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Marine & Coastal Division
Fisheries Research Programme
KMFRI has mapped out the commercial fishing grounds in our national sector from data obtained in the 1979-1981 FAO Fisheries Survey with participation of KMFRI scientists. These data was used in the compilation of the Kenya Atlas of Coastal Resources 1994-1995 with assistance from UNEP. These richest fishing grounds are in Northern Kenya Banks (Fig 4) North of Malindi and off islands of Lamu bordering with the rich fishing grounds of Somali Republic, the latter being among the richest fishery grounds in the Western Indian Ocean region due to upwelling. Currently, the Kenyan area is being exploited by a fleet of mostly foreign owned vessels. The total amount of marine fishery production in Kenya is about 10,000 tons, mostly from inshore waters rather than offshore production. The Northern Kenya fishing area yields good commercial fish types for export and also supports a prawn fishery and a deep water lobster fishery which fetch very high export prices. The lack of a suitable fishing vessel to venture in the offshore areas to the 200 nautical mile limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone is still a major handicap. In the year 2001, KMFRI completed a study on the fisheries resources of Malindi-Ungwana Bay focussing on prawns and the environment.

Aquaculture Research Programme
Improvement on research methodologies suitable for growing oysters and the Brine shrimp (Artemia) under our local conditions including economic feasibility studies showed that oysters and the brine shrimp can be farmed commercially in Kenya.

Experiment growing of oysters and the brine shrimp started about 15 years ago under joint collaboration between Kenya (KMFRI) and Belgium (University of Brussels) in the framework of Kenya Belgium Project in Marine Sciences. Currently, as a part of the technology transfer, KMFRI in collaboration with Coast Development Authority and University of Brussels are training a local NGO Women Group called Shaza Women Group at Shirazi (Kwale District) how to farm oysters. Recent 2002 completed studies on the farming of seaweeds at the South Coast involving participation of women groups have shown a high potential for development of marine seaweed farming for Kenya.

Natural Products Research Programme
Various agar producing species were identified and biochemical tests performed showed that the agar from Kenya seaweeds fits into the quality required by World market. Attempts are being made to culture the species at Vipingo, Kilifi District. Recent studies on use of by-catch for feed formulation have shown a high potential for development of feed from by-catch which has not been utilized but thrown overboard by fishing vessels.  

Environmental and Ecology Research Programme
Coral reefs have become exciting spots for tourist who admire water life and sports. Its now common to see tourists in glass bottomed boats being ferried to coral gardens for viewing. Coral gardens have also been popular spots for water sports tourism especially diving. Considering trade goes on by boat traders and diving schools also make income from these ventures associated with corals. KMFRI has put considerable research effort into corals due to their importance, to find out how they can be preserved in a healthy state.

Ecotourism in mangrove forests fringed creeks in dhows in gaining popularity at a fast rate such that dhow operators have to attract tourists by offering a variety of packages. Among these is panoramic view of mangrove vegetation and its associated fauna especially birds. Ecotourism dhows also offer lunches and dinners on board. Such activities require clean environment – smelly polluted water will discourage people from eating on dhow excursions. KMFRI research efforts in corals and mangroves has attracted donor funding by EU, FAO, USAID, UNESCO, UNEP and the Belgian Government in the framework of the Kenya-Belgium Project in Marine Sciences. In keeping abreast with present time of conflict – resolving strategies in use of coastal and marine resources KMFRI is involved in integrated coastal zone management ICZM research and collaborates with the Coast Development Authority, Kenya Wildlife Service in this endeavour with donor support from USAID, University of Rhodes Island (USA), FAO and UNEP. The final results were presented at a National Workshop December, 1995 and consequently on inter-institutional committee was formed to collaborate on issues of integrated coastal zone management. Other recent completed studies include the resource survey and management of the Diani-Chale marine reserve in 2002 and environmental impacts due to prawn trawling in Malindi-Ungwana Bay.

Socio-economic Research Programme
The research has mainly been focussed on local communities residing in close proximity with mangrove forest ecosystems to find out how dependent they are on mangrove trees and mangrove related resources, shellfish fishery (i.e. oysters, crabs and prawns) and finfish. This work was done mainly under the EU-INCO-DC project on Macrobenthos in eastern African mangroves. Other recent completed studies include the socio-impacts due to effect of prawn trawling in the Malindi-Ungwana Bay.

Information and Data Management Programme

 

News
The following are some of the programmes on going in marine and coastal.

Ungwana bay expedition............[more]

South coast expedition.............[more]

 

 

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