Fishery Industry in Kenya
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Export Processing Zones Authority - Kenya has a long history
of fishing with the Luo, Luhyia, and Abasuba ethnic groups having
been active fishermen for more than five centuries. Until 20 years
ago nearly all fish caught in Kenyan waters was consumed locally.
Kenya started to export fish in the early 1980s, when fish
processing factories were established around Lake Victoria. Thus
over the past 20 years, the fisheries sub-sector has gradually
evolved from a domestic consumption oriented industry to an export
oriented industry with value added processing being applied.
Kenya is a coastal state with a marine coastline of 536 Kilometres
and a well-developed marine fishing industry. In spite of this, Lake
Victoria continues to dominate Kenya's fishing output source. The
lake currently accounts for over 90% of the tonnes of fish caught
while marine fishing accounts for only 4% of the total output. Kenya
claims 6% of Lake Victoria's total surface area, with 43% being
owned by Uganda and 51% by Tanzania. Lake wide fish production is
estimated at between 400 – 500 metric tons with Tanzania landing
40%, Kenya 35% and Uganda 25%. The landed value of this catch is
between USD 300 – 400 million annually.
The fisheries sub-sector provides employment and income to over
500,000 Kenyans engaged in fish production and related enterprises.
In terms of contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP),
Kenya's fishing industry has accounted for 0.3% of GDP for the
period 1999-2003. Kenya’s annual average production for the period
1999-2003 was 171,000 metric tonnes with a value of approximately
KShs 8 billion in 2003. About 30% of the fish is exported to
countries in Europe and other non-European countries.
Fishing in Kenya is mostly
carried out by artisanal fishermen operating small fishing boats in
inland lakes and marine waters. A small proportion of fish in Kenya
is obtained from fish farming (aquaculture). The inland lakes are
Lake Victoria, Lake Turkana, Lake Baringo, Lake Naivasha and smaller
Lakes including Chala and Jipe. About 92% of fish comes from Lake
Victoria and the rest from the Indian Ocean (4%), inland lakes and
rivers (3%) and aquatic culture (1%)
Kenya Marine and
Fisheries Research Institute - Kenya Marine and Fisheries
Research Institute (KMFRI) is a State Corporation in the Ministry of
Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries. It is mandated to conduct
aquatic research covering all the Kenyan waters and the
corresponding riparian areas including the Kenyan's EEZ in the
Indian Ocean waters. The Institute was established by an Act of
Parliament (Science and Technology Act, Cap 250 of the Laws of
Kenya) in 1979 and run by a Board of Management.
Fishery and Aquaculture Country Profile for Kenya
- aquatic species caught by country or area, by species items, by
FAO major fishing areas, and year, for all commercial, industrial,
recreational and subsistence purposes. The harvest from mariculture,
aquaculture and other kinds of fish farming is also included.
The
Ocean
Data and Information Network for Africa (ODINAFRICA) brings
together marine institutions from twenty-five Member States of the
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO from Africa
(Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire,
Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal,
Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Togo, and
Tunisia). The goal of the current phase of ODINAFRICA is to improve
the management of coastal and marine resources and the environment
in participating countries by: enhancing data flows into the
national oceanographic data and information centres in the
participating countries, strengthening the capacity of these centres
to analyse and interpret the data so as to develop products required
for integrated management of the coastal areas of Africa, and
increase the delivery of services to end users.
AQUASTAT is FAO's global information
system on water and agriculture developed by the Land and Water
Division. It collects, analyses and disseminates data and
information by country and by region. Its aim is to provide users
interested in global, regional and national analyses with
comprehensive information related to water resources and
agricultural water management across the world, with emphasis on
countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Information for Kenya
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The fish species
found in Kenya include:
Inland water
bodies fish
Lake Victoria - Alestes, Bargus, Barbus, Clarias,
Rastrineobola, Haplochromis, Labeo, Lates Niloticus, Momyrus,
Proptopterus, Schilbe, Synodontis, T. Niloticus, Tilapia
Lake Turkana - L. Niloticus, Tilapias, Labeo, Bargus,
Citharinus, Disticodus, Clarias
Lake Naivasha - Black Bass, Cray Fish, O. Leucostictus,
Tilapia Zilii
Lake Baringo - Tilapia, Protopterus, Clarias, Barbus
Tana River Dams - Tilapia, Common Carp, Clarias, Barbus,
Labeo, Eels, Momyrus
Marine fish
Demersal - Rabbit Fish, Scavenger, Snapper, Parrot Fish,
Surgeon Fish, Unicorn Fish, Grunter, Pouter, Black Skin, Goat Fish,
Steaker, Rock cod, Cat Fish, Mixed Dermasal
Pelagics- Cavalla Jacks, Mullets, Little mackerels,
Barracudas, King Fish, Milk Fish, Queen Fish, Sail Fish, Bonitos,
Tunas, Dolphins, Mixed Pelagics.
Crustaceans - Lobsters, Prawns, Crabs.
Ocean
Health Index Kenya - The Ocean Health Index is a valuable tool for the
ongoing assessment of ocean health. By providing a means to advance
comprehensive ocean policy and compare future progress, the Index
can inform decisions about how to use or protect marine ecosystems.
The Index is a collaborative effort, made possible through
contributions from more than 65 scientists/ocean experts and
partnerships between organizations including the National Center for
Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Sea Around Us, Conservation
International, National Geographic, and the New England Aquarium.
Information for Kenya
Kenya Maritime
Authority - Kenya Maritime Authority - Commercial shipping,
maritime safety, marine training, vessel registration, seafarers
book application, search and rescue, Piracy and marine environment
status.
Aquacultural
Association of Kenya
The Aquacultural Association of Kenya (AAK) is the National umbrella
body of all fish farmers in Kenya. The association was started in
the year 2007 and registered in year 2008 under section 10 of the
Societies Act laws of Kenya. It is a non- political, non- religious
membership association that aims at articulating issues affecting
its members and the aquaculture industry at large.
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