Grief has engulfed Mikuyu Location in Suba South Sub-County after a fisherman was killed, yesterday, during a fight over fishing grounds.

The deceased identified as Fredrick Oduol, 35, was killed when two groups of rival fishermen engaged in a vicious fight on Lake Victoria fish landing shores, according to Suba Sub-County Beach Management Unit Chair William Onditi.

Onditi said violence broke-out when some fishermen accused Oduol and his colleagues of fishing in a space that was not meant for them. He was then hit with a paddle inflicting serious injuries on his head.

He died a few hours later while receiving treatment at Mikuyu Health Centre. His body was moved to St Camillus Hospital Morgue.

Onditi appealed to fishermen to desist from illegal fishing methods and attributed the incident to the rapid decline of fish population in Lake Victoria due to overfishing, besides killing of immature fish.

“The illegal fishing nets has led to deaths of fish that have not matured. This has led to decline in fish populations, hence the scramble for fishing space in the lake,” Onditi argued.

Homa Bay County Beach Management Network Chair Edward Oremo said illegal fishing must stop.

“We cannot allow illegal fishing to continue in Lake Victoria. This is a recipe for chaos in the lake as it is the cause of fish scarcity,” Oremo said.

He called on fishermen to diversify their sources of income, to reduce fishing pressure in Lake Victoria.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Davis Langat