GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 7449

PURSUANT to regulation 21 of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2003, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has received an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the above proposed project. The proponent, Yiruo Fish Farm Kenya Limited intends to establish a proposed sustainable and responsible tilapia cage culture in the waters of Lake Victoria, around Lwanda Rombo Beach area Suba North Sub-County, Homa Bay County. The proposed Aquaculture Production Zone (APZ) of the proposed site for this project is located approximately 500m from the shoreline. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures Nutrient enrichment • Monitor feed rates to avoid overfeeding. • Acquire quality floating pellets that can easily be washed away naturally to the shores. Disposal of cage assembly related wastes • Recycling, Reuse and transfer to approved sites. Water current flow regime disturbance rents • Jump nets that extend above the water line should be constructed to prevent overtopping by storm surges or waves. • Install cages away from major currents and areas with aquatic vegetation. • Anchoring of cages on single point moorings so that waste will be distributed over greater area. Fish mortalities • Conduct a daily routine of collecting mortalities on the farm. • All mortalities should be burnt decomposed at a designated area. Fish feed waste • Feed on response to avoid overfeeding. • Adjust feed chart in cold season to avoid overfeeding and unnecessary feed loss. • Monitor feed for macrominerals like phosphorus and nitrogen. • Use of extruded feed to improve on digestibility and reduce the amounts of feed lost to the. Fish escapes • Ensure that the nets are properly sized to avoid escape of fry, juveniles. • Cages should be made of sturdy, oncorrosive material to avoid escapes through corroded areas. • Make through inspection of nets before they are deployed so as to avoid possible escapes from the cages. • Follow protocols when transferring, changing nets or harvesting fish from the cages e.g. use of fish boxes. • Trained staff must periodically inspect cages for holes, rips or tears. Fish diseases • Practice good husbandry. • Limit use of chemicals. • Quarantine introductions. Predator/prey interactions • Putting nets over cages to deter birds. Road access congestion • Assist in road maintenance. Food hygiene • Quality assurance/On site testing. Health issues and occupational safety • Annual inspection of facilities by the approved certifying agents government or private. 24th June, 2022 THE KENYA GAZETTE Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures Bio-safety risks • Use footbaths and restrict entry to pond farm and cages. Encroachment into Lwanda Rombo beach fishing grounds • Restrict expansion to currently agreed area and new around to be out of fishing grounds. Conflict with other lake users • Accommodate issues as they arise among stakeholders. Navigational obstacles • Install selfextinguishing Equipment, lights, use of approved equipment and use of appropriate technology (Best practice) for night time. Aesthetic loss • Allow tourist, school children to look and learn from prescribed distances. Habitat preservation • Place ponds above the flood level. • Do not set cages in areas with aquatic vegetation. • Avoid setting cages where there may be conflicts with other lake users. Fingerlings overcrowding • Use lower stocking densities. • Use strong nets. Excess organic nutrients • Move cages within the aquaculture zone (APZ) periodically to different locations to avoid accumulation of wastes below the cages. Water quality deterioration due to self-pollution from aquaculture effluent • Practice standard effluent management and controls. Lakebed shading by structures • The cage design and layout should allow natural lighting to the water body so as to improve water clarity. Widespread bio- deposition • The cage siting should have standard water depth to allow for natural assimilation and optimum feeding by the tilapia fingerlings. Bio-accumulation • Regularly clean the fish cage nets to remove algae, plants and shells. Genetic erosion of capture Fisheries • Avoid fish escapes of caged fish. Fish quality • Site the cages in areas with good water quality. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, NHIF Building, 12th Floor, Ragati Road, Upper Hill, P.O. Box 30126–00100, Nairobi. (b) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839–00200, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Homa Bay County. A copy of the report can be downloaded at www.nema.go.ke The National Environment Management Authority invites members of the public to submit oral or written comments within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice to the Director-General, NEMA, to assist the Authority in the decision making process regarding this project. Comments can also be emailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/3822605 National Environment Management.