General News
New Kenyan coastguard to stop foreigners stealing ‘our fish’ :: Kenya
[ad_1]
The launch of a coastguard in Kenya – one of a handful in Africa – could cut illegal fishing and boost the economy, experts said on Tuesday, although the service only has one boat so far.
ALSO READ:
President signals referendum move
Kenya loses about 10 billion shillings ($97 million) a year to foreign boats fishing without permission, President Uhuru Kenyatta said at the launch on Monday, vowing to crack down on drug, people and arms smuggling along Kenya’s lengthy coast.
“The role of the coastguard is quite pivotal,” said David Obura, coordinator for a coastal research organisation, Cordio East Africa. “Just like on land, until you establish security of tenure its very challenging to manage it.”
Africa’s fish stocks are being depleted by industrial trawlers which comb the oceans to feed European and Asian markets, experts say, threatening coastal incomes and diets.
Until the launch of the coastguard, Kenya’s navy has been responsible for maritime security but experts said it was overstretched.
Pirate attacks launched from Kenya’s northern neighbour, Somalia, were a major security issue until 2012 when ships tightened security and stayed further away from the coast.
Avoid becoming a victim of Fake News. Subscribe to the Standard Group SMS service by texting ‘NEWS’ to 22840.
Only half a dozen African countries have their own coastguard, Andrew Mwangura, a Kenyan maritime expert, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
“We’ve been sea blind,” he said. “We’ve been relying on the navy too much. The navy are limited in what they can do. They cannot arrest someone and take them to court.”
The world’s poorest continent loses $42 billion a year to illegal fishing and logging, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa estimates.
ALSO READ:
KCPE exams results to be released tomorrow?
“Fishing by foreign vessels has been a big problem to us fishermen,” said Mohamed Somo, chairman of the Lamu Beach Management Unit, a Kenyan fishermen’s association.
“They come near the shores and cut our fishing nets and once they are done, our fish stocks are depleted.”
About 2 million Kenyans depend on fishing but dwindling stocks in nearshore waters and a slump in tourism due to insecurity have worsened poverty along its palm-fringed coast, according to the World Bank.
Kenyatta said the government would improve ports and require fishing vessels to land 30 percent of their catch in Kenya, creating more than 10,000 jobs in five years.
“Never again will a foreign vessel steal our fish,” he said.
But the navy only has two vessels, said Obura of Cordio East Africa, while Kenyatta has unveiled one ship for the new coastguard.
“It is not enough and, from what I saw, it’s a relatively big vessel and will be quite slow,” he said.
ALSO READ:
Wiper leaders at odds over Kalonzo new role
“A big challenge will be the cost of running the vessels.”
Would you like to get published on Standard Media websites? You can now email us breaking news, story ideas, human interest articles or interesting videos on:
[ad_2]
Source link
- moneylion loans usa payday loans1 week ago
Check out the date the home ended up being offered, as well as the date you past made a repayment towards the home loan business.
- General News1 week ago
Essay Writing Service At $7
- General News1 week ago
Prime 10 Finest Essay Writing Companies Of 2021 Ranked By College Students
- Main1 week ago
An Open Diagnosis In That Flamingo Located in Todas las Vegas
- payday loans manassas va6 days ago
100 pay that is online loans. Payday advances for the unemployed
- check city loans safe online payday loans1 week ago
Do you understand you could utilize your car or truck that will help you secure finance? Exactly Just Exactly How? By connecting it as secure deposit against your loan.
- Main3 days ago
A brand new Word wide web gambling house Designed Room
- payday loan near me2 days ago
Debit card payday improvements. cash loans in a single hour