THE DANGEROUS USE OF CYANIDE IN CHEMICAL FISHING IN LAKE VICTORIA COULD HARM KENYA’S FISH EXPORT TRADE ABROAD

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town.

UNSCRUPULOUS fishermen in Lake Victoria have recently introduced the use of cyanide and other chemicals to improve their fish harvesting in a manner which could prove to be very harmful and a health hazard to the consumers.

The time is ripe for the government of Kenya, particularly the Fisheries Department in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Minerals – Kenya, especially the Department of Fisheries in the Ministry of Minerals and Natural Resources, to institute thorough investigation on these claims with the view to protect fish commodity from this region as its economic mainstay.

Fish is one of the most important assets, which is raking millions of shillings into the country and as such is playing a pivotal role in Kenya’s economic growth.

According to Homa Bay County Governor Cyprian Otieno Awiti the county is earning about Kshs. 7 billion annually from the fishing industry.

It is being moderately estimated that Kenya earns about Kshs. 15 billion per year,most of the money come from foreign exchange from its experts to foreign countries in Europe, Middle East, Japan, Israel and the US. A highly prized item is the delicious fillets from the economically important Nile perch.

Nile perch fillet dishes is said to be so popular with consumers in the EU countries.

However, the laxity and complacency with which the government of Kenya is treating the fish industry could hurt the fish trade and further force close to 20,000 fishermen currently employed in the industry out of jobs.

In Homa-Bay County alone fishermen harvest approximately 80,000 metric tones worth Kshs 2 billion. This represents about 50 percent of the total catches in Lake Victoria waters, especially along the narrow Nyanza Gulf which the Homa Bay County is sharing with the neighboring Siaya, Kisumu Busia and Migori counties.

According to available statistics out of the total fish landings, Nile Perch accounts for about 40,000 metric tonnes valued at Kshs 6 billion and Omena (Ndaga) accounts 33,000 metric tonnes worth Kshs 2 million.

The Lake Victoria region, however, now has 1,801 fish pounds covering an area of 540,3000 square metres. Annual fish production from aquaculture is about 50 metric tonnes worth Kshs 12 million.

Governor Awiti disclosed that his county government has launched a campaign to popularize aquaculture to help ease pressure on Lake Victoria and its natural resources and is working closely with the Fisheries department in concerted effort to stamp out the use of illegal fishing nets, a practice which is to blame for the sudden decrease of fish stocks in Lake Victoria.

However, the other practice which is proving to be the worse is the increase in cases where unscrupulous fishermen use very cyanide chemicals in poisoning the fish. The practice is so bad as it killed fish in thousands and then destroyed the breeding grounds.

Equally met into great danger are the consumers of those fish killed with chemicals

Overseas consumers of Kenya fish often are unaware of the chemicals fishing method used upon some of imported fish from Kenya. The practice is also posed as being a health hazard to the breed consumers, therefore must be discouraged at all cost.

Fish harvested through the use of chemicals becomes perishable within hours and rotten even before reaching the consumer kitchen.

Ends