Govt warns of depleting fish stocks due to illegal fishing – KBC

Government officials have warned that the fisheries sector around Lake Naivasha could collapse in the next four months due to increased cases of illegal fishing.

Naivasha sub-county commissioner Mutua Kisilu said Lake Naivasha is under threat due to an influx of illegal fishermen in the last one year but the government is determined to protect the fisheries sector from illegal gangs that are involved in illegal practice.

A special unit formed to patrol Lake Naivasha set ablaze illegal fishing gear worth over one million shillings that had been recovered from Kihoto area.

Led by Naivasha sub-county commissioner Mutua Kisilu the unit revealed   the lake was under threat due to an influx of illegal fishermen over the past one year.

A sharp drop of fish catch around the troubled lake is believed to have worsened due to the use of monofilament nets.

Mutua was however quick to warn that the State was ready to protect the fisheries sector from illegal gangs that were involved in illegal fishing.

Addressing the press after burning the illegal fishing gear, Naivasha sub-county administrator Samuel Wamae said that the Nakuru county government was keen to support the fisheries sector around the lake which is a source of employment to over 60,000 people.

According to Wamae Nakuru County government has pumped over 100,000 fingerlings into the lake but the young fish faced challenges due to use of undersized nets.