At dawn on Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, fishermen like Claude Rwasha bring in their catches of sambaza, a small silver fish crucial for local food security and income. This species, introduced in the late 1950s, is now a dietary staple and economic pillar, traded in Goma and even across the border into Rwanda, and historically reaching Kinshasa. Rwasha, who employs nearly 100 workers with his 18 motorized canoes valued at $10,000, earns at least $400 on good days, using the profits to build a home and support his family. Despite the risks of harsh weather and potential methane gas disturbances in the lake, the affordable sambaza, costing about $4 per kilogram, provides vital protein for families in a region prone to economic hardship and conflict.