GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 3272

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, Global Tilapia Husbandry Ltd, is proposing to establish a commercial sustainable and responsible tilapia cage culture that shall comprise of 250 round cages each measuring 5m diameter and 10m depth in the waters of Lake Victoria, around Nyachebe beach area, Suba- North Sub-County in Homabay County. Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Eutrophication of the lake • Avoid overfeeding by monitoring from Nutrient Enrichment feed rates. from excess feeds and waste Flow regimes/water currents Escape of non-native culture species could lead to : - • Interbreeding and gene pool alteration of the local fish populations • Disease transmission • Competition Contamination of the environment through waste disposal — air pollution and waste water Water flowing through the cages is affected by drag forces exerted by the framework and netting • Install cages away from major currents and areas with aquatic vegetation. Increased waste • Recycling, Re-use and transfer to accumulation rate in the approved sites. immediate cage vicinity Fish escapes • Install screens on all inlet and outlet points in the fish farm to minimize the escape of fry, juveniles and brood stock. • Filter screens in fish farm shall be designed to retain the smallest life stage present. • Filter devices should be capable of screening all water. • 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. • Place ponds above the flood level. • Area occupied by ponds should be smaller that of natural vegetation. • Place ponds well apart. • Retain vegetation as much as possible. • Practice good husbandry. • Quarantine introductions. • Assist in road maintenance. • Accommodate issues as they arise. • Employ those involved in capture fishing as unskilled workers. • Install self-extinguishing navigation equipment, lights and technology. • Recycling, Re-use and transfer to approved sites. • Construct jump nets that extend above the water line to prevent overtopping by storm surges and waves. • Install cages away from major currents and areas with aquatic vegetation. • Recycling, Re-use and transfer to approved sites. • Conduct a routine of collecting mortalities on the firm. • All mortalities should be decomposed at a designated area. • Limit use of chemicals. • Use footbaths and restrict entry to cage farm. • Putting nets over cages to deter birds. • Putting predator nets. • Annual inspection of the facility by government approved agents. • Consider having a resident health staff. • Restrict expansion to the currently agreed areas. • Accommodate conflict issues as they arise. • Acquire quality floating pellets that can easily be washed to the shore. • 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. • Install screens on all inlet and outlet points to minimize escape. • Cages should be made of sturdy non-corrosive material. • Thoroughly inspect the nets before deployment. • Follow protocols when transferring, changing nets or harvestin.; • Trained staff must periodically inspect cages for holes, rips, or tears. • Recycling, Re-use and transfer to approved sites. • Construct jump nets that extend above the water line to prevent overtopping by storm surges and waves. Habitat preservation Spread of diseases to wild population Deterioration of road access due to congestion Conflict with other lake users over reduced space Reduced capture fish prices and fishers income Boat accidents at night Spread disease Contamination of the environment through waste disposal ;— • air pollution • waste water; • attracting scavengers, • injure wildlife, Water flowing through the cages is affected by drag forces exerted by the framework and netting Increased waste accumulation rate in the immediate cage vicinity Fish mortalities results in the excretion of ammonia in lake waters (through bacterial action and autolysis of dead fish), predation by other fish, lizards, crocodiles and birds Incidence of disease through evolution of drug resistant fish pathogens Fish losses due to predation Accidents, health issues and occupational safety Encroachment into fishing grounds and conflict with other lake users 24th April, 2020 THE KENYA GAZETTE 1789 Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Improved scenery of the • Allow tourists, school children to area due to cages and lake look and learn from the prescribed based storage facilities distance. 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, Community, 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, Homabay County. 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 plan. MAMO B. MAMO, Ag . Director-General, MR/0747588 National Environment Management Authority.