Crimes Against Earth
Nile Perch in Lake Victoria: Introduced Devastation of an Ecosystem
The Nile Perch is illegal to possess or sell in some parts of the world, and is thought to have caused the extinction or endangering of hundreds of native species. This species—one of the 100 most invasive species in the world—was introduced to East Africa’s Lake Victoria in the 1950s and has wreaked environmental havoc ever since.
After the fish eliminated much of the algae-eating population, the lake become choked with algae. The Perch has also increased local demand for firewood because their higher fat content drives people to smoke them rather than dry them. Adult perch can grow to weigh more than 440 pounds, and are fierce predators that feed on insects, crustaceans, and other fish—even its own kind.
Crimes Against Earth
Nile Perch in Lake Victoria: Introduced Devastation of an Ecosystem
The Nile Perch is illegal to possess or sell in some parts of the world, and is thought to have caused the extinction or endangering of hundreds of native species. This species—one of the 100 most invasive species in the world—was introduced to East Africa’s Lake Victoria in the 1950s and has wreaked environmental havoc ever since.
After the fish eliminated much of the algae-eating population, the lake become choked with algae. The Perch has also increased local demand for firewood because their higher fat content drives people to smoke them rather than dry them. Adult perch can grow to weigh more than 440 pounds, and are fierce predators that feed on insects, crustaceans, and other fish—even its own kind.
