Lake Naivasha: The water body that keeps on giving

1,140 tons of fish valued at Sh. 147 million were harvested from Lake Naivasha in 2023 alone.

This was revealed during the World fisheries day celebration that saw county officials and fishermen converge at the Lake to document the significance of this resource.

In his speech, Paul Olwenyi, the chairperson of the Beach Management Unit (BMU) noted that over 800 fishermen directly depend on the lake, with an additional 10,000 individuals indirectly engaged in the fish value chain. 

However, Olwenyi raises concerns about the practice of catching undersized fish, which hampers the regeneration of fish stocks, leading to lower market prices. 

“By removing young fish from the lake, you deny them the chance to replenish the stock, resulting in lower yields and prices. There’s an urgent need to address this issue,” he says. 

Olwenyi also points to fish poaching as a major challenge, contributing to insecurity and hindering the sustainable growth of fisheries. 

He advocates for interventions such as value addition in aquaculture to ease pressure on the lake.

Kelvin Ereng, a coxswain, notes that the lake supports not only fishermen but also young people involved in eco-tourism. 

“Many youth earn a livelihood through activities like boat rides and cycling at the landing beaches, offering visitors affordable and authentic experiences,” he says. 

Kelvin observes that public beaches around Lake Naivasha attract visitors, especially on weekends and holidays, creating economic opportunities for the local youth.

To support the fishing community, the County Government distributed 600 fishing nets to fishermen at Central Landing Beach and provided fish processing equipment, including coolers, knives, gumboots, and wheelbarrows, to the BMU to enhance the fish market's operations. 

Additionally, two youth groups were each provided with eco-tourism boats to tap into the blue economy.

County Agriculture Executive Leonard Bor emphasizes that the lake faces threats from overfishing and increased human activities driven by a growing population. 

“Collaboration with fishing communities, government agencies, and stakeholders is critical to enforcing fisheries management measures and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Lake Naivasha’s fishery,” he says.

The celebration was themed 'Collaborative Governance for Blue Transformation and Sustainable Investment in Fisheries.'