Fishermen decry illegal gear use

Michael Otieno preparing fishing nets at Pier Beach in Homa Bay. [James Omoro, Standard]

The fishermen argued that some of their colleagues use illegal fishing gear which catch young fish. The young fish are expected to grow, mature and reproduce more fish.

However, the use of illegal fishing gear is perceived as a recipe for the depletion of the fish in the lake.

Beach Management Units (BMUs) had set aside breeding zones in the lake for breeding young fish. But what is causing conflict is that the illegal fishing has permeated into the breeding zone too.

The invasion has become a recipe for chaos among fishermen in the lake.

At Uwi Beach Management Unit in Mbita Sub-county, the invasion led to violence in which two fishermen were killed in May this year.

Uwi BMU Chairman Roy Awuor said the two fishermen from Uwi beach were killed when they went to protect the breeding zone against invasion by fishermen from another beach in the neighbouring Homa Bay Sub-county.

“That day, we went to restrain those fishermen from invading our breeding zone but violence erupted before they killed two fishermen from my beach,” Awuor said.

He decried the situation saying fishermen who commit the invasion are so adamant that they are ready to fight.

Fishing boats docked at Remba Island beach, December 2017. [James Omoro, Standard]

Awuor called on government agencies to intervene and stop the invasion. He also called on Homa Bay County Government and Suba North NG-CDF to buy them patrol boats to enhance the protection of young fish in the breeding zones.

“I call on government agencies to intervene in this matter to stop the invasion. We need peace in the lake,” Awuor said.

The Chairman of Ndhuru BMU in Mbita Sub-county John Odongo said the breeding zone in his territory is also affected by the invasion.

Odongo described the invasion as trespass.

“As BMUs in Lake Victoria, we agreed to protect the breeding zones which are set aside for growth and development of young fish. But there is an ongoing trend in which these zones are invaded by fishermen from other beaches. The invasion takes place in my beach and other neighbouring beaches,” Odongo said.

However, Homa Bay County Director of Fisheries George Okoth told the fishermen to report the invaders to his officers so that they can be arrested and charged in court.

“Each BMU has a patrol team. They can get hold of the invaders and hand them over to our officers for arrest so that they are charged. Alternatively, they can report to us the cases so that we undertake regular patrol in the affected areas,” Okoth said.