KENYA MARINE FISHERIES LAUCH NEW WATER CRAFTS

KMFRI launches state of the art reseach vessel –
Fisheries Development Minister unveils RV Uvumbuzi
The minister for Fisheries Development and MP for Funyula Honarable Dr. Paul Otuoma unveiled Sh75 million state-of-art research vessel— RV Uvumbuzi — acquired by KMFRI to promote research programmes in Lake Victoria on the 4th of June 2010.   The colorfull ceremony was held in Kisumu. In attendance included Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch, Fisheries PS Prof Michemi Ntiba accompanied the minister.

‘R.V. UVUMBUZI” is a modern research vessel for aquatic research and is expected to undertake research providing information leading to informed management  decisions for Lake Victoria fisheries and environmental management.  Research undertaken using this vessel will strengthen collaborative work already going on within the East African Community. 
The ship is fitted with Multi-parameter limnological equipment including state of the art water quality monitoring system – CTD with a multi-parameter CTM 90 probe and fluorometer proxy sensor capable of self contained operations up to depths of 100 meters. A SIMRAD EK 60 dual frequency hydro-acoustic scientific echo-sounder provides real time on-board laboratory download displays of distribution and density of fishstocks.  Hydro-acoustic information is supplemented by data from mechanized pelagic (mid water) and bottom trawls.  Research undertaken using this vessel will strengthen collaborative work already going on within the East African Community.

The new stat of the art research vessel has the following additional features:

• On-board analytical laboratory
• 15 days resilience for prolonged stay off-shore
• Adequate rest cabins for crew and scientists
• State of the art communication equipment including VHF, SSB radios and satellite phones
• State of the art Navigation equipment and Radar
• Eco-sounders
• Samples storage chambers for frozen and toxic substances

 

Marine Fisheries Resources

This includes the 12 nautical miles territorial waters and the 200 nautical miles EEZ. The marine resources have considerable quantity and range of coastal and offshore marine fisheries resources with good potential for economic development.
The Kenyan marine zone is bordered by a coastline measuring some 420 km in length in a straight line, expanding to some 880 km when taking into account the actual coastal landscape. Two main river systems, the Sabaki, just north of Malindi and the Tana about 80 km further north reach the coast. 
Outflow from these rivers enrich the local fishing grounds, which in turn support commercial concentrations of shrimps (prawns). Much of the coastline is fringed by mangrove forest and swamp. The total area of the Kenyan EEZ is about 230,000 sq km.
Kenya’s known marine inshore fishing grounds include the rich inshore grounds around Lamu Archipelago, Ungwana Bay, North Kenya Bank and Malindi Bank. The inshore fisheries zone is an important part of the Kenya fishery.  The zone is exploited predominantly by artisanal fishermen who operate some 4,800 mostly un-motorized boats to produce around 6,000 – 7,000 Mtons of fish annually, valued at over KShs 500 million. Annual catches have fluctuated between 4,000 and 10,000 Mtons over more than a 20-year period.
The prawn fishery from which approximately 400mt are landed each year are fished by commercial trawlers from the two fishing grounds with brackish waters.
The offshore waters of the Kenyan zone yield catches of large tunas, billfishes and pelagic sharks to foreign fishers.
The offshore fisheries zone is exploited by vessels from Distant Water Fishing Nations (DWFNs).  The main species sought are the highly migratory tunas including skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna. Some of the fish landed in Kenya and transhipped overseas.  Others are landed directly in the Distant Nations. License fees from this earned the Government around KShs 30 million per year approximately US $ 400,000).  The fees charged are 20,000 US$ for purse seiners. 

Inland fisheries

Kenya is endowed with extensive inland waters, covering in all an area of between 10 500 and 11 500 km2 (depending on rainfall/year), Inland fisheries account for about 96 percent of annual total national production. However it is the country's 6 percent share of Lake Victoria that accounts for almost all of the national freshwater capture fishery catch. Other lakes and rivers of fisheries significance include; Lake Turkana, Baringo and Naivasha. Major rivers include the Tana, Nzoia, Kuja, Yala and Athi/Sabaki. The fisher exploiting this resource are generally small scale Planked canoes, often equipped with dhow-rigged sails, are the usual forms of fishing craft. Gear kits are primarily based on gill nets, long lines, beach seines and 'mosquito' nets.

Aquaculture

Kenya has great potentials for aquaculture growth. It is endowed with climatic diversity, natural features and resources that favour the culture of a wide variety of aquaculture species. However, though not yet quantified, only a small portion of these resources are utilized. Aquaculture in Kenya can be categorized into three broad divisions. These are;

• Warm fresh water aquaculture dominated by the production of various species of tilapia and the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) mainly under semi intensive systems using earthen ponds.
• Cold fresh water aquaculture involving the production of rainbow trout (Oncorynchus mykiss) under intensive systems using raceways and tanks.
• Marine water aquaculture (mariculture) which is underdeveloped

The Tilapine species constitute about 90% of aquaculture production in Kenya. Polyculture of the Tilapines with the African catfish is sometimes done to enhance productivity under mixed sex culture systems. The production of the Tilapines and the African catfish is characterized by low pond productivity mainly due to employment of low pond management practices. The result has been stagnation of National aquaculture production over the past few decades. Because of the poor perception of aquaculture as an economic activity, it has been difficult to promote its commercialization, as most potential investors are not convinced that aquaculture can be a profitable enterprise.
Aquaculture contributes about 1% of the total national fish production. Currently the total area under aquaculture stands at 722.4ha which include dam aquaculture. The production from this utilized area stand at an average of 4,300,000 Kgs per year.