Fish prices likely to skyrocket over increased cost of fuel

Fishermen and market women trading fish at Lake Victoria.

The recent increase in fuel prices may make it more expensive to consume fish, especially that from Lake Victoria.

Fishermen in Homa Bay County, who account for a huge chunk of fish sourced from Lake Victoria, complained that their businesses had felt the impact after fuel prices went up.

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority announced new rates for buying petroleum products where a litre of super petrol, diesel and kerosene were raised by Sh7.63, Sh5.75 and Sh5.41 respectively, for a month, effective March 15.

The fishermen's boat engines use petrol. The fishermen also use petrol or kerosene to light their lamps in the lake at night.

This means that those who want to travel long distances to fish in the lake must invest more in fuel.

The Beach Management Unit chairman in charge of Suba Sub-county, Wiliam Onditi said the amount of money spent on fuel was not commensurate to the profit they got from the fish caught.

He said the situation had been exacerbated by shortage of fish that had forced them to travel long distances within the lake.

"Fishermen are forced to travel long distances because of scarcity of fish in the lake. This makes increased fuel prices unfavourable for our business," Mr Onditi said.

He told journalists they were contemplating increasing fish prices, especially if government fails to reduce fuel prices.

"Increasing price of fish will minimise losses. We have to remain relevant in this business and the only way of doing so is by making profits," he added.

 

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