Pole of the Nile

The pole of the Nile ( Lates niloticus ), called wrongly “captain” (name more adapted to fish of the family of the Lethrinidés), is a fish of the family of the centropomidés (order of the Perciformes, sub-order of the Percoidei) which can reach nearly 2 meters length. The pole of the Nile is originating in Ethiopia.

Introduction into Lake Victoria

Into the years 1950, the pole of the Nile was introduced into water of the Lake Victoria, 2nd greater soft water reserve on Ground. This lake had the effect of sheltering a considerable quantity of indigenous species, mainly several hundreds of species of cichlidés, fruit of an explosive diversification since (Re) the creation of the lake 12000 years ago until the introduction of the pole of the Nile.

The pole remarkably adapted to this environment, with the detriment of the local species. Whereas in 1977, the catches of cichlidés account for 32% more of fished tonnage and those of the poles of the Nile 1%,6 years later the catches comprised 68% of poles of the Nile for 1% of cichlidés.

The group of specialists in the species of IUCN includes the Lates niloticus among worst the hundred invasive species of the world.

However, in spite of the disappearance of a great number of species of cichlidés, tonnages take off: 1000 T in 1978,100 000 T in 1993 for only the Kenya - the Tanzania exports from now on the pole of the Nile in direction of the European Union like its principal re-entry of currencies: 500 tons of nets are daily sent airport of Mwanza, on the Lake Victoria. A report/ratio of the United Nations for the food and agriculture, published in 1987, concludes that " the presence of the pole of the Nile in the fisheries of the lake Victoria" constitute " an extremely positive development from the point of view of the wellbeing humain".

A study concerning the introduction of the pole of the Nile in Australia (Queensland) was undertaken there are about fifteen years, but " considering the devastations caused by this fish in several Lakes Afrique" , the local government finally rejected this idea.

The film the Nightmare of Darwin of the Austrian realizer Hubert Sauper denounces the exploitation of the pole of the Nile and its consequences, that the author uses as a parabola of the problems of Africa such as it perceives them.

Régérences external

External bonds

the card concerning the '' Perche of the Nile '' on Total Invasive Species Database (in English)
IRD Page prepared by D. Paugy, of IRD, on the Pole of the Nile in Lake Victoria.
BBC News an article of the BBC on the positive aspects and negative of the pole of the Nile around Lake Victoria (in English).
is it Necessary (finally) to eat pole of the Nile?

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