Kilifi County government to put up Sh9.5 million fish cooling facility

MTWAPA: Kilifi County government is putting up a fish cooling facility at Mtwapa Township at a cost of Sh9.5 million.

The project, started about one and half months ago, is set to benefit about 60 local fishermen operating within the Mtwapa beach.

According to the Executive Committee Member for Fisheries Mwalimu Menza, the money for the project was allocated in the 2013/2014 financial year.

He noted that fishermen sell their catch for as low as Sh200 per kilogramme as they lacked cooling facilities, adding that the facility help local fishermen store their catch.

Edward Mwadzinge, a fisherman at Mtwapa, welcomed the idea, adding that it will help eliminate middlemen who have been exploiting them.

LOW PRICES

“For years fishermen in Mtwapa have been forced to sell their fish catch at low prices to agents who visit the local fish landing sites at the beaches as they fear that their produce may go bad,” said Mwadzinge.

The fishermen at the same time complained over use of illegal fishing methods by fishermen from Tanzania.

Mwadzinge said although the fishermen from Pemba in Tanzania seem to have fishing permits, their methods threatens fish stocks in the ocean.

“The foreign fishermen should be warned against using illegal fishing methods,” said Mwadzinge.

The fisherman said they lack proper fishing gear such as engine boats to venture deep into the seas where they are guaranteed a good catch.