Management and utilization of weed: water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for improved aquatic resources. (Special Issue: The future of fisheries in a changing global climate.)

摘要

Natural aquatic plants population can be healthy for any aquatic ecosystems as they serve as fish feed, play an important role in nutrient cycling, purify the water, control unwanted algal growth and support fauna including birds. Water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes) have proven to be a persistent and expensive aquatic weed problem. The review was carried out in the face of current global challenge (climate change) which threatens biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources so that water hyacinth could be viewed as an asset of multifarious benefits considering the revealed highlights rather than been labeled expensive nuisance. The simplest method of management of aquatic weeds is to harvest it and utilize it for cost effectiveness in production such preparation of fish and livestock feeds, bio-gas production, making of charcoal briquetting and waste water treatment for domestic and industrial use. The main problem of utilization and management of water hyacinth is its high cost of transportation to sites for utilization but once this can be overcome as revealed in the review appropriate utilization techniques is recommended.