Kenyan women defy fishing taboos as climate change threatens Lake Victoria
Summary
In Kenya, women are breaking old customs that forbid them from fishing on Lake Victoria. Climate change is making traditional fishing harder, so some women have started fishing themselves to support their families. Their actions are slowly changing community attitudes.Key Facts
- Traditionally, only men were allowed to fish on Lake Victoria in certain Kenyan communities.
- Some people believed women fishing or being near fishing boats would scare away fish or cause bad luck.
- Rhoda Ongoche Akech was the first woman to fish on Lake Victoria in her village in 2002, despite social opposition.
- For 16 years, Akech fished alone, but other women gradually joined her after 2018.
- Women fishermen now face less resistance as their presence becomes more accepted.
- Fishing provides an important income for these women and their families amid economic difficulties.
- Climate change is making fish harder to catch, increasing the need for new fishing approaches.
- Earnings from fishing can be a vital source of money, with boat owners making about $46-$62 per day and crew members earning about $4-$6.
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