Current Status of Fishery Resources in Kenya

Fishing in Kenya, until the discovery of Nile perch as an export commodity in the early 1990s, has basically a subsistence occupation for the lake and coastal communities. The government also did not recognize the importance of fisheries as a contributor to the macro-economy and therefore, did not pay much attention in terms of resource allocation for the development of the sector. Most fishing in Kenya is artisanal, with a little industrial fishing by prawn trawlers. The deep sea (EEZ) fishery resources are currently exploited by DWFNs through a licensing system. Only a small quantity of catch from the EEZ is landed in Kenya, primarily tuna loins for processing for export. Currently capture fisheries, mainly from Lake Victoria, earn local fishers over Kenya shillings (K Sh) 7 billion, while exports earn the country K Sh 5 billion (US$ 50 million) in foreign exchange annually. The government has been putting in place an enabling environment to promote investment activities in order to achieve economic recovery as well as for the development and sustainable use of fisheries resources in the country within the specified period. The Department's major roles are to ensure sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources; to promote aquaculture development; to assure quality and safety of fish and fishery products; and to facilitate fish marketing in order to maximize the benefits that can be derived from fisheries. The contribution of fisheries to local incomes, subsistence and food nutrition is significant, as this occurs in areas with the highest incidences of poverty in the country.