Three fishermen were rescued from drowning at Kamwai Beach in Lambwe Ward of Suba North Constituency, following a confrontation with the neighboring fishermen from Lela Beach on Thursday morning.
The confrontation ensued between a group of fishermen from Kamwai Beach and their colleagues from the neighboring Lela Beach in Homa Bay Town Constituency, over the use of illegal fishing gear in the waters of Lake Victoria.
The fishermen from Lela Beach have been constantly accused of practicing illegal fishing in the Lake by their counterparts from Kamwai.
According to Lambwe Ward Beach Management Unit Chairperson, Peter Nyaundi, a group of fishermen from Lela Beach in ten engine boats invaded Kamwai Beach with illegal fishing gear, where they allegedly destroyed fishing nets belonging to their colleagues from Kamwai Beach.
Nyaundi stated that fishermen from Kamwai Beach who were aggrieved, took their boats to protect their fishing nets which were being damaged, but unfortunately one of the boats which had three fishermen was intentionally hit with an engine boat from Lela Beach where the three drowned.
He said that the three fishermen tried to swim to their safety but were overwhelmed, they were rescued by their colleagues and rushed to Ndhuru Dispensary for medical examination.
Nyaundi appealed to the government to find a lasting solution to increased illegal fishing in the lake, which has caused a lot of insecurity facing the fish business.
By Sitna Omar
