The newly acquired Sh3.6 billion sea patrol vessel that was imported by the government to help fight illegal fishing is to begin full operations this year.
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute research officer, Patrick Gwada, said Wednesday MV Doria has been running trials since it was commissioned in 2017.
Gweda said there was a delay in patrol because no specific budget had been allocated for the ship’s operations.
"The main operations will start in the next financial year (2018- 2019). Currently, MV Mtafiti, the research vessel, and MV Doria, the patrol one, share the same kitty. Probably moving ahead it is going to have a fully funded kitty for its operations," Gwada said as quoted by Business Daily.
Addressing the press in Mombasa, Gwada said the patrols will move around the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) waters to monitor fishing operations and the fleets involved.
The EEZ of a country is defined by the United Nations as a sea zone over which the State has special rights with regard to exploration and use of marine resources.
The offshore vessel, which was commissioned last year, is expected to boost security and help curb illegal fishing.
Last year, the government acquired the billion-shilling patrol ship from Bangladesh to curb unlawful exploitation of Indian Ocean resources.