- Fisheries CAS Farrah Kassim, said the increasing number of cage farmers has brought challenges that need to be addressed.
- Lake Victoria, according to KMFRI, has an estimated carrying capacity of 25,427 cages.
Image: FILE
Fish farmers practicing caging systems in Western Kenya received a major boost after the government rolled out the Sustainable Activities in Water Areas project in Lake Victoria.
The project funded by Gatsby Africa seeks to carry out spatial planning for the freshwater lake to determine its carrying capacity for the cage–based aquaculture.
The Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute introduced the floating fish cages technology in 2013 to increase fish production while conserving the declining wild fish stocks in the lake.
Cage culture has presented itself as a new socioeconomic frontier contributing to the national economy and has continued to gain momentum in the lake region owing to good prospects of a better income.
KMFRI director general prof James Njiru while speaking during the SAWA project launch at a Kisumu hotel, said the project would enhance the sustainability of the caging technology.
“This will support an ecosystem-friendly framework in managing fisheries and aquaculture resources in Lake Victoria and resolve conflicts arising from multiple users of the lake,” Njiru said.
Fisheries CAS Farrah Kassim, who represented the Principal Secretary, said the increasing number of cage farmers has brought challenges that need to be addressed to fully exploit the technology.
“When sustainably managed, cage technology has the potential to contribute significantly to national fish production and increased job opportunities," Kassim said.
"Enhanced food security and incomes for both rural and urban dwellers in light of the blue economy."
The SAWA initiative is being implemented by the Kenya Fisheries Service, National Environment Management Authority and Kenya Maritime Authority.
The initiative will establish proper regulations for cage installation to protect breeding grounds and navigation routes to avoid conflicts between cage fish farmers and fishermen.
Lake Victoria, according to KMFRI, has an estimated carrying capacity of 25,427 cages.
However, the natural resource currently contains 6,000 fish cages covering 62,132 M2 with an annual production capacity of more than 10,000 tonnes – largely of Nile perch and tilapia.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)