The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) in collaboration with the County Government of Mombasa and stakeholders are currently holding a blue economy engagement at Pride Inn Hotel in Mombasa.

Joseph Kapeku, Assistant Director Ports and Shipping Services, Kenya Maritime Authority making his comments during the ongoing blue economy engagement in Mombasa County.

The blue economy: sea, ocean, lakes, rivers, and water masses have become the new economic fronts for growth both for maritime economies and global economy in general. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates that the quantified value is currently estimated at US $ 1.5 trillion and, is poised to grow to US$3.0 trillion (2030) securing additional 9 million full-time jobs

The engagement provides a unique opportunity for actors from the public sector and select commercial operators to wholistically address the opportunities in our blue economy space for commercial purposes.

Madam Christine Sitawa from KEPROBA taking participants through the importance of partnerships in export business and some of the considerations before getting into partnerships.

The objectives of the blue economy caucus are;

• To Increase the quantity and value of the export from the diverse potentials in Kenya blue economy spaces.

• To consolidate bankable projects from the blue economy and develop costed investment programmes and projects.
• To demonstrate value and adopt means and how to attract investors to the Kenyan blue economy space.
• To review initiatives for sustainable utilization of the Kenyan blue economy space
• To facilitate branding of Kenya’s blue economy space.
• To Interpret Kenya’s policies and understanding of related/existing strategies towards maximization of opportunities from on the Blue Economy.
• To create an investments plan on blue economy.
• To gather data on our blue economy.

Fisheries in Kenya

Fisheries in Kenya are categorised into three groups namely, Aquaculture, Fresh water and Marine fisheries.

The Gross domestic product (GDP) for fish and aquaculture recorded Kshs 80,715 million accounting for 27.8 % growth from 2020.

Exports of fish and fish preparations recorded an increase of 29.2% 2021 compared to 2020 (8,418.3 tons in 2020 and 10,875.3 tons in 2021).

Kenya as an exporting country of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic invertebrates is ranked 107 representing 0.005% of the total export to the world.

Her market concentration is 0.09% with an average distance of importing countries of 5557 km.

Export potential for fish, crustaceans and molluscs

Kenya has a coastline as well as inland water masses that are habitat to diverse fauna. The areas under water masses are expansive, yet not adequately exploited for production both for food security and export markets.

Under the Exclusive Economic Zones (EZZ), Kenya has a large exclusive fishing zone with potential to produce 300,000 tons of fish annually estimated at about Sh75 billion. However, it is yet to optimally utilise the opportunity as currently it is producing 150,000 metric tons approximately.  

Mr. Stanley Chai Ndenge, Blue Economy Advisor, Office of the President presenting on how the Government is creating an enabling environment for the blue economy sector.

Other key opportunities in the blue economy sector include;

• Transport – Kenya is yet to exploit the full potential of transport opportunities both in the inland and marine territorial waters e.g., ferries across Lake Victoria
• Cruise Tourism - both in the inland and marine waters
• Marine food resources – enhanced exploitation of seaweed and other food sources to enhance food security
• Establishment of shipping lines – cost effective transportation of goods across borders thereby opening potential markets for our export products e.g., Mozambique
• Enhancement of security along Kenya’s Exclusive Economic Zone to prevent exploitation of our fishing grounds by foreign and often illegal fishing vessels
• Investment in modern fishing vessels, adequate fish landing and cold storage facilities to effectively exploit the fishing potentialities e.g., Lake Turkana fishermen confined to shallow waters due to inadequate boats, storage etc.
• Exploration and exploitation of mineral resources that exist in the seabed / lakebed for national gain.

Mrs. Alice Wadugu from Technical University of Mombasa engaging participants on the importance of modern banking, Investment and business planning in every business during the blue economy caucus in Mombasa County.