FAO.org

The publication is a policy brief jointly prepared by FAO, IFAD and Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) with the primary aim of raising awareness of the importance and potential of aquaculture development in Kenya for improving the country's food security and nutition status. The brief has been reviewed by a number of experts from the member country government, private sector, academic community, and international organizations (FAO and IFAD). 

Key messages of the brief include:

• Kenya’s food security and nutrition status has much room to improve.

• Fish is a vital source of essential macro- and micronutrients that can play an important role in reducing the high prevalence of undernutrition in Kenya.

• While Africa’s average fish share in animal protein intake is above the world average, the fish share for Kenya is only half of the world average.

• Farmed fish production in Kenya would need to reach 150 000 tonnes in 2030 in order to generate enough fish to maintain its already low per capita fish consumption for the growing population, or reach 550 000 tonnes in order to increase its per capita fish consumption to the African average.

• Thanks to various public interventions, Kenya has had an impressive 20 percent annual growth in aquaculture production since the new millennium. Yet deliberate efforts must be made to create an enabling environment for both public and private investments in the industry in order to unleash Kenya’s full potential in aquaculture for improving the country’s food and nutrition status.