Kenya coast Guard has destroyed illegal fishing nets worth KSh. 3 million in Kisumu

By Dave Opiyo

Kenya Coast Guard has destroyed illegal fishing nets worth Sh. 3 million in Kisumu as they announced more swoop in Lake Victoria.

Captain Jotham Odera in charge of Western Region says the exercise was conducted from October last year and saw the arrest of 113 suspects.

Odera says in conjunction with other stakeholders including Ministry of Fisheries officials and Beach Management Unit (BMU) officials, they managed to cover lake waters in Homa Bay, Kisumu and Siaya Counties.

Speaking in Kisumu during the exercise to set a blaze nets, Odera says the suspects were arraigned in various courts charged with using illegal nets and failure to use live jackets in the lake.

He announced that the culprits were fined hefty fines to deter others from engaging in illegal fishing activities.

Odera warned boat owners and fishermen that they will escalate their operations in the lake to wipe out illegal fishing gear which has been blamed for catching immature fish.

Kisumu County BMU chairman John Ouya says Kenya Coast Guards have done an exemplary job since their inception to bring order in the lake.

Ouya says in the past there was blame game on who is responsible for the decline of fish catch in the lake.

He called upon fishermen in Lake Victoria to cooperate with the Guards to ensure the lake is sustainably conserved for the future generation.