This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
Malindi Town is facing a severe fish shortage, with fishermen struggling to make ends meet due to the ongoing night curfew and strong winds in the Indian Ocean.
According to reports, the fisher folk in Malindi have had to go without fish since it has been difficult to venture into the sea for fear of being arrested by law enforcers or capsizing due to the roughness of the sea.
Speaking at the Shella fish landing site in Malindi Town on Thursday, a number of fishermen expressed their concerns, saying they were unable to take care of their families and pay rent.
They also asked the county and national governments to give the fisher folk special consideration in enforcing the curfew and to consider giving them financial support as the Coronavirus pandemic had rendered them highly vulnerable.
Mr Mohamed Fadhili, a fisherman, said that since most fishing activities take place at night, the 9.00 pm to 4.00 am curfew imposed as part of Covid-19 containment measures was disadvantageous to the fisher folk.
“We now fear that our families could disintegrate if the pandemic is not contained within the next six months as we are now unable to fend for our wives and children,” he said.
A spot check at the fish landing sites along the Malindi beaches revealed a sorry state, with fishermen landing a catch of as little as half a kilogramme, while others only end up washing their nets after collecting seaweeds.
Most of the fish shops in Malindi Town have also been operating below capacity, with many being forced to close early for lack of stock.
The prices of fish have also gone up by between Sh50 and Sh100, with a kilogramme selling at between Sh350 and 500 up from Sh300 and 400.
By Emmanuel Masha, published on July 9, 2020.
