Siaya County Government has unveiled a new initiative aimed at boosting sustainable fishing practices, with the goal of unlocking the Ksh 4 billion market.
The measures, announced by Siaya County Governor, H.E James Orengo, include providing training for fishers, advocating for safe fishing practices, and promoting value addition to increase fishers’ income and improve their livelihoods.
The county government is committed to working with all sector players to ensure the sustainable management and development of the blue economy resources.
Siaya County heavily relies on two lakes, Lake Victoria and Kanyaboli, for its natural fisheries resources. These lakes contribute to over 95% of the annual fish production by weight, producing about 30,000 metric tons of fish annually and earning the fishers over Ksh 4 billion.
The county is home to 14,708 fishing crews (5,090 crafts) that go to the lake daily for fishing, according to the 2020 boat census.
The County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Food Security, Livestock, and Blue Economy, K’Okoth Sylvestre, emphasized the importance of safe and regulated fishing practices and highlighted the opportunities for fish value addition industries in the county.
Expansion of these industries will promote sustainable fishing, opening new opportunities for the profitable utilization of by-catch and low-value fish catches.
The recent World Fisheries Day 2023 celebrations at Liunda Beach, Bondo Sub County included a number of activities such as fish parades, boat parades, boat racing, and exhibitions. The theme of the celebrations was “Cast the Net” and aimed to promote sustainable fishing in the county.
The event was supported by key partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Aquaculture Business Development Program (ABDP), and the Agriculture Sector Development Support Program (ASDSP). The celebrations also served as an opportunity to announce Siaya as the official Host of the National Celebrations of World Fisheries Day 2024.
