The department of fisheries has called a crisis meeting next week to discuss the increasing drowning deaths by illegal fishermen.
The meeting was called after the search for three fishermen who drowned ended when the third body was recovered on Wednesday morning.
The body of the 25-year-old man was recovered two kilometres from where the boat capsized, following a joint operation by fishermen, the Kenya Coast Guard and others.
More than 20 drowning deaths have been recorded this year.
On Saturday, a boat carrying five youths capsized in Malewa area but two of the victims were rescued by fishermen while their colleagues drowned.
Naivasha subcounty fisheries officer Nicholas Kagundu expressed alarm over the increasing cases of drowning.
He said the meeting date had not been set but all fishermen have been called to attend.
Kagundu blamed some boat owners who illegally engaged jobless youths on illegal missions leading to their deaths.
“We shall be going for the boat owners when their vessels are involved in these cases as this is where much of the problem lies,” he said.
The senior government officer said most of those who drowned were fishing illegally mainly off the shore.
“We have also seen an influx in the number of minors involved in illegal fishing and we are working with other government agencies to address this,” he said.
Lake Naivasha Network group secretary Grace Nyambura said most of those were using empty jerrycans lashed together as makeshift rafts for fishing.
She said the practice was rife across the lake and tens of minors had dropped out of school to join the illegal but lucrative fishing trade.
"We are asking the government to intervene," she said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
