Kenya experienced a remarkable upswing in seafood export earnings, recording a more than 60% increase in 2022, according to reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).
The country’s export earnings soared to KES 5.6 billion (USD 40.5 million, EUR 37.5 million) compared to KES 3.4 billion (USD 24.6 million, EUR 22.7 million) in the previous year, attributed to favourable market prices. The average price per kilo also witnessed a boost, rising to KES 412 (USD 3.00, EUR 2.80) from KES 316 (USD 2.30, EUR 2.10) in 2021.
Kenya’s export volumes of fish and fish products displayed a substantial increase of more than 25%, reaching 13,624 metric tons (MT) in 2022, up from 10,875 MT in 2021. The surge was primarily driven by enhanced fish landings, supported by increased government investments in infrastructure at various inland and marine fishery sites, coupled with a rise in aquaculture production.
The Kenya Fisheries Service (KeFS) credited the surge in landings to infrastructure upgrades around Lake Victoria, the largest source of freshwater fish in Africa. Notable advancements, including the construction of fish-processing facilities in Lamu and Mombasa, have further facilitated the industry’s growth.
The replacement of the Mbita causeway on Lake Victoria with a fly-over bridge has improved water flushing, enabling more fish movement throughout the lake.
Improved data collection and transparency efforts have also contributed to the success, with KeFS acknowledging enhanced data collection through the deployment of additional personnel.
To bolster data collection, Kenya’s Department of Fisheries, in collaboration with the World Bank, has introduced the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development (KEMFSED) project. The initiative aims to establish a comprehensive fisheries information management system, integrating data on catch totals, fishing efforts, prices, licensing, permitting, research, compliance, and more.
Despite challenges posed by climate change and pollution in Lake Victoria, which is shared by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, the fishery contributed significantly to Kenya’s inland freshwater sources in 2022. The export-promotion program launched in 2022, focusing on improving fish export procedures for ease of trade, has also played a pivotal role in Kenya’s seafood industry success.
In contrast, Tanzania experienced a decline in the value of seafood exports in 2022, attributed to reduced European demand and adverse weather conditions, particularly in southern Tanzania.
Source: SeafoodSource
