The government of Homa Bay has introduced a policy for the development of fisheries and aquaculture. The policy is the initial one of its k...
The government of Homa Bay has introduced a policy for the development of fisheries and aquaculture.
The policy is the initial one of its kind for the county that has the highest catch from Lake Victoria, which serves as the foundation of the county'seconomy.
The release of the policy signifies the end of three years of broad community involvement and strong cooperation between the county government and the Fisheries Department, supported technically by WorldFish.
"This policy marks a courageous advancement, highlighting community empowerment, gender inclusion, climate resilience, and public-private partnerships as essential elements of a successful blue economy. With this policy, our goal is to fully utilize our water resources while preserving the environmental health of Lake Victoria," Governor Gladys Wanga said.
The policy establishes a structure to update fisheries, promote environmentally friendly aquaculture, and utilize the industry as a driver for economic growth and employment within the county.
Homa Bay, which has the biggest portion of Kenya's Lake Victoria waters, plays a significant role in the country's fish output.
Nevertheless, the industry has encountered ongoing difficulties, such as reduced catches, unstable availability of aquaculture supplies, losses after harvesting, and restricted access to markets.
The updated policy aims to tackle these deficiencies by detailing practical steps to revive water-based resources, encourage climate-resistant fish farming, upgrade supply networks, and increase access to markets.
The policy incorporates a gender-aware perspective, acknowledging the crucial involvement of women and young people in fishing, collection, processing, and commerce.
The system creates routes to overcome the long-standing obstacles that have previously restricted their involvement in leadership roles, funding, and economic gains.
The policy is based on research examining the gender-specific effects of climate change on fishermen, farmers, and valuechain of actors and will link science to action and outcomes – a model approach that can hopefully assist other countries and fishing communities in Kenya,” Dr Rahma Adam stated.
Adam is a senior scientist and socio-economic inclusion impact lead at WorldFish, having conducted significant research on the intersection of climate change, gender, and livelihoods within fishing communities inthe Lake Victoria region.
Lake Victoria ranks as the second largest freshwater lake globally, offering significant opportunities for policy implementation that can boost the economy, improve livelihoods, and advance social development in the area.
"This policy is based on the values of sustainability, fairness, and creativity. It presents practical approaches to boost fish output, strengthen supply networks, encourage ethical fish farming, and support women and young people within the industry. It serves as both a prompt for action and a pledge to responsible management," statedSarah Malit, the county official in charge of fisheries.
WorldFish will remain a technical collaborator to assist the country in executing the policy, in partnership with other organizations and key stakeholders, utilizing knowledge and expertise from its current projects that are already promoting sustainable fishing and aquaculture in Kenya.
The fFisheries and aquaculture development policyarrives at a critical time, as the international community commemoratesWorld Fisheries Day, emphasizing the essential contribution of fisheries to ensuring food security and supporting livelihoods, while bringing focus to the increasing challenges faced by aquatic resources.
The gathering included community delegates, producer organizations, the private sector, academics, and entities involved in development.
