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Water weed infestation at lake
Water weed infestation at lake 
Water weed infestation at lake
Water weed infestation at lake 
Water weed infestation at lake
Water weed infestation at lake 
PERU 2019. Fishing on Arapa Lake
PERU 2019. Fishing on Arapa Lake 
KENYA 2003 working with special nets on Lake Victoria in an effort to conserve the dwindling fish stocks.
KENYA 2003 working with special nets on Lake Victoria in an effort to conserve the dwindling fish stocks. 
PERU 2019. Fishing on Arapa Lake
PERU 2019. Fishing on Arapa Lake 
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika 
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika 
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika 
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika 
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika 
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika 
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika 
Farmer Field Schools in Kenya
Farmer Field Schools in Kenya 
Farmer Field Schools in Kenya
Farmer Field Schools in Kenya 
Farmer Field Schools in Kenya
Farmer Field Schools in Kenya 
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika 
Farmer Field Schools in Kenya
Farmer Field Schools in Kenya 
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika
TANZANIA 2021. Development of a value chain analysis of the pelagics sector on Lake Tanganyika 
Farmer Field Schools in Kenya
Farmer Field Schools in Kenya 
Water weed infestation at lake 
Boat landing site on Lake Victoria, one of the world's largest bodies of freshwater, infested by water hyacinth. Fishers on Lake Victoria have been hard hit by water weed infestations. The weeds slow down their boats and make landings difficult, and as a result, much of their fish catch decays. Boats also use more fuel to get through the heavy weeds and increased costs are then reflected in consumer prices. - - General: General. The water hyacinth is native to South America. Experts suspect it was brought to Africa in the 1980s by botanists and gardeners as an ornamental plant. However, it is now classed as a water-weed.

Water-weeds cause a lot of damage to the environment. They make waterways unnavigable, reduce the generating capacity of hydro-electric stations and block irrigation canals. By clogging sewage and drainage systems, they can cause flooding, contaminate drinking water and create breeding grounds for harmful insects and bacteria.

Water-weeds also contribute to water shortages. They absorb water and then release it through transpiration. As a result, water losses can be more than three times higher in weed-infested water bodies.

in 1995, FAO became one of the major technical executing agencies in a five-year project to control water hyacinth on lake Victoria using biological methods. This project has succeeded in reducing the weed in the lake by more than 60 percent.
Undated photo 
Credit © R. Labrada 
File size 556.09 KB 
Unique ID UF110D6 
FAO. Editorial use only. Photo credit must be given. 

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