Nile perch is the primary predator introduced into Africa’s Lake Victoria for commercial fishing.
Nile perch, Lates niloticus, was introduced to Lake Victoria and nearby waters during the 1950s and 1960s. The goal was to create a large commercial fishery, because the species grows quickly and reaches a substantial size.
The introduction produced a valuable export industry, but it also caused severe ecological disruption. Nile perch became a dominant predator and contributed to declines in many native haplochromine cichlids, a group that had evolved into hundreds of local forms.
The Lake Victoria fishery became an international example of the risks of moving species between ecosystems. Processing and export generated income, while local communities also experienced changes in fishing practices, food availability, and environmental conditions.