Overview of Ornamental Fish Production in Kenya: Current Status, Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Kenyan ornamental fish industry is the fastest growing ornamental industry in Africa. It includes locally wild caught marine species and captive bred freshwater species. Presently, the industry contributes to the economy of the country by generating income through export earning, creating employment and enhancing livelihood of the fisher community and fish farmers. Marine ornamental fish industry in Kenya has an annual collection of approximately 300,000 pieces of fish of different species. The most collected fish are from the families Labridae, Pomacentridae, Serranidae, Blenniidae, Scorpaenidae, Pomacanthidae and Acanthuridae. Fresh water ornamental industry is still at its infancy and accounts only for 3% of fish under aquaculture. There are numerous unexploited wild species with great potential in the Kenyan fresh water bodies especially Lake Victoria and other small water bodies in the Lake Victoria Basin. The freshwater ornamental fish trade is dominated by the non-indigenous species comprising of Gold fish (Carassius auratus), Koi carps (Cyprinus carpio) and Mollies (Poecilia spp.). The demand of ornamental fish presents a considerable challenge to conservation and management of the industry as a result of unsustainable fishing practices which targets juvenile fish making them vulnerable to depletion. Wild collection of ornamental fish is also faced with numerous challenges including inadequate stock assessments, limited data on population structure, inefficient fisheries management measures as well as instances of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Address to these challenges can lead to success in sustainable management and exploitation of the industry for increased economic benefits.