.The programme is set to revive over 350 fishponds in the county.
.There are an estimated 1,200 small-scale fish farmers in Taita Taveta County.
The Taita Taveta county’s Agriculture department has partnered with the Go Blue Economy programme under the Jumuiya Ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) to revive its fishing industry.
The county Agriculture executive Davis Mwangoma says the programme is set to revive over 350 fishponds within Taita Taveta in bid to produce over 50million fingerlings.
He said out of the county’s more than 700 fish ponds, only 380 fish ponds have been regularly maintained and stocked with fingerlings while the other 350 fish ponds are dilapidated.
“Go Blue aims at strengthening inclusive economy value chains. It will first focus on training farmers on new aquaculture technologies as well as reviving the dilapidated fish ponds,” Mwangoma said.
He said fish farmers have for years relied on fingerlings from Sagana, a move he says has necessitated the need to feature fishing-industry empowerment programmes as part of the blue economy benefits.
There are an estimated 1,200 small-scale fish farmers in Taita Taveta county.
“It is expensive and unsustainable for farmers to get more than 50 million fingerlings from Sagana. We shall therefore establish our own reproduction centre,” the executive said.
While leading Go Blue economy officials in field training for fish farmers at Dembwa, Mwatate sub-county, Mwangoma applauded the JKP for its poverty eradication efforts.
JKP, a coastal economic bloc, comprising six counties: Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu and Taita Taveta has identified the ocean and blue economy as one of the three value chains to prioritise in their county development plans.
Mwangoma says plans are underway to have a fish value addition as the county designates specific areas for small-scale traders involved in fish markets under the Blue Economy.
“The economic bloc is making steady progress towards reaping the immense benefits presented by the fishing sector."
The bloc is further tapping into the Blue Economy to create jobs in fisheries, tourism, maritime and shipping, among others.
Go Blue Economy programmes regional coordinator Faith Odera called on the youth to enroll on short-term courses sponsored by JKP.
The Sh3.2 billion Go Blue Economy programme is funded by the European Union (EU), and is being implemented in all six coastal counties.
The programme shall be implemented over a four-year period between 2021 and 2024 and aims to benefit more than 3,500 youths and women in the region.
Odera observed that Kenya has an abundance of untapped maritime resources along its coast. She said the programme will bring inclusive, integrated and sustainable approaches to economic growth, while creating new jobs.