Lack of proper storage facilities and modern fishing techniques are some of the problems blocking fishermen in Migori County from penetrating international markets.
Others are the current big shortage in fish stock in Lake Victoria, increased arrests and harassment of Kenyan fishermen by authorities from Uganda and Tanzania over alleged trespass offences, and the intensive exploitation by middlemen.
Fishermen from Lake Victoria’s Muhuru, Aneko ,Sori, and Migingo beaches also claim that stringent consumer requirements by the European Union (EU), apparently as a result of a lack of modern fishing techniques for post-harvests, have resulted in a remarkable decline in fish production.
“Requirements for high-quality fish at both local and world markets and access to storage facilities are locking out most fishermen from venturing into the large-scale fish business,” said a beach management unit (BMU) official, Mr. Collins Ouma.
Speaking by phone from Muhuru Bay, Mr. Ouma called on both the national and Migori County governments to install high-tech cold rooms along the beaches to help them preserve their daily fish catch.
At the same time, the fishermen now want the two levels of government to provide cleaning facilities to help improve sanitation on the beaches to meet EU standards.
In past years, the European Union had slapped a ban on Kenyan fish accessing its markets based on reports that the product from the country lagged far below the recommended standards.
But speaking from the area early this week, the group of fishermen said that despite the government’s efforts to help the area meet EU health standards, there are still gray areas that need to be corrected.
“The problem of irresponsible open defecation is still going on because of lack of good toilets, leading to pollution of the lake,” said Mr. Argwengs Kodhek, another BMU official from Migingo Island.
Mr. Kodhek also claimed the local fishermen were earning very little from their business as a result of middlemen who took advantage of the perishability of their fish catch.
“The middlemen normally wait until very late in the afternoon when they come with their refrigerated trucks to buy our fish at throwaway prices,” he said.
The fishermen said fishing activities remain undisputed as their economic backbone and should be supported at all costs to thrive by the two levels of government.
Last year, Migori County produced fish worth over one billion despite the numerous hurdles faced in the sector.
By George Agimba
