Alarming emerging details indicate that fishing activities on the Kenyan side of Lake Victoria have increased by a huge percentage over the last three years.
A new report indicates that apart from the increased fishing cages in the lake, the number of fishermen and longline hooks has also increased within the last three years.
The Lake Victoria Fisheries Frame Survey 2019 findings reveal that the number of fishing boats has increased to 16,183 in 2019, up from the 14,365 in 2016.
This puts under question the lake's ability to sustain the nation's fish demand in the next few years should the trend continue.
Consequently, beach managers have raised alarm, saying that there is a dire need for the lake to be restocked with fingerlings as soon as possible, owing to the overfishing.
"We want the lake restocked to increase fish population that is now threatened by over-fishing," Mr Tom Guda, National Beach Management Unit Chairman, said on Thursday.
The remarks were echoed by Nyanza Regional Assistant Director of Fisheries Christine Okoth who termed the findings as "worrying".
She announced plans to sensitize the fish cage investors to embrace better modes of fishing, adding that the statistics indicate that there is a need to regulate fishing in the lake.
"We are planning to sensitise fish cage investors so that they can do it in a sustainable manner that will allow the lake to regenerate," she said.
Fisheries Principal Secretary Japheth Ntiba said that the department is coming up with sustainable fishing practices directives for both the fishermen and cage investors.