Kwale County Government has started distributing fishing nets, essential fishing equipment and accessories to local fisher folks in a bid to enhance food and nutrition security.
The distributed items include multifilament fishing nets, fishing boats with outboard engine motors, cooler boxes, flares, bond liners, GPS gadgets, life rafts and life jacket floats to small-scale fishermen in order to turn fishing into a profitable venture.
Area Governor Fatuma Achani says that the fishing equipment is aimed at enhancing the capacity of local fishermen across the coastal county to venture into intensive deep-sea fishing.
Achani says the lifesaving appliances are necessary for the fisher folks to cope with disasters on board.
Governor Achani says the gesture was aimed at boosting fish production as well as to help improve the income of the coastal artisanal fishermen.
“We want to empower our local fisher folks and coastal communities with modern equipment to enable them engage in real fishing activities and contribute to both local livelihoods and food and nutrition security,” she said.
She says the county is also establishing aquaculture farms in far-flung areas away from the ocean which has the potential to scale up fish production, attract investment and create jobs.
“The county’s focus is now on creating sustainable growth and prosperity by uplifting the livelihoods of coastal residents through sustainable fishing practices,” she said.
Achani was speaking in Waa/Ng’ombeni ward accompanied by Matuga MP Kassim Tandaz, Kwale Woman Rep Fatuma Masito and the County Agriculture and Fisheries Executive Roman Shera while distributing fishing equipment to local Beach Management Units (BMUs).
“Issuing advanced fishing equipment and gear to the Kwale fisher folk is essential for enhancing their livelihoods and driving our local economy forward,” said Achani, adding that she is determined to transform the sector in tune with the current times.
She says Kwale has access to the Indian Ocean and it was imperative that it took advantage of this maritime resource for economic benefits.
The coastal county boss implored the beneficiaries involved in aquaculture and marine operations to judiciously use the eco-friendly fishing equipment and gears to enhance their trades and improve their living standards.
She urged local fisher folks to engage in sustainable fishing practices which she stated are essential in protecting fish stocks and the livelihoods that depend on them.
Achani says the coastal county faces multiple challenges such as climate change and the depletion of marine resources.
The Governor asked the coastal communities to abandon engaging in unsustainable fishing practices that are destructive to coral reefs and the seabed ecosystem and emphasized on the need for the fishing industry to embrace technological advancements.
Matuga MP Kassim Tandaza welcomed the move to empower local fishermen noting that most of the residents along the coastline were underprivileged people who rely on fishing as their primary source of income.
The legislator says the new initiative by the devolved government will in the long run contribute to the broader goal of fostering economic growth and ensuring the long-term sustainability of marine resources.
Tandaza urged the local BMUs to ensure the fishing equipment remains in use and in good condition to enhance productivity.
Kwale Woman Rep Fatuma Masito also urged the fisher folks to use the new boats in enhancing sea surveillance and protect the marine resources from illegal fishing activities.
By Hussein Abdullahi
