Ex-Naivasha flower farm staff turns fish poachers – Weekly Citizen

Authorities at the county government of Nakuru have expressed concern over new cases of illegal fishing in Lake Naivasha which have risen to worrying levels in the past one month. The livestock and fisheries chief officer Enos Amuyunzu said fish poaching at the fresh water body was threatening stocks and hampering the devolved unit’s efforts to boost commercial fishing at the water body. The poachers who are taking advantage of restricted movements at night following measures rolled out by the State to combat spread of Covid-19 disease, have been using illegal fishing gear which traps immature fish, their eggs and fingerlings.

Dr Immaculate Maina

The county executive
committee member for agriculture, livestock and fisheries is Immaculate Maina. “According to Section 43 (4) of the fisheries Act, it is illegal to use nets of less than 127mm (hole size) when diagonally straight. It, however, sets a special size of not less than 10mm for omena fishing. The law also prohibits fishing 2km towards the shores,” explained the chief officer.The chairman to Lake Naivasha Boat Owners Association David Kilo said illegal fishing was threatening incomes and source of food for more than 10,000 families that depend on the water body for fish. Most of illegal fishermen we have information, are former employees of horticultural firms that have either closed shop or scaled down operations due to dwindling export markets. It is difficult to confront these poachers as they are usually armed with weapons. Environmentalists have raised the red flag that poaching activities exert new challenges on the water body that is already reeling from pollution and invasion of alien plant and animal species that have adversely affected the fishing industry.