Kenya said on Monday that it will spend 5 million U.S. dollars with an aim to fast track new strategies to protect and promote aquaculture in the country.
Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Cabinet Secretary Minister Willy Bett said government agenda focuses to restore the industry by modernizing storage facilities as well as protecting lakes where fishing is carried out.
“The government will allocate 2.5 million dollars each for Busia and Migori counties to revamp the stalled cooling structures,” Bett said in Nairobi.
Bett confirmed that the government in collaboration with value chain players will revive four beach fish facilities in Migori and Busia counties that stalled after contractors mismanaged resources provided.
The stalling of the cooling infrastructure, Bett observed has led to huge losses to fishermen and low supply of fish in the market locally.
Bett said the collecting and storage structures will boost fishing production in Lake Victoria and to a large extent contribute to job employment and other business enterprises thus increasing income to local fishermen.
Bett explained that the modernization of the amenities will also help in taming increasing poaching of fish largely perpetuated by middlemen from far areas who have lorries fixed with cooling systems to enhance longevity of fish.
The government will also license new operators interested in cage fishing in Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana in order to boost supply in the local market.
Cage fish farming involves putting fingerlings into a cage, to protect them from predators, providing them with a controlled diet then monitoring and harvesting the stock once it is ready for consumption.
