Kenya Marine and Fisheries
Research Institute (KMFRI) is charged with carrying out research in both marine
and fresh water fisheries in the country. I wish to highlight some insights
about it able and its endeavor to upscale fish production from Kenya’s
territorial waters and the Extensive economic zone.
KMFRI has instituted various
measures to ensure that post harvest losses are put at bay as far as fish and
fish products are concerned. The Institute has innovated smoking ovens, solar
driers and wind-solar hybrid drier constructed at various points along the
coast. This includes four improved fish smoking ovens constructed in
Mpeketoni-Lake Kenyatta, and training given to fishermen and beach inspectors
on fish quality, handling, processing and information reporting.
In ensuring that the marine
environment is free from pollution and degradation, the Research Institute
carries out Coastline conservation programmes including mangrove conservation. Mangroves,
which are breeding grounds for fish and mollusks, are sensitive to changes in
water ph due to pollution and overexploitation. KMFRI is in the fore front to
see to it that a good management plan is put in place to avert the threat that
pollution and overexploitation and more recently climate change has had on
these marine ecosystems which include planting of over 10,000 mangrove
seedlings and producing land use maps to guide on management of mangrove and other
coastal resources. Together with this KMFRI has successfully carried out marine
pollution monitoring using nuclear analytical techniques and introduced
pollution monitoring programmes to assure sea food safety.
Mangroves have proved to be effective
carbon sinks by trapping carbon from the atmosphere and storing it. This
potential is important in the fight against adverse effects of climate change
which include rising sea water temperatures leading to loss in aquatic life.
KMFRI carries out capacity building to the locals on mangrove management and
how they can benefit from carbon financing project in mangroves through the Mikoko
Pamoja project. Also by carrying out baseline surveys for mangrove resources, they
are able to advice on a proper mangrove management plan including planting of
mangrove in degraded areas and recommending alternatives for locals who use the
mangrove for firewood, construction and also medicinal use.
Recent research carried out
in inland water bodies including Lake Victoria, Turkana, Baringo and Naivasha
reveal that there is a high rate of species loss and declining fish stocks due
to overexploitation, poor fishing practices, the introduction of exotic species
and environmental degradation from pollution and other human related activities.
This was made possible using Geographical Information Systems to map out fish
breeding and fishing grounds along the Lakes. I urge the researchers to
investigate why the waters in lake Bogoria and Baringo is rising to an extend
of affecting the hot springs.
For sustainable utilization
of fisheries, KMFRI propose that there must be a balance between protection of
critical fish habitats to ensure successful breeding and reduction of
over-exploitation in these lakes. This calls for protection and management
programmes at the community level with training on effective fishing techniques
and management and mitigation measures.
On aquaculture, the marine
and fisheries research institute has overseen the construction of over 46,824
fish ponds in 169 constituencies all over the country raising the national
annual production from aquaculture from 4,000 mega tones in 2009 to 22,514 mega
tonnes in 2012. More farmers are now practicing aquaculture with over 74,076 Ha
of land now under aquaculture. In the same breadth, KMFRI is engaged with the
private sector to increase production of fingerlings and upscale production
with commercial salt farmers at the Coast as well as in the development of fish
feed from sea weed. They have also put in place programmes to tackle challenges
arising from increased aquaculture including fish diseases, post harvest
quality assurance and markets for aquaculture products. This is a vital Programme
that must be supported and up scaled for social -economic development. We need
to see more output in fish feed and ornamental fish, which currently the bulk
of this is imported.
KMFRI continues to innovate
in promoting the electronic fish market
information system to promote fish trade by providing easier access to fish
market information through use of communication technologies. This is through
transmission of information gathered from fish landing sites, fish farms and
markets from all fish sources in the East African region. There is a need to use technology such as space science to map out these
resources.
The Coastal community and by extension every Kenyan, depends on marine
resources for their livelihoods and we should adopt suitable resource
management strategies which engage the community more to handle the conflict
between man and his environment, as well as maximizing benefits not only for today
but also for generations to come.
Kenya’s marine fish
production has the potential of 150,000 mega tonnes annually; we need national
capacity and capability to explore the deep sea where rich resources dominate. With
the research vessel from Belgium, KMFRI will be able to undertake research
surveys of resources which exist within our territorial waters and beyond and
therefore advice on how to reduce post harvest losses in fisheries sector, adopt
suitable fishing technologies and value addition for better incomes from the
fish trade hence contribute to the achievement of Vision 2030. However, the institution
is faced with inadequate research funds and brain drain of staff to greener
pasture. Partnership and linkages coupled with aggressive resource mobilization
must be embarked by the staff. A public-private partnership could be ideal. Equally,
we must see more policy brief from research work that inform descision making
in the sector Above all the institution must work closely with county government
in promotion of the sector.
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