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{
    "id": 214274,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/214274/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 124,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Munyao",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 279,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Konzolo Munyao",
        "slug": "joseph-munyao"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. (a) The Government has not banned the fishing of Omena on the Kenyan part of Lake Victoria. However, in pursuit of sustainable management of the Omena fishery, the Government, through a stakeholders/fishermen meeting held at Tom Mboya Labour College, Kisumu, recommended a closed season as a management measure vide Gazette Notice No.7565, restricting fishing of Omena from 1st April to 31st July. This was done in order to give the stock of Omena time to recover and regenerate. (b) There is no definite scientific evidence to prove that the closed season boosts fish stocks. However, catch assessment surveys indicate that the closure promotes good fishery practice and increased catch rate of Omena and other species in the lake and it also protects the fish nursery phase. (c) I concur that Omena is the most readily available source of animal protein for people in the lake region. It is probably the staple food, although I thought Ugali was the staple food for the people. This is the main reason that its continued supply should be safeguarded through sustainable fisheries management programme. (d) The four-month (April to July) closure season does not compromise the availability of protein for the communities in the lake region and, therefore, no alternative source of money is required. However, the Government is promoting the diversification of sources of protein for the riparian communities through:- (i) Fish farming in individual and community fish ponds. (ii) Consumption of other fish species not affected by the Omena closure season. (iii) Growing of protein-rich food crops such as groundnuts and beans. (iv) Livestock rearing."
}