream to spawn through numerous water falls in Canada and Alaska. And this Beast of a perch is clearly a lot larger and stronger than any of those salmon I've mentioned. I know that with salmon thats mostly a strong instinctive drive to spawn, but in NYS yellow perch are sometimes caught in the creeks that feed the finger lakes & also the ones that are fed by the lake. I guess what I'm trying to state is if the yellow perch occasionally swims up and down stream to and from the Finger lakes Why would it be IMPOSSIBLE that a Juvie or even sub adult Nile Perch make the same journey occasionally? I feel there is a strong possibility that The Nile perch was native to that lake long before they were stocked/introduced.

[StructureGuy]

The waterfall in Jinga, Uganda is large enough to stop fish from swimming up the falls. It actually feeds a hydro electric power plant these days.

The introduction of the Nile Perch certainly effected our beloved cichlids a great deal, but it is only one of the many ecological problems the lake is facing. In fact there is some indication that the fishing industry and the availability of food is bringing the nile perch population into some sort of equilibrium.

Kevin

[BigSab]

I've read that also. The challenges the lake are facing is a shame. Hopefully Mother nature will take it's course and bring balance back to Victoria.

[BigSab]

I just read something that I had no Idea of.The African tiger fish Inhabit Victoria? I was under the assumption that they were native to the Lake Nasser, The Nile,Zambezi and other southern waters. I could guaranty they do there share of Demolishing the remaining cichlid population also.

[fishyfactoids]

I've read that also. The challenges the lake are facing is a shame. Hopefully Mother nature will take it's course and bring balance back to Victoria.

The way I understand it there are many stresses on the lake besides the perch, though that has affected aquarists the most. Even without the effects of humans, ecosystems are often delicate things, the balance of which is easy to set off and incredibly hard to restore once things get out of hand. Some public aquariums now have breeding programs for species of cichlids that are extinct in the wild if the African government ever decides to try a reintroduction program. (well I only literally know of one, but apparently there are others).

[BigSab]

it's a first step in many I guess. It amazes me that we are the most intelligent life form on this planet and yet in the last 300 years we are to blame for thousands of extinct species. Sometimes it seems that we mingle with nature for our own amusement. (Hence the stocking of the perch in the lake for sports fisherman) I'm not innocent by any means, I hunt and fish,but at the same time I respect nature and NEVER kill for sport or trophies, I eat what ever I kill and do not take more than necessary. I feel thats why it pisses me off when you have people that just want a head or a fish on there wall. IMO we should be hunting those FU%#ers.

[StructureGuy]

You do have a point BigSab, yet it is far too easy for you and I to ignore the other aspect of the nile perch introduction. It was done to create a fishing industry for the impoverished nations and hungry people surrounding the lake and in that respect it has had some success. (More for industry than for individuals, I understand.)

When Les Kaufman was asked how the conditions in the lake could be improved, his response was that taking care of the people would be the first step. I've noticed that the scientists that have been there generally have a more understanding view of the chain of events than people such as myself sitting in my den sipping coffee.

Kevin

[fishyfactoids]

Therein lies the problem: balancing the weight of our needs against those of the ecosystem and it's natural inhabitants. It's never as easy as stopping the people who are cutting down a rainforest, because those people have families to support and a great need for money.

By the way YOU KNOW WHO LES KAUFMAN IS? I realize that that's off-topic, but he's the person who kind of got me interested in more aspects of fish than which ones are suitable for the aquarium (I've never met him in person, though).

[StructureGuy]

By the way YOU KNOW WHO LES KAUFMAN IS?

Of course (although I've never met him either.) I'm surprised to know that the people on Mars have heard of him though.:)

Kevin

[fishyfactoids]

Ah, see people on Mars have dads who teach at the same university as him and convince him to email me (I mean people) tend to hear of him :).

[zenobium]

The way I understand it there are many stresses on the lake besides the perch, though that has affected aquarists the most. Even without the effects of humans, ecosystems are often delicate things, the balance of which is easy to set off and incredibly hard to restore once things get out of hand. Some public aquariums now have breeding programs for species of cichlids that are extinct in the wild if the African government ever decides to try a reintroduction program. (well I only literally know of one, but apparently there are others).

Hey,

I was literally at the Toledo Zoo yesterday and toured the "behind the scenes" aquarium setup with a University group. They are breeding several types of Victorians but have NO HOPE OF EVER REINTRODUCING STOCK. All the fish have a form of tuberculosis that makes them unsafe to put into a natural body of water. The exact words of the keeper was that they are only trying to "maintain the genome." :(

Its too bad, they were some beautiful fish. Unfortunately I was told that African Cichlid breeding programs are no longer in "fad" with public aquaria. Toledo has theirs because other zoos didnt want the groups anymore :mad:

-Zen