A Rarieda constituency politician, Dr. Joseph Okweso has appealed to the government to regulate fish prices to cushion fishermen from exploitation by fish processing industries.
Okweso regretted that despite the fishermen’s appeal to the government to come to their aid over the constantly depreciating fish prices, nothing has since been done.
His sentiments follows complaints raised by fishermen along the Lake Victoria beaches that fish prices have drastically flopped from Kshs 300 per kilogram to Kshs 70.
He regretted that fish processing companies and middle-men were underpaying the fishermen despite the difficulties they undergo during their fishing expeditions, hence the need to regulate the prices and come up with a uniform rate all through.
Dr. Okweso at the same time challenged the government to formulate a strategy whereby fishing gears can be inspected before they are released for sale to the fishermen, as a way of combating the use of illegal gears on the lake.
He said this can also reduce the persistent harassment of the fishermen by Fisheries officials and the police, adding that on several occasions what makes them brush shoulders with the authorities is the use of illegal gears.
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