Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Opportunities and Challenges in the Lake Turkana Fishery: Building a Sustainable Fisheries Sector

Version 1 : Received: 24 June 2022 / Approved: 27 June 2022 / Online: 27 June 2022 (05:31:25 CEST)

How to cite: Keyombe, J.L.; Obuya, J.; Owoko, W.; Namwaya, D.; Katiwa, E. Opportunities and Challenges in the Lake Turkana Fishery: Building a Sustainable Fisheries Sector. Preprints 2022, 2022060350. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202206.0350.v1 Keyombe, J.L.; Obuya, J.; Owoko, W.; Namwaya, D.; Katiwa, E. Opportunities and Challenges in the Lake Turkana Fishery: Building a Sustainable Fisheries Sector. Preprints 2022, 2022060350. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202206.0350.v1

Abstract

Turkana County's fisheries sector, which is entirely dependent on Lake Turkana, is vital to the county's economy. The Fisheries Sector in the County supports 1,500 households directly and 1,100 households indirectly. Despite its economic and social importance, the sector faces numerous challenges such as high post-harvest fish losses, uncoordinated development approaches, over-exploitation of some lake areas and weak links between research, management, and other sector players. Furthermore, since the start of devolution in 2013, the sector has been operating without an overall policy and legal framework. The primary goal of the study was to identify important challenges in the management of the fisheries sector in Turkana County that would lead the successful and coordinated growth of the fisheries industry. To capture their perspectives on the problems and potential in the usage of Lake Turkana's fisheries resources, semi-structured questionnaires and Key Informants interviews were used to collect primary data from the sector's fisheries actors. A total of 60 people were interviewed, and their responses were recorded in the Kobo Collect toolbox for later analysis. Secondary data was also gathered from numerous national policy declarations, guidelines, and legislation that have been used to manage Lake Turkana's fishery resources. The findings indicate that a policy directing the exploitation and development of fisheries is required in order to fully realize the potential of fisheries and aquaculture in the County. The development of the policy will lay a solid foundation for the creation of a legal framework to strengthen the sector in Turkana County, which is a necessary step toward achieving sustainable development and management of fisheries in accordance with national, regional, and international frameworks. By leveraging the role of the County Directorate of Fisheries and Beach Management Units in the sectors' monitoring, management, and development, the policy will also promote effective coordination of stakeholders at all levels.

Keywords

Lake Turkana Fishery; fishery policy

Subject

Engineering, Marine Engineering

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