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{
    "id": 177115,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/177115/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 85,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Otuoma",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Fisheries Development",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 132,
        "legal_name": "Paul Nyongesa Otuoma",
        "slug": "paul-otuoma"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. Kichinjio, Usoma, Ngege, Usare, Paga/Jina and Rare are the main Beach Management Units (BMU) there. Kichinjio comprises of 75 members, Usoma, 49 members; Ngege, 48; Usare 99, Ngege 48, Paga 124, Ogal 24 and Rare 69 members. Considering that they play a vital role in the efforts of managing Lake Victoria region, the BMUs are community-based in collaboration with FAO, through the code of conduct for responsible fishing which Kenya has domesticated as agreed by the Council of Ministers on the Lake Victoria Organisation. Some of the functions include provision of intelligence information on illegal fishing activities to the Government, vetting of fishers and recommending those who to be licensed so that those who are involved in illegalities are not allowed to fish and destroy the resources. They are also cooperating with the Government in policing the fisheries resources; that is, they form part of the monitoring control and surveillance units. They also collect data on fish catches alongside Government staff which enables to know the fisheries which are producing in those areas. I wish to inform the hon. Member that just like community policing, the BMUs members are not Government employees. They are resource users who benefit from the resource and its sustainability is of utmost importance to them. They are expected to cooperate with the Government and other stakeholders in ensuring continued sustainable exploitation of the fisheries resources. However, the BMUs have their own laws and action plans which allow the executive committee to levy some fees for services rendered in the beach provided for in the Fisheries Management Unit Regulations 2007 Part V. These revenues are used for the smooth running of the BMUs including payment of allowances to committee members. My Ministry has also put in place several plans that are aimed at empowering the BMUs in order to reduce fishing pressure on Lake Victoria. These measures include:- (i) The concept of reforming the BMUs to conform to harmonised standards in the riparian states that has greatly increased their sense of ownership of fisheries resources. (ii) The Government has since legalised these BMUs through Gazette Notice No. 402 of 2007. The Fisheries Beach Management Regulations 2007 have enabled the units to be the entry point for development, training and resource mobilisation. (iii) The Ministry has also continued to sensitize fishers in financial and fisheries management training so that they can diversify into other income-generating activities. (iv) There is also provision of technical support to fish farming activities (aquaculture) and revitalization of Kabonyo Fish Farm to provide quality fish among other centres in the country. This will provide an alternative source of livelihoods as it is happening in Dunga BMU and in Kogonga in Bondo. (v) My Ministry has also continued to collaborate with other Government Ministries such as Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Livestock Development and Ministry of Trade to target fishing community and sensitize them on capacity building to improve livelihoods in other areas such as horticulture, trade and livestock. (vi) Fish landing sites have been constructed in Ogal, Usoma, Kichinjio and Usare to ensure that fish caught by these fishermen is landed in hygienically acceptable conditions. The Government is also in the process of extending electricity to other beaches and has already done this in Ogal Beach where the Ministry has since provided a deep freezer to help members store their fish to reduce spoilage. The Ministry is also in the process of upgrading the beach into internationally accepted standards at the cost of Kshs20 million. This is in addition to the other six that are being done countrywide. December 2, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3743 The Ministry has provided ten out-board engines to the Beaches Management Units (BMUs) in strategic points of the lake including Dunga area. (c) Following the agreed action by the Council of Ministers of Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO) in 2004, the Ministry requested the Treasury to zero-rate the taxes on all fishing gear which was partly effected through the Finance Act (No.10) of 2006 as per the attached schedule. However, my Ministry has written to the Ministry of Finance to zero-rate all out-board engines and life jackets. The Ministry is requesting the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) through the Ministry of Finance to put in place surveillance mechanisms to curb smuggling of illegal nets, which are mono-filaments, into the country as agreed by the Council of Ministers in 2007. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir."
}