Minister says report on fishing method ready

By JOSEPH MASHA

Kilifi County

The Government will announce its verdict on whether to approve ring net fishing gear or slap a permanent ban next month.

Fisheries Development Minister Amson Kingi said the ministry has commissioned different organisations to research and consult on the use of the fishing method.

Mr Kingi confirmed the report was ready, but would be made public after final touches are made.

The minister spoke when he called on Kilifi DC Katee Mwanza on Thursday. Kingi also officiated the launch of fish farming ponds in Bahari, Kaloleni and Ganze constituencies in the Kilifi County.

Establish facts

"It was not easy for the Government to wake up and say ring net fishing method is good or bad without research and consultations with experts. Obviously, the fishing method has its good and bad sides," said Kingi.

The minister said the research sought to establish merits and demerits of the fishing method in relation to conservation of marine life. He said this was necessitated by claims that the method was destructive to fish breading zones and fishing near the seashore.

The method had caused conflict between ring net fishers and other fishermen before the Government suspended it for a while. And the minister said proper guidelines would be announced on trawler fishing at the Coast region.

Kingi said there had been complaints from local fishermen over trawlers destroying their nets by fishing along the shoreline and also damaging fish breading zones.

"The problem of trawlers will end once the guidelines are out," he assured.

Guidelines’ compliance

He said the trawlers would be allowed to fish from certain levels of water from the shoreline to save fish breading zones.

Fishing companies would risk their licenses being withdrawn if they fail to comply with the guidelines.

There were claims the current practice of ring net fishing off the coast and the difficulties of monitoring the type of fishing since it was introduced in the late 1980s from Tanzania, was causing serious environmental and sociological concerns as well as concerns about the economic impacts on artisanal fishermen and women.

Common sea fish retails at half the price from ring net fishing when compared to artisanal catches, thus seriously impacting the independent fisherman’s livelihood.