Fishermen Demand Fair Fishing Policies, Decry Disparities in Enforcement

By Fumo Mzalendo

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Lamu fishermen have urged the national government to ensure fairness when applying its fishing policies and have demanded the right to use beach seine and monofilament nets, which they claim international trawlers use in Kenyan waters without repercussions.

In a public participation forum on Fisheries Management and Development Bill 2023 held in Faza Island on September 5, 2025, Lamu East MP Captain Ruweida Obo expressed concern local fishermen from Faza, Pate, Siyu and Kizingitini were likely to be detained by fisheries authorities or security agents over the use of nets they have used for years compared to large fishing trawlers that seemed exempt from the same laws.

The Kenya Fisheries Management and Development Bill establishes the framework for the sustainable conservation, management, and development of Kenya’s fisheries and aquatic resources focusing 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 legislator said the use of beach seine and monofilament nets was yet to lead to overfishing compared to the practice of large fishing trawlers’ catch of everything regardless of whether they 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.

According to her there is a need to empower and sensitize indigenous fishermen as to the modern practices of fishing by which they can further increase their catches of the day rather than detain them for having old fishing gear.

Some Bwana, a fisheman based in Faza, echoed her sentiments stating 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.

“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 better serve us in improving our livelihoods,” he said.

Mohammed Yusuf, another fisherman from Faza reiterated that there was a need to empower the local fishermen from practicing cottage fishing and develop it into a much bigger commercial outfit.

“The reason fishermen use the old fishing gears is due to financial constraints, and if the national and county governments can take into consideration funding and empowering fishermen to use new gears as the prescribe, it would offer all parties and stakeholders recourse,” he said.

On his part, Marakwet East MP and chairman of parliamentary select committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation David Bowen Kagongo stated that they would take the fishermen’s concerns into consideration when coming up with a final report that would translate into the adoption of the Fisheries Management and Development Bill 2023 into law.

Kenya has legally banned the use of beach seine and monofilament nets to protect fish stocks, as these destructive methods lead to high bycatch rates, kill immature fish and their eggs, and damage breeding sites.

The ban, which has been in place since 2008 continues to be enforced through arrests and destruction of illegal gear, with the aim of promoting sustainable fishing practices.