Homa Bay: Kenya Fisheries Services Destroys KSH 4m Illegal Fishing Nets

• Kenya Fisheries Services deputy director in charge of Kisumu region Christine Etiegni said the move is aimed at conserving the fish ecosystem
• There are concerns over a drop in fish within Lake Victoria, a situation attributed to the use of illegal fishing nets
• Statistics show that fish catch in Homa Bay had dropped from 100,000 metric tons to 39,000 metric tons

Homa Bay – Officials from the Kenya Fisheries Services (KFS) have set ablaze illegal fishing nets valued at over KSh 4 million.

The nets were seized following a multi-agency crackdown in Homa Bay County.

According to Christine Etiegni, the Kenya Fisheries Services deputy director in charge of the Kisumu region, the move is part of their efforts to conserve fish in the lake.

"For something to be good, it has to be protected, and we have to protect our lake for it to be valuable. We ask the fisher folks to embrace this operation, for it will enhance their livelihoods," Etiegni told TUKO.co.ke.

The operation targeting fishermen using illegal fishing nets started early this month and will continue as authorities seek to protect the lake’s ecosystem.

Homa Bay records drop in fish catch

Homa Bay County Director of Fisheries George Okoth revealed a significant drop in fish catch in the region.

Statistics show that fishermen have been able to catch only 39,000 metric tons, down from the previous average of 100,000 metric tons monthly.

"These figures underscore the urgent need for sustainable fishing practices to restore the lake's health and the livelihoods dependent on it," Okoth said.

He also added that the declining numbers have always led to cross-border conflicts among the fishermen.

Meanwhile, Homa Bay County commissioner Moses Lilan noted that the destruction of the illegal nets is meant to curb illegal fishing, which had tremendously reduced the fish population in Lake Victoria.

"For a while now, we have noticed widespread use of illegal fishing gears in Homa Bay county, and that prompted the Kenya Fisheries Services department to confiscate the illegal nets during last week's raid in beaches along Homa Bay county's Lake Victoria," Lilan noted.

He added that the use of these illegal gears has led to overfishing and the destruction of fish breeding grounds.

"We run the risk of losing the valuable fish from Lake Victoria if illegal practices continue, and we seek collaboration from all the stakeholders so that we revive the lake back to what it was," the county commissioner said.

Individuals extorting Homa Bay fishermen warned

In addition, Lilan sounded a warning to individuals purporting to be security agencies who go on patrol only to extort the fishermen.

He assured of the government’s commitment to protect fishermen from such individuals.

"We will ensure that the fishermen are protected from extortion by cartels who take their money purporting to protect them in exchange for allowing them to use illegal nets,” he said.

Lake Victoria fisherman recounts surviving death

Previously, TUKO.co.ke reported that Isma Magongo, a 49-year-old fisherman from Kaliro District, recounted his near-fatal encounter with a crocodile on Dolwe Island, Lake Victoria.

The incident occurred in 2015 when Magongo went to check on a delayed boat carrying fish to Namayingo District.

The harrowing incident occurred as the fisherman washed his hands at the water’s edge.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Collage of Homa Bay county commissioner George Okoth (left) and Kenya Fisheries Services deputy director in charge of Kisumu region Christine Etiegni (right).

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