KENYA – Illegal fishing practices have ignited tensions among fishermen in Homa Bay, with some accused of using gear that captures juvenile fish, impeding their growth and reproduction.
The depletion of fish stocks in the lake is feared to be a direct consequence of these practices.
Efforts by Beach Management Units (BMUs) to designate breeding zones in the lake for young fish are being undermined by these unlawful activities.
The intrusion into these breeding zones is escalating conflicts among the fishermen.
At Uwi Beach Management Unit in Mbita Sub-county, the situation turned violent in May when two fishermen were killed while defending their breeding zone from intruders from a neighboring beach in Homa Bay Sub-county.
Roy Awuor, Chairman of Uwi BMU, recounted the tragic event, stating, “We went to prevent the fishermen from encroaching on our breeding zone, but the confrontation led to the death of two fishermen from our beach.”
The persistence and aggressiveness of those engaging in illegal fishing practices have heightened the conflict.
John Odongo, Chairman of Ndhuru BMU in Mbita Sub-county, reported similar issues in his area, labeling the incursions as trespassing.
Homa Bay County Director of Fisheries, George Okoth, has urged fishermen to report such invasions to his department to facilitate the arrest and prosecution of the offenders.
Despite the challenges, Kenya’s fishing industry has shown resilience. In 2022, the production value of fish in Kenya reached 31.1 billion Kenyan shillings (US$ 221.1 million), marking the highest figure in recent years.
This growth is attributed to stringent regulations on fishing techniques during breeding periods, which have promoted the sustainable use of fishery resources.
The volume of fish landed in the country remained steady in 2021 compared to the previous year.
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