A study done in 2012 concluded that Jipe Tilapia will become extinct within 20yrs. It now 14 years past and true to the words we hardly catch asilia fish in our daily harvests! Its gone!!

The invasion of Typha domingensis has pushed the endemic Jipe Tilapia (Oreochromis jipe) to the brink of extinction. The weed rapid expansion has triggered a chain of ecological nuisance for the lake’s native fish.

Impact on Jipe Tilapia

• Loss of Breeding Grounds: As the lake becomes shallower due to siltation, the expansion of Typha has significantly reduced the vegetated fringes previously used as critical nursery and breeding grounds for Jipe Tilapia.
• Competition and Hybridization: The decline of the native tilapia led to the introduction of non-native species like Nile Tilapia (O. niloticus) in 2015 to boost catches. However, these invasive fish outcompete the native Jipe Tilapia and hybridize with them, diluting their genetic purity. Jipe Tilapia could have migrated to where there is less competition.
• Declining fish Yields-almost nill in 2026.
• High Parasite Prevalence: Native fish in Lake Jipe now exhibit high rates of parasitic infections (up to 68.6%), which weakens their immune systems and stunts growth.