Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Peter Munya has reiterated the national government’s commitment in reviving the fishing sector.

He said his ministry is taking deliberate steps to protect and improve local fisheries in a bid to benefit the national economy.

Munya  who  spoke during a tour of the Sh318 million Liwatoni Fishing Complex in Mombasa County,  also said the  national government is determined to promote sustainable fisheries.

He said about 30 per cent of harvested catch would be sold to locals at wholesale price while 70 per cent of the harvest will be exported.

The minister said the modern marine complex  that is under construction would start operations soon, adding that six fishing vessels have already  docked with fish stocks.

Fishing fleets

Munya said the complex has the capacity to handle 250 metric tons of fish but plans are underway to upscale its   capacity to 500 metric tons.

“We expect this fishing complex to turn around the declining fortunes of the country’s fishing sector,” said Munya

He said the complex will be training 2,000 youth as seafarers to work in fishing fleets as the government turns its focus on the exploitation and conservation of the blue economy.

Munya said more and more foreign owned deep fishing fleets are sailing into the country’s territorial waters looking for tons of fish stocks.

He noted the maritime sector has the potential to employ hundreds of  youth as seafarers but majority of them lack the requisite skills to enable them grab the opportunities in the vast blue economy sector.