Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City
The entire fish stocks in Lake Victoria could be wiped out within the next few years unless the Kenyan government moves much faster and with speed to stamp out the use of chemicals in fishing by unscrupulous fishermen engaged in the use of unconventional and unauthorized fishing methods.
The Fisheries Ministry stands blamed for having abandoned the lake. The fisheries scouts who are usual deployed to oversee the orderly fishing in the lake by stopping those using unauthorized methods of fishing in the lake appeared to have abandoned the lake.
There are alarming increases in cases whereby unscrupulous fishermen engaged in illegal fishing activities with impunity.
Chemicals are used in fishing and not only reported to be killing fish in their thousands, but also destroying fish breeding grounds as well as killing fish fingerlings in the lake as well as endangering the lives of the consumers, something which is likely to put into jeopardy the marketing of Kenya’s fish into the overseas markets.
The environmentalists and conservationist have abandoned their duties and responsibilities of protecting Lake Victoria from environmental degradation pollution, overfishing and the increase use of unauthorized fishing methods by racketeers and profiteers
Lake Victoria is shared by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. All the three countries are known to be earning millions of dollars in foreign currency through the export of fish to the overseas markets, and the East African Community and donor agencies have poured millions of dollars in support of fishing programmes, research and environmental preservation..
Members of the fishing communities who are living along he shorelines of the lake have alleged that each time they arrest those using chemicals, the offender and the culprits are readily getting released by the authorities after bribing their away out of police and fisheries scouts custody.
A shocking incident recently occurred last month in Rarieda district where those enraged as fishermen lynched a man who was caught red-handed during the dead hours of the night to be using chemicals in the lake. The incident has resulted in dozens of people being arraigned in court facing prosecution on murder charges.
Those who were rounded up after the lynching incident have already appeared before a Kisumu court as murder suspects.
The fishermen in Rarieda told this writer that sometime last year, a senior officials from Fisheries department held a public Baraza near Luanda Kotieno beach. The officer was asked by those in attendance to state what they should done with those caught using chemicals, but the officer under pressure responded by telling the Baraza that they should in turn poison such uncouth fisherman and lynch them.
This is exactly what the move justice did near Luanda Kotieno last month. A fisherman who was caught red-handed using chemicals while fishing near the center was chased in the night by a mob of people who beat him to death.
They meted move justice to the illegal fisherman. This was in desperation after several incidences of cases of people caught using chemicals and handed either to the police or the Fisheries department officials quickly gained their freedom after bribing their way to freedom. Fishing regulations are being flouted all over.
As for now eight people are in custody waiting to be tried for murder. The suspects are mostly youths who work at the busy Luanda Kotieno beach as Matatu toughts or petty traders. They had responded to distress call by those who found someone using chemicals in the lake at night and catching hundreds of dead fish.
The suspects were later rounded from villages in Naya Kogweno sub-Location Uyoma West Location, Rarieda district, Siaya County.
The culprit who is now deceased took to his heels with vigilante youths in hot pursuit, and when they caught up with him they beat up him senselessly killing him instantly.
Incidents of chemical fishing have been reported in Busia, Bondo, Mbita, Rachuonyo and Seme area in Kisumu West district.
Lake Victoria fish is being exported to the European Union counties in Europe, Middle East, Japan, Israel and to a lesser extent to the United States, particularly the fillets from the economical and highly prized Nile Perch and Tilapia. The fish stock or both species have been depleted to near zero.
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