(Kwale) – Kwale County government, in partnership with the Kenya Marine Fisheries Socio-Economic Development (KEMFSED) project, is making significant progress in developing the fisheries and aquaculture sectors to improve the lives of coastal communities. The initiative is part of the wider blue economy strategy supported by the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries and funded by the World Bank with a budget of 10 billion Kenyan shillings (approximately USD 75 million) for the 2020-2025 period.
The project targets coastal counties including Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, and Lamu, aiming to enhance fishing infrastructure and help fisherfolk increase their catch volumes while improving livelihood activities. The blue economy covers a wide range of marine-related sectors, such as fisheries, maritime biotechnology, aquaculture, tourism, and marine transport.
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani highlighted the efforts to build a climate-resilient aquatic food system, emphasizing that the partnership is gradually unlocking the county’s potential in fisheries. The program has invested in upgrading fishery infrastructure to tackle existing challenges and support sector growth.
Governor Achani revealed that the project has trained 76 local fishermen, including four women, as certified coxswains to operate vessels and undertake deep-sea fishing trips. She stressed that the initiative is not only about increasing fish catches but also about improving the welfare of fishing families, aiming for sustainable prosperity in the region.
The fisheries sector is a critical component of food security, nutrition, and economic development in Kwale. The county government has distributed 60 modern fishing boats equipped with outboard engines, GPS devices, fish finders, and advanced fish processing equipment. In addition, fishermen received multifilament nets, cooler boxes, life rafts, life jackets, flares, and other essential safety gear.
Governor Achani stated that these investments have significantly boosted fish yields in local fishing villages such as Tsunza, Waa, Tiwi, Mwaepe, Msambweni, Mkwiro, and Vanga, increasing daily catches from 2–3 kilograms to over 1.5 tons. Access to modern equipment has enabled fishermen to fish more safely and sustainably.
The governor also noted that improved vessels allow fishermen to access Kenya’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a 200 nautical mile (370 km) maritime area where the country has sovereign rights over resources including fisheries, oil, gas, and seabed minerals. Previously, fishermen lacked the proper equipment to fish in these waters, limiting their productivity.
Achani acknowledged that limited access to modern gear, insufficient skills, and climate change had negatively affected fisherfolk incomes for years. The KEMFSED project’s infrastructure improvements also include the construction of nine fully equipped fish landing sites in Shimoni, Vanga, Gasi, Chale, and Tsunza. These facilities feature cold storage and modern handling equipment.
Roman Shera, the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Fisheries, said the new facilities have helped fishermen store their catches longer, reducing losses and improving profitability. Fresh fish from the cold storage sells for higher prices than dried fish, increasing income for coastal communities.
Shera described the development of modern fishing vessels, enhanced cold storage, and processing facilities as key to improving the fisheries sector’s quality and efficiency. “By implementing these measures, we can optimize our fisheries potential and support the welfare of local fishermen,” he said.
The KEMFSED project has generated renewed hope among Kwale’s fishing communities by providing tools and knowledge to compete in the evolving industry. Halima Hamisi, one of the newly trained female coxswains, shared that the training taught her efficient fishing techniques, resulting in better quality catches.
Before these interventions, Hamisi explained, fishing in Kwale was mainly traditional, small-scale, and non-mechanized. The arrival of mechanized boats and modern gear has increased catches and incomes, improving living standards for many families.
For fishermen like Mohammed Mbogo from Tsunza, the transformation has been life-changing. He recalled times when outdated equipment limited their catches and ability to feed their families. With the new boats and gear, fishermen can now venture into deeper waters and harvest more fish, creating a fresh start for their livelihoods.
Mbogo highlighted that preserving catch quality remains a challenge for many artisanal fishermen due to inadequate storage and processing. The new cold storage and landing facilities are critical in addressing this issue, helping to maintain fish quality and boost earnings.