Dagaa business thrives despite ban

By Rushdie Oudia

Kisumu,Kenya; Fishermen in Nyanza have ignored the annual ban meant to allow immature fish to grow

The booming dagaa fish business in Lake Victoria continues despite the April to August annual ban by the Government.

Fishermen in Nyanza have ignored the annual ban on fishing of dagaa and are selling the fish at various markets as usual.

In Kisumu, fish vendors at the famous Oile Market were by 9am yesterday waiting anxiously for the precious product from various beaches in Nyanza among them Mihuru, Asembo and Sori.

A spot check by The Standard showed the ban seems not to be in effect in Kisumu as traders carrying dagaa packed in boxes and sacks arrived as women armed with basins scrambled for the commodity.

Ms Jenifer Adhiambo, who sells dagaa popularly known as Omena said that the ban has not been effected this year as required.

“Cash availability is a problem at this time of the year and we need to sell omena to provide for our families. We have not been stopped officially from getting this type of fish,” added Adhiambo.

She sells a two kilogram tin of dagaa at Sh200 up from Sh150 last month, saying it is normal for the price hike when the commodity is scarce in many beaches.

Along many beaches in Lake Victoria basin, fishermen continue casting their nets wide undeterred of the ban that was imposed to relieve the lake and allow immature fish to grow.

In Homa bay County at Nyagina beach in Rusinga Island, fishermen appealed to the Government to allow the fishing of dagaa since it cushions them from hunger.

Tabitha Ongoche said the ban is punitive to those who rely on the lake for their livelihood.

Ongoche said the Government should heed to their plea and uplift the ban.

Most local Beach Management Units concur that effecting the ban is not an easy task.

One of the officials of Nyagina Beach Management, Alphonce Omondi said they have relaxed rules to allow people access their common dish commonly referred to as the “poor man’s meal”.

Omondi said they have carried out sensitisation on the need to give the fishing of dagaa a break but poverty in the region has compelled them to break some rules.

Uhai Lake Forum said there is need to enforce the law banning the fishing of dagaa to allow fish in the lake to rejuvenate.

According to a report by Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, the dagaa numbers’ decline stands at 54 per cent while tilapia’s is at six per cent.