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The Lake Victoria Basin ecosystem continues to
undergo substantial changes as a result of pollution
from industry and agriculture, the proliferation
of waterweeds, over-fishing, the introduction of
invasive alien species and land degradation. Algal
blooms are prevalent in the Lake, to the extent that
water transparency declined from five metres in
the 1930s to less than one metre in the 1990s. The
proliferation of the water hyacinth weed impedes
the flow of water for irrigation, hinders navigation
and interferes with hydropower schemes. The
introduction of the Nile perch is blamed for the
decline in the number of fish species from over 400
to about 200.
CHANGING
ENVIRONMENT
2