State rolls out aquaculture project to curb overfishing

The government has rolled out an aquaculture promotion programme in Homa Bay County in efforts to grow farm fish production and reduce overfishing in Lake Victoria.

In the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP), the government seeks to empower smallholder fish farmers through distribution of fish feeds and training on aquaculture.

Already, 10,100 kilogrammes of fish feed was dispersed to small holder fish farmers in the county, where a total of 947 smallholder fish farmers benefited.

Kenya Fish Marketing Authority chairman Martin Ogindo, Fisheries and Blue Economy Secretary Rodrick Kundu, ABDP National Co-ordinator Sammy Macaria and Homa Bay Blue Economy executive John Agili presided over distribution of the feeds to fish farmers in Homa Bay town yesterday.

To mark the celebration of Annual Aquaculture Day, 250 youth were also trained on aquaculture and business development.

Experts have blamed overshing for extinction of a number of fish varieties.

“Lake Victoria is currently overstretched and may not be a sustainable source of fish in future.  Therefore, this project is being implemented so that fish farmers can grow their production to enhance continuous supply,” Ogindo said.

He noted that aquaculture is a lucrative economic activity, which ifexhaustively tapped into can enhance residents’ livelihoods.

“Let our young people go for the opportunitiesis in the blue economy by investing in aquaculture,” he added.