Photo credit: Magd Al-Bawaab (Egypt)
Review: Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Site founder)
Lake Burullus is a large, elongate, and shallow lake that is located between the two Nile branches forming the delta in Egypt.
The salinity in the lake varies according to the distances from the main water sources of the lake; the salinity increases in zones closer to the sea while low salinity dominates near the outflows of drains and canals that flow into the lake.
In zones of fresh to slightly brackish water, the infestation with reeds and other plants is common. The heavy weed infestation represents a major problem to fishing activities. A variety of actions are taken to control the spread of aquatic plants and reduce its biomass in the lake. These methods include mechanical methods using weed cutters and biological methods through the stocking of grass carp.
The photo shows a sailboat pulling a mass of reeds which is an initiative done by fishermen –or others- who cut and move specific plants such as reeds (Phragmites australis). These reeds are made into mats which are used in variety of purposes in the nearby community. Of course, this method could be effective if done according to ecological studies that consider fish and nutritional dynamics in the lake.
