The national government has attributed the depletion of fish stocks in Lake Victoria to human activities.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Fisheries Prof Mucheni Ntiba said the stocks can be replenished only if locals change their actions.
Ntiba said over fishing coupled with use of under nets are the main causes that lead to depletion of the fish stocks in the lake.
“It is our people who cause our resources to deplete, let them be responsible and conserve what we have,” he said.
The PS said there is enough fish in the lake that can sustain the locals and boost the economy of the country through exports only if it nurtured well.
Speaking in Kisumu on Friday during a national conference on fisheries, Ntiba called for a concerted efforts among fish stakeholders to reverse the worrying trend.
He said the government is keen to address challenges that affect the fishing industry and only requires support from the fishermen and fish mongers.
Ntiba announced that a new policy is in the pipeline to strengthen the fishing industry and realize returns.
He said the Fisheries Management and Conservation Bill is before the Senate and soon will be signed into law to usher in radical measures aimed at streamlining the fishing sector.
“The new policy will help is setting up bodies that will scale up efforts to revamped fisheries sector,” he said.