The government of Kenya is developing a new aquaculture policy aimed at scaling up fish production in the East African nation.
by Blue Africa News
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) 2024 report, the country produced 161,308 metric tons of fish in 2023, valued at Sh36 billion (approximately US$279 million).
With improved breeding practices and enhanced storage facilities, officials say, Kenya has the potential to produce 250,000 metric tons annually, doubling up on the 2023 earnings.
Blue Africa spoke with Sam Kidera, Fisheries Director for Nyanza and Western regions under the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs about the policy and how it is expected to boost aquaculture production once implemented.
Here are the excerpts:
B: What stage is Kenya currently at in developing the national aquaculture policy?
S: The policy has been authored by the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs.
We are still at the draft stage, collecting views from various stakeholders before we take it to the cabinet for approval.
B: Recently, Ghana enacted the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill. Is Kenya headed towards that direction?
S: Our policy formulation is currently undergoing public participation. So, perhaps if the people say that they want a specific bill that will address issues of aquaculture, then it will go that way.
B: What timeline has the ministry set for finalizing and adopting the aquaculture policy?
S: We want the process to be concluded as soon as possible so that our people, the players in the industry, are well catered for.
B: What are some of the main challenges in the aquaculture sector that you seek to address through this policy?
S: The aquaculture sector is emerging as a key economy. And some of the systems within the aquaculture which are coming up, especially in Kenya, is cage fish farming. Cage farming is new and it is contributing immensely in the production of aquaculture.
You realize that in our fisheries bulletin of 2024, cage farming contributed to 76% of the increase in aquaculture production.
We have infrastructure being installed to facilitate cage fish farming. In this ecosystem, we have other players, those who are doing fish capture in the natural waters. We also have maritime transport. The policy seeks to address interaction between these different players.
There is also the issue of feeds in the water system and how it is affecting environmental issues that come with it. Then, we also have other issues like climate change which lead to fish kills.
How are we going to address these particular challenges? Through the aquaculture policy, we are going to work with financial institutions and insurance companies to help us de-risk these kinds of enterprises in the water?
There is the issue of how other fish from the natural system interact with fish in cages without affecting them. If it is vaccines, do we need to vaccinate this particular fish, and if we do, are we not going to affect the water system?
Even the issue of fingerlings is a challenge. How do we come up with a new strategy to do better? We don’t just place them in the water, the way we do in the mainland where we have the ponds.
For the netting material, what kind of nets do we need to use? And what are some of the legislations that will be required, especially for the netting material to be used in the water? So, the policy is going to give us ways in which we are going to address all these, among others.
B: What is the role of Kenya’s 47 county governments in facilitating aquaculture growth?
S: County governments play a key role, especially in providing extension services. Extension service is very key, because aquaculture is a skill-based sector and it requires a lot of advice to farmers on stocking, feeding levels, harvesting, keeping the environment clean, marketing and keeping records.
County governments take inventory of our farmers and permit them to enter into the Lake or fishing areas even before the national government gives them approval.
B: What is your parting shot?
S: My parting shot is that as a government, we are determined to ensure that we promote aquaculture production in Kenya as a climate smart intervention that is going to improve our economies and create wealth for the people.
It is the blue economy agenda and that is the point where we are going to break the bone, to have sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in Kenya. Thank you.
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News