Kilifi fishermen accuse foreign vessels of depleting fish stocks

Fishermen in Kilifi County have decried the decrease in fish stock in the Indian Ocean following the arrival of large foreign fishing vessels.

Captain Shallo of Kilifi Beach Management Unit (BMU) said fishing vessels have camped near Kidundu Island for several months, conducting illegal fishing.

"The owners of those vessels might be using illegal fishing gear to catch fish. They are destroying entire ecosystems, which is an even greater cause for concern," Chalo said.

Chalo said few fishermen with modern gear are now forced to go deep into the ocean in search of the fish, while those with no equipment are suffering.

"The fish just vanished after the arrival of these vessels. We used to catch enough fish in a day or two. Now go out at sea for weeks to catch the same amount. It's terrifying," said Ali Kombo, a fisherman

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Depleted fish stocks have forced the fishermen to travel further in the ocean in search of a worthwhile catch, said Ali.

The artisan fishermen are now asking the government to provide them with better tools, stronger fishing equipment, and soft loans to help them purchase boats to enable them to venture into deep waters and compete with the foreign vessels.

Fishmongers in Mayungu, Shella, Shalishali, Ngomeni, and Marereni fish landing sites are struggling to meet the market demands.

Dr Robert Mokua, a marine and climate change expert at Pwani University, said trawlers and ring nets used by the vessels damage fish breeding beds and capture juvenile fish before they are mature.

''Trawling vessels are the number one enemy. It drags huge nets for thousands of miles along estuaries, bays and the continental shelves, pulling tonnes of marine creatures, rocks and mud. This has led to depleting fish stocks,'' said Mokua.

In addition, Dr Mokua said environmental degradation fuelled by problems such as marine pollution and climate change has also contributed to decreased fish stocks.

“Rising temperature increases levels of carbon dioxide in water, leading to an increase in salinity, which causes bleaching of coral reefs, the feeding and breeding grounds for fish. Erosion into the ocean may also cover the coral reefs, hindering fish from accessing their food," Mokua noted.

He further noted that erosion may sweep away mangrove forests, causing fish to swim to deeper parts of the ocean in search of food.

“Trawlers catch all the fish available regardless of protected species or safety standards. These big vessels hold heavy nets that destroy the ocean and the marine habitat, but especially nurseries for juveniles, which prevents the fish from reproducing,” said Kelly Banda, a marine conservationist in Kilifi.

Banda has called on the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry to investigate the illegal fishing.

The severe shortage of fish and sea products has also led to a hike in prices for the little catch available.

Fishmongers at the local market are feeling the pinch as they are forced to buy fish from fishermen at high prices, and this forces them to sell at higher prices.

Khadija Musa, a fishmonger, says whenever she purchases fish from the fishermen at a high price, the majority of her clients complain about the price being too high and occasionally stop doing business with her.

“Some of my customers will buy the fish, while some will leave the fish, saying it is expensive, and in the end, the fish will spoil," she said.

Ms Josephene Katsele, who runs an eatery at Old Ferry, says she has also been hit by reduced fish stocks.

“Most customers coming to eat at the beach usually demand seafood, and we have been unable to provide adequately,” she said.