Fish farmers in Gachii, Gatundu North are a worried lot following invasion of fish eating birds that often raid their ponds for fish.
Janet Karigi a fish pond farmer in Gachii said on Wednesday that the birds have become a real menace as they had been feeding on fish from the single pond stocked about seven months ago.
"The troublesome birds invade the ponds at wee hours making it difficult to use catapults or other methods to control them," she said.
Karigi noted that the farmers who operate self help groups were counting losses over birds invasion.
Jiinue Self Help Group which has attracted membership from Gachii, Ituramiro, Karatu and Gatuura villages is one of the most affected.
According to Karigi who heads the group, the pond which is located in Gachii village near Gachii tea buying centre was stocked with 1,000 fingerlings last year and farmers expect the first harvest midyear 2016.
Expressing her concern while looking for a suitable trap to contain the birds, the group chairman feared the only remaining fish project within the area that covers the four villages would cease if the birds are not contained.
She revealed that the area had four other ponds which collapsed due to poor fingerlings handling and poor pond management systems.
"Youth and start ups can only grow with technical assistance in various fields. We will do our best to have the issue at hand solved to avoid total collapse of fish farming in this area," she said.
She however appealed to the fisheries department to offer technical assistance on how to deal with the small white birds with long sharp beaks to enhance fish farming in the region.
Fish consumption in Gatundu North sub county has been on the increase with experts saying the demand has exceeded production.