Illegal nets blamed for low fish stocks in lake

Use of illegal fishing nets has been blamed for the reduction of stocks in Lake Victoria in the past two weeks.

Kisumu Magnam Environmental Network chairman Mike Nyagudi said fishermen have been using the wrong fishing nets, which have affected the industry in the region.

Legal fishing nets have 10mm holes for the small fish and 5 inch holes for the big fish.

Heavy rains bring good tidings for fishermen because that is when both small and big fish breed.

However, the catch has not improved even after the recent rains.

The illegal nets destroy the fishing regions because they capture all fish, not leaving the immature ones.

“Fish need time to mature before they are ready for the market. The illegal nets capture even the immature fish, which go to waste because they are thrown away when taken to the main industries,” said Mr Nyagudi.

Magnam Environmental Network campaigns against the use of illegal fishing nets in the region.

It expressed concern about the danger encountered by fishermen, such as capsizing of boats due to bad weather.

The network aims to uplift the livelihood of fishermen in the region.