Lake Victoria fish stocks threatened

Lake Victoria’s fish stocks are under threat as fishermen have enhanced their operations to alleviate hunger.

There have been a significant increase in pressure on the lake in the recent past according to assistant fisheries director in western Kenya Michael Obadha.

He said there were more fishermen and fishing crafts in the water body, which is faced with the problem of dwindling fish stocks.
However, he added, fisheries managers had increased surveillance around the water body.

Enforcing law

“We are enforcing the law, especially on the Nile perch,” he said. Currently, only fish that are 50 centimetres and longer can be landed from the water body.

He said the message had been conveyed to all players in the industry and action would be taken against those who did not comply.

He threatened to shut fishing companies that ignored the directive. He said while the ban on omena fishing had been lifted this year, new regulations would be put in place to guide the exploitation of the resource.

Fishermen will not be allowed to fish near the shore because fish juveniles inhabit these areas. “Fishermen targeting omena will not only operate offshore, but will also have to use lights for fishing,” he said.