Kenya-South Korea MoU boosts local fishing industry

Kenya’s efforts to sustainably exploit her fish and marine resources got a major boost, this week, from the Korean government.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed for an exchange programme between Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) in Mombasa and Chosun University, South Korea.

The partnership agreement for marine and freshwater developmental research, technology and capital building, will initially last for three years and was signed by KMFRI Director Dr Renison Ruwa and Chosun University Chancellor Prof Suh Chae-Hong, in Nairobi. Prof Suh said: “This MoU is an expansion of scholarly ties to promote mutual understanding, encouragement of academic exchange and co-operation.”

The collaboration will mainly focus on aquaculture, mariculture, aquatic environmental studies, socio-economics, capture fisheries as well as post-harvest and value addition for domestic and the export market.

“The signing of the MoU was a culmination of an expedition by Dr Paul Orina a KMFRI aquaculture scientist based at the National Aquaculture Research and Training Centre, Sagana, who visited the Korean university to seek their help and expertise in the development of local fish industry,’’ said a statement signed by the two officials.

The two institutions are expected to stimulate scientific reference, cooperation, strengthen research and also provide service to the community as a way of promoting national development in Kenya and South Korea through exchange of research findings.