Fishermen in Lamu, Kenya, displaced by the LAPSSET project have been asked to take up commercial seaweed farming as an alternative means of survival.
The Indian Ocean has a massive potential to support the venture and supplement their reduced earnings after they were displaced by dredging at the port.
At least 5,000 affected fishermen have been left with no alternative means of livelihood after key traditional fishing channels were closed off.
Efforts by the fishermen to pursue a Sh1.76 billion compensation package awarded to them by the Malindi High Court have been unsuccessful.
Globally, China is the largest producer of edible seaweeds with about five million tonnes annually.
The Lamu initiative is being fronted by the Pate Marine Community Conservancy, a Lamu-based conservation group.
The group aims to increase income and employment for communities through conserving key habitats such as mangroves, seagrasses, coral reefs and rare and threatened species such as sea turtles, seabirds, dugongs, dolphins and sharks.
The PMCC manager Nadhir Hashim urged Lamu fishermen to try their hand at seaweed farming even as they await compensation from the state.
Read more:
https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/coast/2021-12-28-fishermen-displaced-by-lamu-port-urged-to-consider-seaweed-farming/