Source Business Daily (Nairobi)
Githua Kihara, 25 September 2009
Githua Kihara, 25 September 2009
Marine scientists are meeting in Mombasa to seek ways of restoring depleted fish stocks in the Indian Ocean. Kenya is among the nine countries represented in the talks that has no clear mechanism on protecting rare fish species and curbing over exploitation. The fishing sector has come under threat with reports of reduced production due to illegal fishing and near extinction of some rare fish species.
Twenty six per cent of the fish resources are over exploited, depleted or recovering, according to a scientific committee on the status of the fisheries resources in South West Indian Ocean (SWIO). publisher_headline Scientists Seek Ways to Increase Fish Production
"In some specific areas, there are resources from which increased value can be obtained through sustainable fisheries development - albeit that such opportunities are rapidly becoming fewer," Aubrey Harrris, the secretary of the fishing committee told representative attending the three-days forum.
"In some specific areas, there are resources from which increased value can be obtained through sustainable fisheries development - albeit that such opportunities are rapidly becoming fewer," Aubrey Harrris, the secretary of the fishing committee told representative attending the three-days forum.
The country also lacks data on fish numbers in major water bodies; statistics that could easily help in tracking over-exploitation and despite sea food business being lucrative especially in the Coastal region. Coastal tuna fish and related species, which are under threat of extinction recorded a harvest of 311 tonnes in 2007, a drop by 18. 4 per cent compared to the previous year.
Although there was a decline in harvest, officials say the species is fully exploited and there are no restrictive measures to control the harvest.
The penaeid shrimps, which is harvested for commercial purposes recorded a drop of 47.2 per cent compared to 2006 level. Fishers obtained 529 tonnes, according to the committee report, although Kenya Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has a maximum sustainable yield of 450 tonnes per year.
Five hundred and two tonnes of octopus and 19 tonnes of sea cucumber were harvested from Kenya's EEZ in 2007. This was an increase by 33.1 and 5.6 per cent respectively. Bivalve molluscs in the EEZ for recorded a harvest of 106 tonnes, a drop of 57.4 per cent, but was still fully exploited despite the drop.
Crabs and sardines recorded an increase of 104 and 208 tonnes respectively and there are no harvest restriction measures despite full exploitation of the species.
There was a 33 per cent increase in the harvest of demersals, emperors and rabbit fish to record 3561 tonnes. The species are fully exploited and there are no measures to restrict the harvest.
Mullets, barracuda and milk fish recorded a drop of 70.8 with only 533 tonnes harvested from EEZ. However, about 97 tonnes of spiny and rock lobsters crustaceans were harvested in 2007 an increase of 4.3 per cent from the previous year.
Kenya's dwindling fish numbers has also been blamed on lack of a harvest management system as the government relies on closed seasons to regulate fish catching.
The government also regulates harvests through use of restricted sizes of fishing gears, a method that has not been successful.
Although there was a decline in harvest, officials say the species is fully exploited and there are no restrictive measures to control the harvest.
The penaeid shrimps, which is harvested for commercial purposes recorded a drop of 47.2 per cent compared to 2006 level. Fishers obtained 529 tonnes, according to the committee report, although Kenya Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has a maximum sustainable yield of 450 tonnes per year.
Five hundred and two tonnes of octopus and 19 tonnes of sea cucumber were harvested from Kenya's EEZ in 2007. This was an increase by 33.1 and 5.6 per cent respectively. Bivalve molluscs in the EEZ for recorded a harvest of 106 tonnes, a drop of 57.4 per cent, but was still fully exploited despite the drop.
Crabs and sardines recorded an increase of 104 and 208 tonnes respectively and there are no harvest restriction measures despite full exploitation of the species.
There was a 33 per cent increase in the harvest of demersals, emperors and rabbit fish to record 3561 tonnes. The species are fully exploited and there are no measures to restrict the harvest.
Mullets, barracuda and milk fish recorded a drop of 70.8 with only 533 tonnes harvested from EEZ. However, about 97 tonnes of spiny and rock lobsters crustaceans were harvested in 2007 an increase of 4.3 per cent from the previous year.
Kenya's dwindling fish numbers has also been blamed on lack of a harvest management system as the government relies on closed seasons to regulate fish catching.
The government also regulates harvests through use of restricted sizes of fishing gears, a method that has not been successful.
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