Abstract:
The Nile perch, Lates niloticus was introduced into both Lakes Victoria and Kyoga in the mid 1950s and early 1960s. It is a predatory fish of high commercial and recreational value which can grow up to a length of 2 m and a weight of 200 kg. It was expected to feed on and convert the haplochromine cichlids which were abundant into these lakes but not commercialy exploited into a more valuable table fish. This was done'amidst fears that it would feed on and deplete stocks of the commecrcially i'mportant native fishes especially the tilapiines and also affect the native predators the catfish Bagrus docmac which depended on haplochromines for food." Four tilapiine species, Dreochromis niloticus, D. Tilapia zillii, and T. rendalli were'also intoduced into lak es about the same time