By ERIC JUMA
Fishermen at Kogoye Beach in Rarieda Sub-County, Siaya County, are celebrating a successful return to Lake Victoria after a 90-day seasonal fishing ban.
More than 200 mechanised boats set out from Ogoye Fishing Harbour on Sunday night and returned by 10am with a substantial catch of Nile perch and tilapia, sparking brisk trading and strong demand from buyers.
The three-month ban was intended to protect fish breeding grounds, support reproduction and promote the long-term sustainability of fish stocks in the lake.
The first boats to return hauled in tonnes of fish, bringing excitement to fishermen, traders and residents who had gathered at the harbour to purchase the fresh catch.
The increased supply triggered a hive of activity at the beach, with wholesalers and local traders competing for the catch, while prices reflected the strong demand.
Fishermen led by Ogoye Beach Management Unit Secretary Jairus Otieno expressed optimism over the start of the new fishing season, saying the initial catch had exceeded expectations.
Otieno said the average catch from a boat was worth about Sh500,000, describing the first day as encouraging.
โThe ban on fishing kicked off in June 2026 with a view to ensuring natural breeding of carp fish and maintaining a supportive natural environment at the lake for its reproduction,โ Otieno said.
He said fishermen had marked off the breeding grounds and organised themselves in shifts to protect the areas from intruders during the restriction period.
โWe intensified patrols on the lake during the period and, for sure, we are today celebrating the fruits of our labour,โ he said.
Otieno said the size of the catch had increased significantly compared with the period before the ban.
โOn a daily basis, we could get 200 kilogrammes of fish at Kogoye Beach, but today we have witnessed a single boat carrying 300 kilogrammes of tilapia. This is an indication that by evening, we shall hit 2,000 kilogrammes of fish,โ he said.
At Kogoye Beach, table-size fish is selling at about Sh300, according to the fishermen.
Otieno urged the Siaya County Government to support the beach with patrol boats to strengthen security and protect the fishing grounds.
โWe need a patrol boat that will help us guard this beach at night because Homa Bay fishermen were extending their expeditions into our territory,โ he said.
He said the improved catch had also brought relief to widows and other households that depend on fishing for their livelihoods.
Fisherman Ainea Owino Owuor said the large catch following the 90-day restriction demonstrated that the temporary ban had yielded positive results and should be supported.
โWe could not go to the lake for fishing for the last 90 days due to the restrictions. We maintained our livelihoods with fish trapped from other parts of the lake,โ Owino said.
The fishermen said they hoped the improved fish stocks would be sustained through continued protection of breeding grounds and stronger enforcement against illegal fishing.
