Fisherfolk cry foul as Chinese imports dominate market

Abstract

Rising fish imports into the lakeside city of Kisumu are providing a cheaper choice for consumers but leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of traders. Traders are now calling for a policy shift, cautioning that liberalisation could drown Kenya’s fish industry. According to Kusa Beach Management Unit (BMU) member Francis Awino, the move — which was meant to address shortages — has run out of control, throwing fishing communities into a life of uncertainty. “Things are getting worse as the mainstay of the people who have relied on fishing for decades continues to be neglected, thanks to the cheap Asian nation imports,” he said