A new smokeless lighting technology that is set to replace pressure lamps used by omena (sardines) fishermen in the 400 million-year old Lake Victoria is now available in the country.

Besides being handy for use, the lighting technology is brighter than pressure lamps and is free from paraffin spillage that has dogged the lake for many years. Unlike before when fishermen used over five pressure lamps to catch plenty of fish, the new technology now enables them to use only one source of lighting.

Supplied by Osram Energy Hub, a German based firm, the rechargeable lamps are expected to cut paraffin spillage into the lake by 100 percent once adopted by all fishermen. The move is expected to protect the aquatic life of more than 500 endemic fish species

“Besides being environmental friendly, the new lamps that are re-charged after every three days at a cost of Ksh. 50,” says Peter Mireri, an environmentalist working with a Kisumu based Non governmental organization, Osienala (a Luo acronym for Friends of Lake Victoria).

Already, the technology is being used by fishermen along the beaches in Mbita, Suba district and Osienala expects to avail the same to fishermen in all fish landing beaches around the lake.

Mireri says that in the past fish in the lake have died due to the pollution caused by the daily use of paraffin.

“The introduction has been occasioned by  a study that we did and found that paraffin  usage in the fishing industry has harmful effects to fish and other aquatic life,” adds Mr. Mireri.

Osienala intends to start manufacturing the new gadgets along the lake shores as a way of creating employment to the local people as well as increasing accessibility. The current lighting gadgets were imported from Germany.

The new initiative is a huge boast to the fishing industry, whose annual production is estimated to be between 400 – 500 metric tones with a commercial value of USD$ 300 – 400 million. Another three million people earn their living directly or indirectly from the fishing of omena captured from the lake. 

Despite the depletion of various other fish species such as tilapia as a result of the introduction of the Nile perch into Lake Victoria in the late 1960s, omena has remained resilient. 

From a delicacy solely amongst the Lakers communities, Omena is now even retailed in Kenyan supermarkets and other major outlets in East Africa. The small fish is also recommended by health experts as source of protein for children, with animal feed companies using them to nourish their livestock. 

But as the fishermen smiles, traders along the shores of lake Victoria who were registering booming business in selling pressure lamps are now crying.

---