Shrinking fish stocks caused by illegal fishing has been a growing problem in Lake Victoria. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) report of 2018, illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing is posing a severe threat to the survival of fish species in the lake. Lake Victoria is the second-largest freshwater lake in the world. The lake is shared by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. In the report, IUCN reports that about 76% of the fish species in the lake currently face extinction.

Overfishing is one of the key drivers for the decline of fish species. Illegal fishing gears such as trawl nets and monofilament nets, and the use of unlicensed vessels, contribute to the deletion of the fish stocks in the lake.

The future of Lake Victoria lies in our hands. Let us raise awareness about the dangers of illegal fishing among people.