Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Hassan Joho has directed ministry officials to start identifying fish landing sites and fishermen to be trained on modern methods of fish farming.
Joho said it is incumbent upon the government to enlighten fisherfolk on evolving fishing methods which will go a long way in easing pressures exerted on water bodies.
The CS, who spoke in Kisumu when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Anyang Nyong’o, was responding to suggestions from Seme MP Dr. James Nyikal who highlighted the advantages of cage fish farming.
He also lamented that many fisherfolk risked being driven out of business by big-time cage fish farmers, proposing that local fisherfolk be empowered to venture into commercial fish cage farming to gain equal footing.
Joho said that a mapping will be done on the number of fisher folk and landing sites towards retooling them with modern fishing skills.
The CS said that beach management units should form cooperatives which he noted will in turn be used in marketing fish products and identifying fishermen to undergo training.
Joho said that government departments have started identifying parcels of land belonging to fisherfolk that had been grabbed by unscrupulous individuals, noting that some 100,000 parcels had been under investigation.
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Further, he promised that the proposed Kabonyo/Kanyagwal Ksh2 billion fish project shall be fast-tracked.
Governor Nyong’o lamented the high number of deaths in Lake Victoria citing that approximately 5,790 people die annually in the lake due to obsolete boats.
He said that beacons shall be placed in the lake as one of the ways of safeguarding the lives of maritime users, in addition to encouraging fishermen to use fibreglass boats which he noted are safer.
The Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department of Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Kaituko Geoffrey said that a rescue and evacuation center will be erected adjacent to the lake.
Also present were Kisumu West MP Rosa Buyu and county Woman Representative Ruth Odinga.
By Fredrick Odiero
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