Lamu County has developed the region’s first fish processing plant. Lamu Fisheries officer Simon Komu confirmed the report and said that operations will commence next month.
The plant is located at the Lamu Fisheries offices near Shella beach town, Lamu Island. It was built at a cost of Sh 16million, funded by the county government and the World-Wide Fund for Nature. It is set to handle surplus production, especially tuna.
The objective of the facility is to boost fish production, reduce wastage and boost fish supplies and circulation of money in the domestic economy. Fishing is among the major income generators for Lamu County. There are more than 6,000 fishermen in Lamu and for decades preserving their surplus catch has been a huge challenge. Major fishing hubs include Faza, Ishakani, Kipungani, Kiunga, Kiwayu, Kizingitini, Lamu Island, Matondoni, Mkokoni, Ndau, Pate and Shella.
Boost fish production
Once operationalized, the plant will preserve, process and export fish from Lamu to local and international markets. WWF-Kenya marine programme coordinator Lily Dali Mwasi said the plant will have the capacity to preserve and process at least 10 tonnes of fish at any given time.
“Construction works started in late 2019. Through the Agricultural Sector Development Programme, we want to have tonnes of fish preserved at the plant and at the same time add value to the fish through processing. We are set to commission the plant in early June this year,” said Mr. Komu.
WWF-Kenya channelled more than Sh2 million into equipping the plant. In addition, Mwasi said fishermen had been taken through rigorous training on financial management in readiness for the fish value addition business.
“Together with the county government and the various BMUs, we were able to support the construction of the fish preservation and processing facility. We installed cold storage equipment, solar panels and other crucial items. We are looking forward to the launch of the facility,” said Mwasi.
