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Homa Bay fishermen want the fisheries department to investigate why some fish were found dead in Lake Victoria.
Two weeks ago, residents were worried after dead fish were found floating on Angalo and Ndhuru beaches in Homa Bay Town constituency.
Homa Bay subcounty beach management unit chairman Alfred Anyango said they reported the matter to the county fisheries department to investigate the matter and unearth the cause.
He said the incident had caused panic among his colleagues and had hurt their business.
Fishermen are also unable to sell the little catch because buyers fear the fish are poisoned.
“There is also discoloration of water around areas where fish were found dead. Let experts help us find out the reason behind the incident,” Anyango said.
On Wednesday, fishermen expressed concerns that the situation may render them jobless should they fail to find an amicable solution.
Environmentalist and Aluora Makare organisation chairman Willis Omullo joined the fishermen in calling for a speedy investigation.
“Lake Victoria is a protected water body and such incidents need thorough scrutiny. We don’t want a situation where marine life is interfered with,” Omullo said.
Some of the affected fish types are tilapia, omena and Nile perch. The incident occurs occasionally in the lake.
Homa Bay county fisheries director George Okoth said the occurrence was a natural phenomenon. He said there was no cause for alarm.
“Water at the bottom has less oxygen compared to the one near the surface where fish live. When the water mixes, the level of oxygen reduces and sometime cause the death,” Okoth said.
The director said experts from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) visited some of the affected beaches for investigations.
Homa Bay Trade executive Aguko Juma said they are working with companies operating cage fishing in the lake to investigate the problem.
Edited by A.N