Fishermen along Kilifi sea shore have decried the encroachment of Kenyan fishing waters by foreigners.
They said that unless foreign fishermen mainly from Pemba are driven back to the deep sea off Kenyan waters, they will continue to record poor fish harvests as has been experienced in the recent past.
The fishermen said the foreigners who have modern fishing equipment have been harvesting even the small fish as they come to the shoreline thereby destroying breeding sites for fish forcing them to migrate to other areas.
Kilifi ferry Beach Management Unit (BMU) Chairman Suleiman Shaban said the foreigners also have been using the prohibited ring net which destroys small fish along the sea shore.
He said local fishermen have had to bear with the problematic situation as the foreigners sell their fish in large quantities to local fish mongers and traders in the area.
“Though the law allows the foreigners to sell their fish locally, we urge the government through the department of migration to take immediate measures and drive them away to the deep sea to save us”, he said.
During a county Environment committee meeting held at the county commissioner’s boardroom last week, the committee recommended for the removal of the foreign fishermen by the department of migration in collaboration with other state agencies.
County commissioner Magu Mutindika told the department of migration to team up with Kenya Navy and Kenya Wildlife Services in a bid to find a lasting solution to the problems faced by the local fishermen.
By Harrison Yeri
