Updated on:
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Story by: Juma Aluoch
……

 A regional environmental group wants local fishermen to ensure clean beaches in order to reduce waterborne diseases. The East African Communities Organisation for the Management of Lake Victoria Resources (ECOVIC) whose mission is to conserve Lake Victoria, says its cleanliness should be maintained at all times.

 The group’s Kenya Chapter chairman Lawrence Odira and coordinator James Olonde said keeping the lake clean would help protect it and its resources. The two were addressing the public during a clean-up exercise organised by ECOVIC at Sori trading centre in Migori district. The event was attended by Karungu DO Reuben Kandie. Odira asked fishermen to make use of the many commercial banks that had set up branches along the beach, to ensure they saved their earnings.

 Olonde appealed the fishermen to practise responsible sexual behaviour to guard against HIV/Aids scourge. They also appealed to the fishermen to be vigilant against pirates in the lake who were known to strike and disappear with their fishing gear.

Odira said many Kenyan fishermen had complained of theft of their gear by the pirates, and condemned those among them who were suspected to be colluding with the thieves. The administrator said the fishing ban on daggers (omena) should be observed strictly.

He said fisheries officers should venture into the lake and arrest boat owners who engaged in the illegal exercise. He said the only way for Kenyan fish to attract the international market was by ensuring all fish landing beaches were clean, so as to attain internationally accepted standards. “Your fish landing beaches must conform to international standards to avoid situations where international markets like European Union (EU) are forced to reject your fish,” the DO said.

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Date:  Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:39:01 +0000
From:  Nicholas Mireri
Subject:  Lake Victoria:Clean up beaches