Effects of Fish Cage Aquaculture on Water Quality in Lake Victoria, Kenya.

Abstract

Aquaculture is one of the practices that is projected to contribute to food security and the realization of UNDP SDG 2: Zero Hunger, by 2030. However, developing countries of which Kenya is no exception, are faced with the challenge of the impact of aquaculture practices on the environment (FAO, 2006). High amount of discharges which include waste food and faeces, nutrients, and in some instances medication and pesticide residues are released from cage farms. The impact of these effluents on the receiving environment depend largely on the quantity of waste discharged, the time period at which the discharge takes place, the ability of the environment to absorb the discharges and the rate at which the receiving water body is able to flush the effluent.