State of Cage Culture in Lake Victoria, Kenya

Abstract

Capture fisheries and aquaculture have remained important sources of food, nutrition, income and livelihoods to millions globally, with annual per capita consumption of fish in developing countries having increased from 5.2 kg in 1961 to 18.8 kg in 2013. In the contrary, low income food-deficit countries (LIFDCs) annual fish per capita consumption rose from 3.5 to 7.6 kg against 26.8 kg among industrialized countries. Between 2000 and 2011 Kenya recorded a decrease in the per capita fish consumption from 6.0 to 4.5 kg, a factor closely linked to low capture and aquaculture fish output (fisheries and aquaculture contributing paltry 0.8 percent to the country’s GDP) against a growing population. Increased demand for animal protein and declining capture fisheries has seen aquaculture grow rapidly than any other food production sector over the past three decades accompanied with considerable social and economic benefits. The contribution of aquaculture to the world total fish production reached 43.1%, up from 42.1% in 2012. The rapid global aquaculture growth is directly related to technological advancement and levels of technological adoption and adaption specifically in Asia. This has seen most developed and developing countries transit from semi-intensive to intensive and super intensive aquaculture production systems. The advancement has seen an increase in use of race ways, re-circulating systems and use of automated aerators in ponds. In light of the Blue Economy potential, cage culture is fast gaining prominence in aquaculture production contribution. It is based on the investment and production scales, ease of management and underlying economic benefits that the Lake Victoria Kenyan side has since 2009 experienced a rapid growth on cage investment. This began with trials at Dunga and Obenge beaches by the Fisheries Cooperative Societies under the Beach Management Units (BMUs) in Kisumu and Siaya Counties respectively. However there has been limited documented success on these trials. However, cage culture picked up in the lake in 2012, through a participatory research approach by KMFRI who engaged Dunga BMU using locally fabricated 8m3 galvanized metal frame cages with great success. This latter attracted great interest resulting in the current 3696 cages across the five riparian counties with an estimated production capacity of 3,000 MT. The sub-sector’s value chain, its supportive value chains and associated enterprises are rapidly expanding thus creating jobs, enhancing incomes and ensuring food security in rural and urban areas. To commercialize, cage culture technological investment and its associated enterprises are gradually experiencing adaption to overcome capture fisheries and imported fish competition. As cage culture commercialization takes root in Lake Victoria, there is urgent need to address issues related to shared resource use, introduction of exotic culture species, marine parks, and carrying capacity among other aspects. This will require a trans-boundary and cross-border policy in light of devolution and the neighboring countries to ensure sustainable utilization of the Lake as a resource.