Fisheries sector not fully exploited, says PS Micheni

A farmer in Embu feeds fish at a pond. Kenyans have been asked to venture into fish farming as a coherent investment vehicle that would spur sustained productivity. FILE PHOTO | CHARLES WANYORO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • In view of the Fisheries Management and Development Bill 2014, he said it provides a comprehensive legislative framework for the development, governance and investments of the oceans and fisheries resources in line with the national development policy objectives.
  • Suba Mp Millie Odhiambo who chaired the committee said the Bill ensures community participation in the management of the resources and safeguard their access, benefits coordinated approach to oceans and fisheries conservation.
  • The Bill incorporates provisions of relevant international instruments and regional fisheries management organizations and best practices of fisheries laws.

Kenyans have been asked to venture into fish farming as a coherent investment vehicle that would spur sustained productivity.

Speaking during a sensitization workshop on Fisheries Management and Development Bill 2014 in Mombasa, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Prof Japhet Micheni challenged communities to move away from the hunting and gathering mentality, and look at fishing as a big investment for the realisation food security and wealth creation.

The PS said that fisheries sector was not fully exploited and it was time Kenyans embraced it.

“It is about us as a sovereign state organizing ourselves so that we can be able to exploit the resources. If we look at what is happening in Lake Victoria, Lake Turkana and even the Indian Ocean where we expect the communities to use fishing as an economic base, it is sad that this is not happening,” the PS said.

In view of the Fisheries Management and Development Bill 2014, he said it provides a comprehensive legislative framework for the development, governance and investments of the oceans and fisheries resources in line with the national development policy objectives.

INCREASING PROSPERITY

“It is a very important Bill that provides the law that will bring fisheries as a sector into the core of increasing prosperity to the Kenyan people and the economy too.

The Bill therefore consolidates the legislation for the Inland freshwater and riverine fisheries, Marine Fisheries, aquaculture and Fish trade,” Prof Micheni said.

He said with the law in place, fishing will revolutionize and increase the country’s food basket.

Suba Mp Millie Odhiambo who chaired the committee said the Bill ensures community participation in the management of the resources and safeguard their access, benefits coordinated approach to oceans and fisheries conservation.

“We are looking at a raft of new provisions in the Bill which will enable us benefit from our fisheries. We are going to bring amendments that will in the whole make fisheries better,” the legislator said.

The Bill comes up with different advisory authorities that cover most government ministries and key industry players.

“We are also looking at ways of making our fishing industry competitive internationally by providing an authority that can market our fish.

She said the Bill which captures the entire fishing activities will in the next two weeks be presented in Parliament for the second reading.

The Bill incorporates provisions of relevant international instruments and regional fisheries management organizations and best practices of fisheries laws. It also provides stiffer penalties that will act as deterrents for offenders in fisheries crimes.