GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 11795

PURSUANT to section 59 of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act, 1999, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has received an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the above proposed project. The proponent, Victory Farms Limited intends to expand an existing and largest sustainable tilapia cage in offshore waters of litare, Jiudendi, Ngeri, Nyagwethe, Kamogo, Uterere and Kisegi beaches. The proposed new concession blocks are targeted to produce approximately 30,000 metric tonnes per year, this will help to meet the current national tilapia demand and boost the lake basin economy within Lake Victoria, Suba South Sub-County, Homabay County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Impacts Mitigation Measures Fish feed waste • Feed on response to avoid overfeeding. • Practice regular flushing of ponds/tanks. • Adjust feed chart in different seasons to avoid overfeeding and unnecessary feed loss. • Monitor feed for macro-minerals like phosphorus and nitrogen. • Use of extruded feed to improve on digestibility and reduce the amount of waste generation. • Anchoring of cages on single point moorings so that waste will be distributed over greater area. • Increase feed use efficiency by using high- quality feed that contains desired nitrogen and phosphorus minerals and by assuring that fish consume most of the feed offered. • Fallowing of are below cages to allow the breakdown of accumulated waste. • Apply appropriate feed type and size suitable for a specific stage of fish. 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. • Cages should be made of sturdy,non-corrosive material. • 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. Encroachment into Sienga– Kolunga beaches fishing grounds • Restrict expansion to currently agreed area and new around to be out of fishing grounds. Health issues and occupational • Annual inspection of facilities by the approved certifying agents. • Use footbaths and restrict entry to pond farm and cages. • Quality assurance/wet laboratory for testing on site. Fish mortalities • Conduct a daily routine of collecting mortalities on the farm. • All mortalities should be burnt decomposed at a designated area. Chemical spills and incorrect application of chemicals • The handler must wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment(PPE). • Dosages, application methods and resultant outcome must be known and recorded in a treatment register. 13th September, 2024 THE KENYA GAZETTE • Expired chemicals must be disposed of at a suitable hazardous waste disposal site. • The advice of a recognized fish pathologists or aquaculturists must be sought where the application of chemicals is uncertain. Endangering predators • No traps may be used to injure any predators of aquaculture organisms. • Traps may only be set if these predators can be caught live (without injury) for translocation to alternative areas. This may only be done under the supervision of recognized organizations or authorities. • Ensure no poisons is left out for aquaculture predators. • Ensure no animals that prey on the aquaculture species is shot. • The main aquaculture predators and their control methods include cover netting for birds (Kingfishers, Fish Eagles, Herons, Storks and others) and fencing. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Foresty, NHIF Building, 12th Floor, Ragati Road, Upper Hill, P.O. Box 30126–00200, Nairobi. (b) Director General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839–00200, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Homabay County. A copy of the EIA report can be downloaded at www.nema.go.ke The National Environmental 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 for this project. Comments can also be e-mailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/6496651 National Environment Management Authority.