By Agwanda Jowi

European Union has disbursed over three million Euros (Sh. 3.6 billion) for the management of fisheries along Lake Victoria region in a four year project that will benefit East Africa countries.

The funds are part of the 30 million Euros disbursed by European Union under 9th European development fund aiming at strengthening fisheries management in Africa Caribbean Pacific countries.

The project funded under, ACP 2 aims at improving fisheries management in the ACP countries so as to ensure that fisheries resources occurring in the waters within the jurisdiction of these countries are sustainable exploited.

ACP 2 regional manager Koanne Mindjibika says during a workshop with stakeholders in Kisumu that the programme that will tackle over 32 regional and national fisheries projects will lead to alleviation of poverty and improved fish security within the East Africa region.

The regional manager says that the East Africa region project will be implemented under five components both targeting improvement of fisheries.

Kenya assistant director of fisheries Michael Obadha says the first phase of the project will cost over 1 million Euro and second phase due to start in November this year will cost over 2.3 million Euros.

Obadha says so far over 40 beach management unit have benefited from the programme in terms of training and 280 more will under go a similar training as the projects get underway.

He says that the ACP2 will address the gains in the ACP1 and introduce new aspects that were not addressed in the first component of the programme.

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