KMFRI roots for policies to attract investors, boost fish consumption

Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) is championing for the formulation of policies that will attract investors and boost consumption of fish and fish products as Kenya aims to fully exploit her marine and fisheries resources.

KMFRI Chief Executive Officer Prof. James Njiru said that Kenya currently earns Sh 40 billion from fisheries and contributes about 0.7 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

''Our fisher folks currently exploit only 26,000 tonnes from water bodies but according to research done using KMFRI RV Mtafiti, Kenya can exploit upto 2 million tonnes of fish from what is known as the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) estimated at 142,000 square kilometres or Sh 100 billion per annum,'' Prof Njiru said.

He added that if fully exploited, fisheries alone can pump Sh100 billion to the economy while maritime and shipping can inject between Sh70 billion and Sh100 billion to the economy.

''Tourism leveraging on the blue economy can unleash another Sh100 billion to the economy. That adds up to Sh300 billion. If well exploited, the blue economy can fund more than 10 per cent of the current budget,'' he added. 

He said that with the government enhanced zeal to tap into the Blue Economy and given the demand, growing deficit and unexploited potential that about in Kenya's territorial waters, this should attract more private investors into the fray.

Prof Njiru said that fishermen can start by pooling resources through groups such as cooperatives and buy bigger vessels which will go deeper into the ocean to enhance harvests.

He said that adequate budgetary allocation to KMFRI would spur up research and ensure that there is proper mapping up zones where fish are to be found in abundance.

''We lost about 165 million in this financial year’s budget cut. Our hands are tied to an extent. We need state-of-the-art equipment to carry out ocean explorations such as bioprospecting. A trip costs about Sh15 million for 20 days. To do this four to five times a year gobbles up to Sh100 million on board our research Vessel the RV Mtafiti,'' he said. 

At the same time, Prof Njiru attributed rise in interest in the ocean as a source of protein globally to dwindling fish stocks in water bodies across the world that led to the increased interest in new sources of fish including aquaculture. 

While Aquaculture took off well with the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in the last two decades it has not proven it worth. 

Prof Njiru said that there has been a sharp decline in fish produced courtesy of the SAPs starting 2013.

The sector currently produces about 18,000 tonnes despite a potential of 100,000 tonnes annually if fully exploited. 

He cited challenges as being lack of interest in the business, inadequate input such as fingerlings, shortage of certified seeds and lack of adequate fish feeds.

Njiru, however said that recently the government, coupled with big players like Unga Limited, who are now producing fish feed, have shored up supply. 

The CEO is quick to add that while Kenya has been allowed to have 72 vessels by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, the country has only 5 at its disposal.

''Tuna is a very profitable venture along the Indian Ocean where Kenya has been allowed 72 vessels but we have less than five. More investors must come in and utilize this opportunity. The government recently reposed a landing bay which can be used to process fish. Licenses also requires that 30 per cent of the catch land in Kenya,'' Njiru said.