Kwale: Kwale County Government has started distributing fishing nets, essential fishing equipment, and accessories to local fisher folks in a bid to enhance food and nutrition security. The distributed items include multifilament fishing nets, fishing boats with outboard engine motors, cooler boxes, flares, bond liners, GPS gadgets, life rafts, and life jacket floats to small-scale fishermen in order to turn fishing into a profitable venture.
According to Kenya News Agency, Area Governor Fatuma Achani stated that the fishing equipment aims to enhance the capacity of local fishermen across the coastal county to venture into intensive deep-sea fishing. Achani highlighted the importance of lifesaving appliances for the fisher folks to cope with disasters on board and emphasized that the initiative was aimed at boosting fish production and improving the income of coastal artisanal fishermen.
Governor Achani further explained, “We want to empower our local fisher folks and coastal communities with modern equipme
nt to enable them to engage in real fishing activities and contribute to both local livelihoods and food and nutrition security.” She revealed that the county is also establishing aquaculture farms in far-flung areas away from the ocean, which has the potential to scale up fish production, attract investment, and create jobs.
Speaking in Waa/Ng’ombeni ward, Governor Achani was accompanied by Matuga MP Kassim Tandaz, Kwale Woman Rep Fatuma Masito, and the County Agriculture and Fisheries Executive Roman Shera while distributing fishing equipment to local Beach Management Units (BMUs). Achani remarked, “Issuing advanced fishing equipment and gear to the Kwale fisher folk is essential for enhancing their livelihoods and driving our local economy forward,” expressing her determination to transform the sector in tune with current times.
The Governor underscored the need to take advantage of Kwale’s access to the Indian Ocean for economic benefits and implored beneficiaries involved in aquaculture and marine oper
ations to judiciously use the eco-friendly fishing equipment and gears to enhance their trades and improve their living standards. She urged local fisher folks to engage in sustainable fishing practices to protect fish stocks and the livelihoods that depend on them, noting the challenges posed by climate change and the depletion of marine resources.
Matuga MP Kassim Tandaza welcomed the initiative to empower local fishermen, acknowledging the economic struggles faced by residents along the coastline who rely on fishing as their primary source of income. Tandaza expressed confidence that the initiative by the devolved government would contribute to economic growth and ensure the long-term sustainability of marine resources. He also encouraged local BMUs to maintain the fishing equipment in good condition to enhance productivity.
Kwale Woman Rep Fatuma Masito echoed these sentiments, urging fisher folks to use the new boats to enhance sea surveillance and protect marine resources from illegal fishing activiti
es.