Environment
Courtesy of kkstone.blogspot.com
catastrophe
atastrophe
wims in hot water
Climate change has been cited in most scientific circles as a
possible cause, with its weather-changing effect being touted as the
biggest threat.
Lake Kariba’salgae has changed significantly in volume, shape and
colour due to nutrient pathway and cycle changes. Fish relying on
algae for nutrition have consequently suffered, kapenta included.
The reduction in kapenta catches could also indicate a reduced
Sand Mussels population in Lake Kariba.
Dale Kenmuir, a noted researcher and writer on Lake Kariba and
conservation issues, writing for “Zimbabwe Wildlife” magazine No:33
September 1983 issue in an article entitled “The Sand Mussels of Lake
Kariba”, established the link between sand mussels populations and
kapenta wellbeing. He also established their extremely important
role in the nutrient cycle of the lake.
Chivungu says he will never forget the time he spotted a tiger fish
in the lake, or the time he sold his first catch. He credits his success
to being extremely hard working: “If you do the work, you make a
living,” he says, emphasizing, “Nothing more, nothing less.”
There’s no denying that warm is the new norm, and with continual
national and global inaction, to curb fossil fuel emissions, “we all have
to adapt”, Zimbabwe environmentalist and co-recipient of the 2007
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change, Professor Chris Magadza, recently told
The Parade.
“After all, the only constant is change - and what we
do in the face of this change will make all the difference,”
said the University of Zimbabwe researcher, who is
still a member of the International Lake Environment
Committee.
The now-retired professor further explains: “These fish
species used to be abundant and they can be sustainably
managed. The best way to ensure a future for our treasured
traditional fishing communities is to buy what they do
catch.”
According to Laiton Mkandawire, a long-standing
Kariba destination planner with enduring partnerships
committed to seamless service delivery on the tourism
front in Zimbabwe, climate has been cited in most scientific
circles as a possible cause with its weather changing effect
being touted as the biggest threat.
Reviewing recent research, a panel of experts “found
firm evidence” that the effects of climate change, coupled
with other human-induced impacts such as overfishing
and nut rient run-off from farming, have already caused a
dramatic decline in ocean health.
Not only are there severe declines in many fish species,
to the point of commercial extinction in some cases, and an
“unparalleled” rate of regional extinction of some habitat
types, such as mangrove and seagrass meadows, but some
whole marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs, may be gone
within a generation.
It has been said Lake Kariba is overfished with fishing
rig populations rising uncontrollably, but authorities have
not publicly responded to this concern, yet.
Even after decades in the waters, the most dramatic
change of all for watermen like Chivungu may well be our
response to climate change. The lake’s warming waters,
combined with rigorous regulations, bring continuous
challenge to independent fishermen trying to feed their
families.
They say the Zambezi River Authority and the lake
town authority’s reputation was built on fish – kapenta,
hake and tiger, but all these seem to be swimming away to
God knows where. TP
Courtesy of greatnorthroad.org
The Parade - Zimbabwe’s Most Read Lifestyle Magazine
April 2013
Page 43