Kenya has the potential to get more than 300,000 metric tonnes of fish valued at Sh100 billion from the Indian Ocean annually, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs CS Salim Mvurya has said.
However, according to government statistics, fishermen along the Coast have been landing about 24,580 metric tonnes of fish valued at only Sh5 billion annually, translating to eight per cent of Kenya's potential.
Mvurya said there is a need to change the approach in the blue economy sector so that the country can fully realise its potential.
“We have not been able to utilise the blue resources as it is required. We need to put our act together if we are to realise our full potential,” he said.
“We still have 92 per cent not yet done, the national government and the county governments need to work together to change this equation.”
Mvurya spoke in Mombasa on Monday after officially opening a five-day induction meeting for county executive committee members and county chief officers in charge of agriculture, livestock and fisheries.
According to figures from the ministry, in 2019, artisanal fishermen in the country engaging in deep-sea fishing managed to land 23,000 metric tonnes.
The fish were caught from Kenya’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which runs about 200,000 nautical miles from the shore.
“This was a slight improvement compared to 2018 where we landed about 1,580 metric tonnes. During the same period, Seychelles did about 200,000 metric tonnes while Mauritius did about 250,000 metric tonnes from the EEZ," Mvurya said.
“We still have a lot to do when it comes to exploring the exclusive economic zone.”
Mvurya said the Kenya Kwanza administration, led by President William Ruto, is looking to change tactics in its approach to the blue economy.
In 2018, he said, the government invested about Sh10 billion in the sector, but only managed returns of Sh42 million.
“We need to move away from this issue of constructing offices because this will not take us anywhere. County governments already have offices we can utilise working together,” Mvurya said.
He lauded the President for creating a fully-fledged Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs ministry to lead the country in fully tapping into the blue economy sector.
Mvurya urged the Council of Governors to work with the national government in exploring the sector. The national government, he said, is looking at partnering with private investors to tap into opportunities in the blue economy.
“As the government, we are working with the private sector to strengthen our deep sea fishing more so in the EEZ, have their ships dock in our ports, the processing and storage of the fish to be done with our ports," he said.
"We also envisage partnering with the private sector to have an investment in mills which will enable processing as well as value addition of our products and influence exports as well.”
The CS said the government is also engaging the private sector in areas of boat building and maintenance.
He said they desire to have shipping yards, where they will provide training to the youth and improve existing skills with modern techniques in boat making and service.
This, he said, will enable the country to reduce the cost of having to take ships and boats to foreign nations for repairs whilst creating jobs for Kenyans.
In 2021, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta presided over the launch of the Kenya Shipyard Limited (KSL) constructed near the Kenya Navy Base in Mtongwe, Mombasa.
“We are also streamlining the seafarers’ recruitment process. We want it implemented as required by law and encompass all Kenyans,” Mvurya said.
He said the government is recruiting more tutors for the facility as they want to ensure the institution provides training that is recognisable across the world.
“We want to create academicians that will be fit for the current competitive economy,” the CS said.