Kenya adopts new tracking system to fight illegal fishing
A government official patrols Kenyan waters following a rise in illegal fishing. Kenya is banking on a new tracking technology to curb the practice. Photo/File
What you need to know:
Technology involves using on-board vessels monitoring system installed with global positioning system to identify the location of fishing vessels automatically.
Kenya is set to acquire a new tracking technology to boost policing of its exclusive economic zone against illegal fishing.
The technology involves using on-board vessels monitoring system (VMS) installed with global positioning system (GPS) to identify the location of fishing vessels automatically.
It is being promoted by the Kenya Coastal Development Project (KCDP).
“VMS is capable of detecting vessels that are fishing illegally and are not fitted with VMS tracking equipment through elimination process,” said KCDP sustainable fisheries manager Kennedy Shikami.
He said KCDP was in the process of procuring the system which is used by countries to monitor the activities of their vessels when fishing in national zones and in high seas beyond borders.
The system is seen as essential in the conservation of fish stocks especially those that migrate regularly. It can also enhance the safety of vessels and crew by programming it to transmit distress messages.
Within the Western Indian Ocean under which the Kenya marine ecosystem falls, it is now compulsory to fit VMS in all vessels to deter illegal unregulated and unreported fishing.
Kenya loses billions of shillings in revenue due to illegal fishing by foreign fishing companies using sophisticated gears.
Fisheries Development Assistant minister, Mohamed Abu Chiaba said the ministry has proposed a review of licensing fees to foreign fishermen from Sh1.7 million ($20,000) per year to Sh85 million ($1 million).
“The country earns almost nothing out of its resources within the marine ecosystem,” Mr Chiaba said, adding that the ministry had no capacity to control foreign fishermen on the type and volumes of fish caught.
He said the new policy would also require foreign fishing companies to process fish locally.
“With the coming up of Lamu port and its proposed fishing ports, we expect our officers to measure inspect the catches and save our fishermen from middle men,” Mr Chiaba said.
Lamu County fisheries officer Simon Komu said KCDP would facilitate fishermen to acquire modern gear that would enable them exploit resources within the Exclusive Economic Zone. This is an area within which a State has special rights over exploration and use of marine sources be it fishing or energy production from wind and water.
KCDP also intends to scale up the capacity of Lamu county fishing community through training on fish processing and establishing co-operatives to access international markets.
