Fishermen on Kenyan coast have appealed to the national government to prioritise the local industry when formulating and implementing new policies.

The fishermen drawn from Lamu County lamented that some policies are discriminatory and hurt the local fishing industry when enforced haphazardly.

They asked the authorities to also allow them use beach seine and monofilament nets, which they claim international trawlers were using in Kenyan waters without repercussions to the disadvantage of the local fishermen.

Speaking during a public participation forum in Faza on the Fisheries Management and Development Bill 2023, Lamu East legislator Captain Ruweida Obo expressed concern over how local fishermen from Faza, Pate, Siyu and Kizingitini were more likely to be detained by security and fisheries officers for using nets that they have used for ages in comparison to large fishing trawlers, who were always be exempted from the same laws.

Kenya Fisheries Management and Development Bill 2023 establishes the framework for the conservation, management and development of Kenya’s fisheries and aquatic resources with a focus on enhancing livelihoods for fishing communities.

The Bill does not explicitly address the use of beach seine or monofilament nets, which are central to the concerns of Lamu fishermen. However, its provisions on licensing, sustainable management and regulation of fishing activities could impact the types of gear permitted.

The MP further said the use of beach seine and mono filament nets by Lamu fishermen was yet to lead to overfishing, compared to large fishing, where trawlers were catching everything, regardless of whether the species were endangered or not

“There is need for laws especially within the blue economy sector to be considerate to the common mwananchi and allow them leeway to work within the confines of the law and not wantonly detain them whenever they are found with these nets,” she said.

Obo further added that there was need to empower and sensitize indigenous fishermen on modern practices of fishing by which they can further increase their catches of the day rather than detaining them for having old fishing gear.

The same sentiments echoed by Some Bwana, a fisherman based in Faza, who stated that when formulating legislation that affects fishermen, considerations need to be made and locals consulted in a bid to ensure that the laws work for the common mwananchi and not against them.

“Whenever fishermen are found with these nets, the manner in which we are detained is similar to how terrorists are treated, which shouldn’t be the case, if these laws are meant to serve us better in improving our livelihoods,” Bwana stated.

A fisherman from Faza, Mohammed Yusuf, reiterated the need to empower local fishermen from practising cottage fishing and develop it into a much bigger commercial outfit.

“The reason fishermen use the old fishing equipment is due to financial constraints. The national and county governments can take into consideration funding and empowering fishermen to use new gears,” he said.

On his part, Marakwet East MP and Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Blue Economy David Bowen Kagongo, stated that the committee would take the fishermen’s concerns into consideration in final report that would translate into the adoption of the Fisheries Management and Development Bill 2023 into law.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Amenya Ochieng