Stakeholders have blamed the rising poverty levels among fishermen in Nyanza region for the failure to honour the annual Omena fishing ban.
Fisheries lobby group, Uhai Lake Forum, said the ban has been ignored due to high poverty levels that drive fishermen to the lake.
The forum project officer Michael Oduor said despite the high awareness levels on the need to let the fish breed, poverty has pushed fishermen to take their nets.
The government had introduced an annual three month ban on Omena fishing in Lake Victoria between April and July to allow for the breeding of the species.
But unlike in previous years, fishing of the species continues to boom this year with officials saying they have relaxed the rule due to high poverty levels.
Along the beaches in Lake Victoria basin, fishermen continue casting nets wide undeterred by the ban that was imposed to allow immature fish to grow.
Fishermen at Nyagina beach in Rusinga island who spoke during Victoria day celebration asked the government to allow them catch omena as a cushion against hunger.
Speaking during the 14th commemoration of Lake Victoria Day in Nyagina beach, the local Beach Management Units said implementing the ban is not easy.