Nairobi: Fishermen in Homa Bay County have called on government agencies to eradicate illegal fishing methods in Lake Victoria. Led by the Chairman of Koginga Beach Management Unit, Patrick Ochogo, they noted that using illegal fishing methods was leading to the dwindling fish population in Lake Victoria.
According to Kenya News Agency, the methods include the use of illegal fishing nets which catch immature fish. Ochogo said the trend may cause joblessness among fishermen who depend on the lake. He stated that the adverse effects of illegal fishing methods have already manifested with fishermen complaining of reduced fish catch.
The sentiments were echoed by another Beach Management official, George Orimba, who noted that illegal fishing methods were harming the ecosystem of Lake Victoria. Orimba said the fish population in Lake Victoria will continue to be depleted if illegal fishing perpetuates. “We are already experiencing a decline in fish population. But the situation will worsen if illegal fishing continues in this lake,” Orimba said.
He further explained that there are many fish species which have disappeared in Lake Victoria due to illegal fishing. “Lake Victoria is the main source of our livelihood. We are going to lose jobs if the illegal fishing is not curbed,” Orimba added. He also urged the agencies to weed out cartels which perpetrate illegalities in the lake. “There are some cartels which abet illegality on this lake. We appeal to government agencies to intervene and eradicate them,” Orimba said.
Ochogo appealed to the government to focus on boosting patrols on the lake, which he said can be achieved through the purchase of speed boats for patrol. “We call on both the National Government and Homa Bay County Government to procure patrol boats to enable us to team up to weed out illegal fishing in this lake,” Ochogo said. The dwindling fish catch has also been a recipe for chaos which has been experienced in the lake in the recent past.