Magoti Ernest
Other projects
19 Sep 2024
Conserving Lake Victoria's Endangered Haplochromine Cichlids Through Mitigating Disease Risks From Cage Fish Farms (Savecichlids)
Lake Victoria once supported more than 500 species of haplochromine cichlids, forming one of the world’s most diverse freshwater fish ecosystem (IUCN, 2018). However, the introductions of exotic species and human-induced environmental changes have led to the collapse of haplochromines and other key fisheries (Sayer et al., 2018). More recently, the expansion of cage-based aquaculture into shallow littoral zones critical habitats for these endangered species; Haplochromis obesus, Haplochromis teunisrasi, and Haplochromis igneopinnis is creating new and poorly monitored conservation threats.
Recent findings from our SaveCichlids project demonstrated that pathogenic bacteria found in farmed Nile tilapia are also infecting wild endangered haplochromines living near fish cages (Ndaro, 2025). While this provided the first scientific evidence of pathogen exchange, there is currently no system in place to monitor fish health or detect disease spillover at an early stage. This knowledge gap poses a major extinction risk to already threatened haplochromines and jeopardizes the sustainability of aquaculture development in the Lake Victoria Basin (LVB).
The SaveCichlids II project will achieve three objectives directly benefiting wild endangered haplochromine cichlids:
Firstly, it will strengthen the adoption of improved biosecurity and farm-level disease prevention practices that reduce pathogen exchange between aquaculture sites and endangered haplochromine cichlids. By enhancing farmers’ knowledge of biosecurity and early disease detection, the project will promote profitable and environmentally responsible aquaculture within designated zones, minimizing interactions between cage farms and wild haplochromine populations.
Secondly, the project will develop and deploy a digital Early Detection and Early Response (EDER) communication system linking community disease monitors with fisheries authorities and aquatic animal health professionals. This system will enable real-time reporting, verification, and rapid response to fish disease outbreaks within 72 hours, ensuring early containment before pathogens spread from cage farmed fish to wild haplochromine cichlids.
Lastly, the project will build capacity and promote community awareness on aquatic disease management and biodiversity conservation. Fishers, cage farmers, and fisheries officers will be trained to operate the EDER platform and to respond effectively to outbreaks in collaboration with fisheries authorities. Together, these efforts will contribute to the survival of endangered haplochromine, fostering a sustainable balance between aquaculture development and the conservation of Lake Victoria’s unique biodiversity.