Fishermen in Malindi town, Kilifi County have urged the government to take possession and repair two large Chinese fishing vessels that have remained stuck at the Bunthwani beach for over three years.
The fishermen said that through the ministry of fisheries and blue economy, the government was in a good position to stop the danger the two vessels posed to beach users and that if repaired and handed over to them, then it will boost their fishing activities since they will be able to fish in deep waters.
According to the Chairman of the Shella Beach Management Unit (BMU) Yunus Abdud who represent more than 1,650 members, the Chinese nationals abandoned the fishing trawlers after realizing profits from their fishing expedition in Kenyan waters and that the government should go for them for polluting the marine ecosystem.
“They first abandoned AHADI 001 vessel in 2020 which was washed to the shows by the sea water and a year later they abandoned the AHADI 002 which was also washed to the beach and they have never bothered with them,” he said
He added that beach revelers at the Bunthwani beach were the most at risk since the vessels were now a hideout for criminals and the beach sand surrounding them had been washed away by sea water hence leaving huge ditches that can easily drown people.
Yusuf Makame who is the Data Collector at Shella BMU said that two drowning cases had been reported at the scene of the abandoned trawlers.
We have witnessed children’s accidents when children try to climb on the trawlers and we want the government to repair the boats and give them to our BMU so that we can venture into deep sea fishing and create more job opportunities, he said.
In a Kenya gazette notice dated 25th October 2024 Acting Director General of Kenya Maritime Authority Julius Koech said that the authority had taken over custody of the two ships and that they will be removed for posing danger to Malindi beach users.
“Removal of abandoned vessels at the coast in Malindi. A declaration is issued under section 323 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2009 that the two marine motor vessels, previously known as AHADI 001 and AHADI 002 are abandoned on the coast at Malindi, Kilifi County and are an obstruction and danger to navigation and a threat to the marine environment,” stated the notice.
It further stated that, “The Director General has taken possession of the said vessels and shall remove them per section 322 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2009 and other applicable laws.”
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