Page 14 - Kenya Report

Pollution control
The Environmental (Prevention of Pollution in Coastal Zone and other Segments of the Environment)
Regulations, 2003 regulations prohibit ships from discharging hazardous substances into the Kenyan
territorial waters. The regulations require ships to carry Oil Record Book detailing machinery and ballast
operations, and precludes ships from leaving the port without producing a valid certificate of discharge of
waste. Discharge into the territorial waters is permitted under exceptional circumstances. These include:
• Where it is necessary to secure safety of human life;
Country Profile
• Emergencies posing threat to the marine environment;
• Government ships engaged in Government non-commercial service; and
The Republic of Kenya
• Warships and ships operated by a MARPOL state member and used on Government non-
commercial service.

Fisheries
The challenge

The fisheries sector plays a critical role to the Kenyan economy. The sector supports food security,
livelihoods and the national economy. However, poverty is a challenge and this is driving people to
use destructive fishing methods to catch more fish and damaging the sector.

The situation
Fish production

Kenya’s total fish production in 2016 was estimated at 128,645 metric tonnes, a decrease from 163,389
metric tonnes in 2013. The total marine fish landing in 2016 was estimated at 9,095 metric tonnes,
which was also a decrease from 9,136 metric in 2013 as shown in table … (ROK, 2018). According
to the World Bank, the total fisheries production in 2017 was about 184,000 metric tons (World Bank,
2017). The fluctuation in the total fish production in Kenya, both from freshwater and marine source,
has been due to unregulated fishing, inadequate fisheries infrastructure and climate change.

Table 4: Fish production in Kenya 2013-2017 in Metric tonnes (MT)

Category 2013 2016 2017
Freshwater 154,253 119,550 -

Marine fish landing 9,136 9,095 -
Total 163,389 128,645 184,000
Source: (ROK, 2018)
Aquaculture
Kenya’s aquatic life is premised on the vast water resource network consisting of rivers, lakes and the
Indian Ocean. The inland water resources extent is estimated at 18,029 km while the Exclusive Economic
2
Zone (EEZ) and the Continental coastline are estimated at 142,400 km and 640 km respectively. This
2
unlimited water resource has the potential to support fish production at sustainable levels. According to
the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), the fisheries sector contributes about 0.8 per
cent to the Kenya’s GDP. The sector also directly employs and indirectly supports 500,000 people and
2 million people respectively. In addition, it boosts food security agenda and facilitates poverty reduction
among Kenyans.

14