Fisher folk and communities living along the coastline have been urged to embrace nature-based solutions in the conservation of aquatic resources amid overexploitation of fisheries.

Fisheries and Blue Economy Secretary in the State Department for Blue Economy Rodrick Kundu says challenges in the aquatic ecosystems stem from the catchments especially relating to pollution and the adverse impact of climate change.

The challenges, he noted have undermined the productivity of the fisheries resources affecting the livelihoods of millions of persons on the continent.

‘When the livelihood of the common person is threatened then it also becomes a national security issue. The population in Africa is increasing, we are having so many young people after school or college without options they switch to the lakes and other wetlands for economic reasons,’ stated Mr Kundu.

This, he noted has exacerbated the overexploitation of aquatic resources. Kenya he said, has embraced the concept of blue growth.

Mr Kundu was spea
king in Mombasa during the closing ceremony of the Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in the African Blue Economy project organised by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR where he said the project had faced challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for no-cost extension for the remaining objectives to be achieved.

The project has supported Kenya in developing its master plans and strengthening regulatory frameworks for sustainable coastal marine tourism, mining, and oil and gas exploration to minimise the impact on aquatic biodiversity.

It also supported the formulation of a Memorandum of Understanding for Kenya and Tanzania for joint management of the Transboundary marine conservation area in the Indian Ocean shared between the two countries.

The Country also got support to develop harmonised strategies for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for the management of the Transboundary Lake Victoria.

‘We have also had capacity building, especially on matters of nature-based
solutions in the mangrove environment at the coastal areas especially in the Southern part of Kenya. We are now having communities enjoying the fruits of this support,’ stated Mr Kundu.

He observed that communities have embraced the initiative to conserve the environment so that they can benefit from what is accruing from those resources.

‘We are having so many young people now who have moved away from the fisheries which is under threat. They are now in the mangrove environment doing eco-tourism, getting income through carbon credit and also supporting the profits from the carbon credits to improve the infrastructure in the villages,’ he said.

The country, he divulged is upscaling that project to the whole coastline up to the border with Somalia.

They expect thousands of young people to take advantage of the approach to reduce pressure on the fisheries since most fishermen lack equipment that can take them to deeper waters.

‘You’ll find along the shoreline the fisheries are overexploited and the catches
are diminishing,’ he stated.

The government recognised the Blue Economy as a sector that can contribute to the National Development Agenda as espoused in its visionary documents.

It has embarked on reforms in the policy and regulatory framework to create an environment that embraces public participation.

‘We are working towards transitioning the artisanal fisheries, subsistence fish farming into semi-commercial businesses,’ stated Mr Kundu.

The Government, he added by the year 2026 targets 26,000 fishermen to move away from subsistence to commercial fishing.

He explained that in line with the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), all investments are focusing on the lowest vulnerable groups so that they pick up economically and change.

‘We are building the capacity of the fishers so that they can venture into the deep waters,’ said the Secretary for Fisheries and Blue Economy.

The State Department for Blue Economy is also working in tandem with the State Departments for Labour and Finance to
build skills for young people to leverage opportunities in the Blue Economy Sector.

Through reforms in the regulatory frameworks, the government has created institutions like the Kenya Coast Guard Services to protect marine resources and address issues relating to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, Kenya Fisheries Services, and Kenya Fishing Market Authority.

A fish levy trust fund that will provide sustainable funding mechanisms to complement what the government is offering and the Kenya Fishing Industrial Corporation for purposes of investments in the sector have also been established.

‘We are putting up infrastructures for fish handling and managing post-harvest losses. This will provide for a lot of people to gain along the value chains,’ said Mr Kundu.

Source: Kenya News Agency