At first light along the shores of Lake Kivu, wooden canoes glide into Kituku port in Goma, their decks heavy with silver catches from a long night on the water.

Young men quickly unload baskets of sambaza — a small fish that has become one of the most important sources of food and income in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Within minutes, traders crowd around the boats, bargaining and sorting the shimmering fish destined for markets across the city and beyond the border into neighboring Rwanda.

Despite its modest size, sambaza has an outsized impact on life around Lake Kivu.

For Claude Rwasha, sambaza is more than a daily catch — it is the foundation of his livelihood.

"Sambaza is not only consumed in Goma," he says. "It is sold in Rwanda. Before the war, it even reached Kinshasa and places like Kitshanga and Rutshuru."

Rwasha has fished since childhood. Today, he owns 18 motorized canoes — an investment worth nearly 10,000 US dollars — and employs close to 100 workers. On a good day, he earns at least $400 from the trade.

But earning a living from Lake Kivu comes with risks.

"This work has many difficulties," Rwasha explains. "At night there are strong waves and cold rain. But when morning comes and God blesses you with a good catch, you forget the suffering."

Scientists also say methane gas trapped in the lake's depths can pose risks if disturbed.

Originally native to Lake Tanganyika, sambaza was introduced into Lake Kivu in the late 1950s. Over decades, it has become a dietary staple and a pillar of local economic survival.

Today, the fish represents far more than nourishment.

"This business allowed me to buy land and build a house," Rwasha says. "I can provide for my family. If a child gets sick, I can pay for treatment. Visitors never go hungry because of this job."

Affordable at about four dollars per kilogram, sambaza remains accessible to most families, making it a vital source of protein in a region facing economic hardship and periodic conflict.