By Okong’o Oduya
Fish cages have been introduced in Lake Victoria for the first time .The County Government of Busia in partnership with Finnish Government through The Programme for Agriculture and Livelihoods in Western Communities( PALWECO ) have introduced the fish cage culture to save Lake Victoria which is experiencing a shortage in production of fish as a result of overfishing, poor fishing gears, pollution, climate change among other causes.
Bukoma Beach in Budalangi constituency received 18 cages that are stocked with 2,000 fingerlings each bringing it to a total of 36,000 fingerlings. Addressing the public at Bukoma beach during the launch of the program Timothy Odende, Fisheries Director, said that they will give 60 more cages in other beaches in Bunyala and Samia which will be managed by beach Management Units. Odende said the cages will help to reduce pressure on the Lake.
He further noted that two days in a week no fishing operation will be allowed to take place in the lake to help more fish to produce. “We shall have two days in a week where fishermen will not interfere with the Lake to give it a breather,” he said
Leornard Obimbira , County Executive Committee member for Finance and ICT Mr.said cage farming will not only help in increasing the production of fish in the lake it will also boost farmers’ income which will reduce overfishing on the lake.
“Our people have no place to farm, it is dry here they entirely depend on the lake for a leaving and this has exhausted the lake hence need for other alternative, and this is the best alternative,”Obimbira explained
Madakhana Mbaya, PALWECO Director said introduction of fish cage will end the frequent arrests of Kenyan fishermen who go to fish on Ugandan side of the lake. Madakhama noted that this project will help in increasing the stock and assurance of ready – made market in Nairobi which had remained elusive for Busia businessmen.
The experts noted that the fish in cages will be ready for harvest after six months. One fish cage is expected to produce at least 1,800 fish which is equivalent to 720kg. If the farmers make a good harvest, they can expect to raise about 216, 000 ksh from one cage and this will translate to about 3.9m ksh ,” he said.
They noted that fish farmers from other parts of the County which don’t border the lake can start the cage farming on the lake but the management of the cage will be left to BMUs.
However they urged the Beach Management Units to have proper measures in place to protect the cages from illegal fish monger.
“For ownership and sustainability of the project, the BMUs will contribute towards the payment of the caretaker’s fees. This enterprise is well thought out and it is key to improving the livelihoods of the fish farmers by enabling them meet their household needs as well as other socio-economic needs,” They said.
This come barely a day after six fishermen were all members of Sisenye beach in Budalangi were arrested on Monday night and taken to Namaingo in Uganda where they were arraigned in court on Tuesday for fishing in Ugandan waters.
Four of them have been released after payment of fines while two of them are remanded after they failed to pay the hefty fines imposed on them. The director of fisheries in Busia County Mr. Odende noted that they will initiate talks with Ugandan authorities to avoid harassing fishermen from Kenya.
“We shall not sit and watch our people suffer at the hands of Ugandans,the Department will initiate cross border negotiations with stakeholders in relevant departments in Busia Kenya and Uganda to arrive at an amicable solution to the constant harassment of Busia fishermen” he said during the introduction of the first fish cage culture in Busia at Bukoma Beach on Wednesday.
“East African Community Ministers have continued to empower department of fisheries on border counties to initiate cross border talks in case of conflicts,” He noted.
