1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The broad term ‘aquaculture’ refers to the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of animals and plants in all types of water environments including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Fish farming is used for the production of seafood for human consumption; enhancement of wild fish, shellfish, and plant stocks for harvest; restoring threatened and endangered aquatic species; rebuilding ecologically-important shellfish habitat; producing nutritional and industrial compounds; and providing fish for aquariums.
Fish and seafood are sources of animal protein and other nutrients that people consider to be an essential part of a healthy diet, and therefore, enjoy regularly. Unfortunately, its popularity is also its demise. Fish from our natural resources are being over fished to the extent that extinction is a realistic concern! Aquaculture, which takes pressure off of wild fish, is being considered to help alleviate this issue.
Aquaculture can be an easy solution to address the global demands for fish protein and nutrition considering the fact that there is going to be an increase in population in the next few years, and by 2050, we expect the world population to rise by 3 billion people. By the end of this decade, aquaculture could become a key food producing sector in the world.
Recently, the World Fish Center reported that the wild fish stock around the world is being depleted constantly from modern commercial fishing techniques. Aquaculture, could become a major tool for meeting global fish demands. As the world population increases at a rapid rate and wild fish populations decrease, it is inevitable that the demands for fish farming will increase in the future. Aquaculture can also help regenerate the wild seafood stock by providing a consistent supply of seafood all year round.
It is possible to keep the ecosystem and biodiversity intact in an aquaculture farm by following sustainable methods of fish farming. Some fish farms tend to overpopulate the ponds, which increases the amount of organic waste released into the water causing growth of some harmful algae. Furthermore, if no GMO food or cross genetic techniques are used, it is possible to keep the ecosystem at its natural state and still make a good profit through sustainable methods of fish farming.
One of the benefits of aquaculture is that it requires less land, water and other resources as compared to other forms of livestock farming. Another major benefit is that fish are cold blooded hence require little to no attention in the winter. They need no additional energy to cope with the weather, therefore, there is more output from little input.
Fish farming is one of the most rapidly growing sectors of agriculture in the US today that has very little environmental impacts. The extent to which the environment is impacted depends on how the fish farm operates and the methods used. If farmed fish are kept away from the general wild fish population, the environmental impacts and ecological effects are reduced. Farms with overpopulated fish may increase the chances of fish spreading infection or disease.
In Kenya, aquaculture is still at its infancy stage.
‘
1.2 Statement of the problem
Fish yield from natural resources in Kenya has been on a decline due to overfishing, introduction of invasive species, pollution of water bodies and change in the climatic conditions among other factors. Fishermen, researchers and government officials alike are embracing aquaculture as a way to boost production and profits of fish supplies. However, cage fish farming has caused problems elsewhere in the world, in part due to the use of chemicals and the release of waste products such as dead fish, uneaten food and feces into the ecosystem.
For the past ten years Kenya and Uganda have been engaged in a fierce tussle over the island of Migingo in Lake Victoria. Migingo is surrounded by rich underwater biodiversity and thus attract a lot of fish making it one of the last lucrative hunting grounds on the lake for fishermen from the two countries.
1.3 Justification of the problem
Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh water body in the world yields more than 800,000 metric tons of fish each year that support the livelihood of nearly 2 million people. But the lake fish stock are declining amid growing demand, and so fishermen, researchers and government authorities are enthusiastically turning to aquaculture to address the problem, particularly in the Kenyan side.
Pressure on the lake fish include overfishing and the use of illegal fishing gear, invasion of the alien water hyacinth (Eichherina Crassipes), industrial and municipal pollution, changing in climatic conditions and introduction of carnivorous Nile Perch (Lates Niloticus) which preys on the numerous fish species and has driven many nearly extinct.
This paper focuses on the potential of cur”rent aquaculture production systems in he country and reveals opportunities for improvement. The current aquaculture species and inputs (feed and seed fish) in the Kenyan aquaculture sector are also discussed.
1.4 Aim of this study
The aim of this study is to contribute towards the goals of ensuring food security and eradicating poverty among Kenyan households by creating a source of livelihood for the rapidly growing population.
1.5 Objectives of the study
1.5.1 General objective
‘ To explore the current status, potentials, challenges and future opportunities for the Kenyan aquaculture sector.
1.5.2 Specific objectives
‘ To find out the opportunities for improvement on aquaculture production systems.
‘ To determine aquaculture practices carried out by various farmers within the country.
‘ To assess the knowledge and attitudes on aquaculture among farmers.
‘ To find out the economic progress aquaculture and of the farmers carrying out the practice.
1.6 Assumptions
The political environment will be conducive for me to conduct this study.
Institutions and persons involved will be willing to participate in the study
Data collected will be true and reliable.
1.7 Limitations of the study
Small sample size will be used due to time and budget limitations.
Language barrier may also be of hindrance to the study in some locations.
The participants in my study may not be truthful about their personal attitudes and practices on aquaculture.
1.8 Benefits of the study
The results of my study will be useful to the government of Kenya and other institutions that deal with the promotion of aquaculture to help in the gain of more knowledge of the spread of the practice and enable its further development.
The findings can also be used in the development and provision of aquaculture information to facilitate the economic growth of farmers carrying out aquaculture.
This chapter presents aspects relating to the methods and procedures employed in collecting data for this study. These included research design, location of the study, target population, sample and sampling techniques, research instruments, validity and reliability, data collection procedure, data analysis and ethical considerations.
3.2 Research Design
The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Descriptive survey research design was also chosen because it involves collecting quantitative and qualitative data in order to answer questions or test hypotheses concerning the current status of the subjects of the study. Also note that the design seeks to identify the nature of factors involved in a given situation, determine the degree in which they exist and discover the links that exist between them. The research design was relevant in this study because it provided empirical information about aspects of Aquaculture and its influence on similar initiated projects. It aided the researcher in examining the attitudes, opinions, perception and characteristics of aquaculture. The design also enabled the researcher to undertake a desk study in which relevant literature was studied and a field work to collect primary data using qualitative data collection methods.
3.3 Target Population
This study targeted the variation of fish farming in Kenya. ‘
3.4 Sample selection and Sample Size
In an ideal situation, data should be collected from the whole target population in Kenya. Since the population was too large and scattered, it was prohibitively expensive to use the whole population in the study. It was also not necessary and practical to make a list of the entire population especially for the members of the fish variety in the country. Under these circumstances data was collected from secondary sources that included various publications, articles and journals and interviews carried out on various fisheries officers from the state department of fisheries.
3.5 Data Collection Instruments
Data collection instrument are tools used to collect data from respondents. Interview schedules were used to solicit data from the respondents. More so, for the regional coordinator and the field officers in the Fisheries Ministry. Interviews are the most common forms of data collection in qualitative research (Lichtman, 2010). Kvale (1996) argues that the aim of an interview is to gain open nuanced descriptions of different aspects of the subjects’ life world. The interviews therefore gave the researcher the freedom to focus on the dimensions thought to be important in management.
3.6 Data Collection Procedure
Data collection refers to gathering of information to serve or prove some facts. Upon approval of the research proposal by the supervisor, the researcher obtained a letter authorizing him to carry out the field research from the University. The letter also introduced the researcher and the study to be undertaken. These steps enabled the researcher to effectively carry out the research and the desired sequencing of the steps (Kyale, 1996). The interviews were conducted by the researcher. All the respondents who took part in the interview were visited to explain the purpose of the study, and book appropriate dates for a one-on-one interview. This created an opportunity to establish a rapport with them.
3.7 Data analysis techniques
According to Kerlinger, (2008), it is believed that a good educational research should provide a comprehensive analysis of data. In my study, qualitative data was used.
3.8 Qualitative Data Analysis
The researcher used interviews for the participants to collect data which was analyzed qualitatively. The researcher noted down the information as the interviews progress hence this enabled the researcher to fully record or capture all the important information needed from the respondents .The study followed the principles of thematic analysis as proposed by Brann and Clerke (2006).According to Brann and Clerke (2006) thematic analysis is a method for identifying and analyzing themes (patterns) contained by data. It looks across all the data to identify the main themes and give a summary of all the views collected (Quinn 2012). Thematic analysis interprets different aspects of research and it simply organizes and describes data set in details. Thematic analysis was appropriate for this study because it is not grounded in any particular theoretical framework and therefore can be applied across a wide range of a qualitative research approaches, making it flexible to use.
3.9 Ethical Consideration
The issue of ethics is very important because despite the high value of knowledge gained through research, knowledge cannot be persuaded at the expense of the human dignity (Gay, 1992). Litchman, (2010) categories ethical issues into four (4) classifications that is protection from harm, right of privacy, informed consent and professional honesty with colleagues. In addition Polland, (2005) takes the issue of informed consent further, by arguing that it is unethical to collect data devoid of the knowledge of the subjects, and their expressed willingness and informed consent to take part in a study. In social science studies, anonymity and confidentiality are essential ethical concerns taken into account. It is important for the researcher to protect the identity of individual’s information and ensure that data collected is reported honestly and source of information is not disclosed, except where the respondent has given his or her communicated permission to do otherwise. The researcher respected each individual`s right to privacy. Respondents were assured that the information they provide would be treated confidentially. Statements of confidentiality was written in the questionnaires and verbally communicated during the administration of instruments.
Chapter four
STUDY ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF THE STATUS AND DEVELOPMENT OF AQUACULTURE IN KENYA
4.1 Introduction
Despite the enormous potential for fish farming in Kenya, aquacul”ture has been characterized by low levels of production. With the population growth escalating to unsustainable levels and in”creasing food insecurity, Kenya’s declining capture fisheries are unable to adequately provide cheap protein for the grow”ing population. Natural water bodies, that have also been instrumental in fish production, have had their share of chal”lenges, ranging from pollution to reduction of water levels that compromise fisheries (Lake Victoria Basin Commission, 2011; Obiero et al., 2012). In light of these problems, aquaculture is the best solution to bridge the escalating gap of supply and demand for fish.
The study data was analyzed under three key categories which consequently constituted the objectives and variables for the study, which were; the influence of aquaculture to the lives of the people living and practicing this type of farming. Visual aids in form of frequency tables, bar graphs and pie charts were used to present the results.
4.2 Response rate
There was a maximum response rate from interviewed personnel. This was ensured through the interviews and discussions carried out among myself and other fisheries experts. I was able to take down notes and compile them to help in the writing of this project report.
‘
4.3 Results and Discussion
Kenya is endowed with several inland natural water re”sources such as Lakes Victoria, Turkana, Baringo, Naivasha, Chala and Jipe among others. Major rivers in”clude Tana, Athi, Nyando, Gucha, Yala, and Mara. In addition to artificial water bodies from dams, which are spread across the landscape, Kenya has approxi”mately 600 km of coastal shoreline with an Exclusive Eco”nomic Zone of 200 nautical miles, which could be used to enhance aquaculture.
The three major aquaculture systems practiced are the intensive, semi-intensive and extensive. Extensive systems utilize the lowest management levels with very little to no input being directed into production. The fish are stocked in floating cages, earthen ponds and other water impoundments and left to fend for themselves. These systems are highly dependent on the natural productivity and physical conditions of the water. The stocking densities therefore depend on the natural carrying capacity of the environment. These systems are characterized by low stocking densities and thus low yields.
The Semi-intensive systems, have been the major contributor to aquaculture in Kenya, with an average production of about 3 tonnes/ha, contributing more than 70 percent of the total aquaculture production. Earthen ponds and cages are used to culture the fish. These systems form the majority of production in Kenya. Intensive aquaculture is used for culture of rainbow trout. This has promoted the tourism industry as is considered a luxury. It is supplied to hotels catering largely to tourists. Other intensive practices involve the use of tanks and floating cages. In all these systems, fish are produced by supplementing the natural productivity in the culture units by exogenous feeding, aeration and both mechanical and bio-filtration where necessary.
Kenya comprises of a lot of suitable land for aquaculture, however, only about 0.014% of the 1.4 mil”lion ha of potential aquaculture sites are used and about 95% of fish farming is still done on small scale (Otieno, 2011). Furthermore, aquaculture has been practiced mostly in the central, Nyanza, western provinces, parts of Rift Val”ley and coastal provinces (Nyonje et al., 2011).
The Kenya national distribution of fish culture systems and the respective cover area (m2)
Since the beginning of Kenyan aquaculture in the 1950s until 2006, the total annual aquaculture production never ex”ceeded 2,000 MT/y. By 2007, the mean yield from fish farming was approximately 5,840 MT yr’1, identifying aquaculture as one of the viable options for revamping the country’s food sector.
The sector however sector registered a depressed performance for the second consecutive year, with total fish output dropping by 19.8 per cent from 18.7 tonnes in the year 2015 to 14,952 tonnes in 2016 as can be seen in the figure below. Kenya, however, has far greater capacity for fish farming, with over 1.14 million hectares potentially available to enable a production capacity of over 11 million tonnes per year (Nyandat and Owiti, 2013).
Mariculture in Kenya is still underdeveloped. The most commonly farmed marine finfish species is milkfish, followed by mullet. Juveniles of these species are found in the mangrove systems and are having a lot of demand due to more communities in the coast being interested in mariculture. Shellfish culture in coastal Kenya has mainly been the culture of Mud Crabs, Prawns, and Artemia. The experimental oyster culture was carried out at gazi and Funzi bays of South Coast but were not sustainable due to lack of a market despite successful cultures.
Chapter five
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusion
The potential for aquaculture in Kenya is good, despite sub-optimal environmental conditions (altitude, soil conditions, access to water) in certain regions, for aquaculture development. The major advantage is the high (and growing) demand for fish, the relative high market prices of fish, the concentration of consumers in urban areas, the well-developed infrastructure and the importance given to aquaculture by the Kenyan government.
However, it is very unlikely that the present fish production will be able to meet the demand of Kenya’s rapidly growing population. This is the case even when fish consumption remains at its current relatively low level. This is mainly due to the emphasis that is given to smallholder development and the rather extensive farming systems being practiced by these smallholders. Smallholders can play role in the provision of fish protein for local markets but more farmers need to be educated and motivated to practice large scale fish farming on intensive and semi intensive systems.
In Kenya the estimated number of full-time employees in the aquaculture sector is 400. This number needs to go higher in order to achieve maximum aquaculture potential.
The domestic market for farmed fish is quite promising. More so, there is also a relatively good level of consumer awareness of the health benefits of eating fish as well as quality assurance of farmed fish. This combination of good prices and high demand is a real boost for aquaculture. Prices are expected to get even better than those on the world market for whole tilapia.
Almost all major towns in Kenya where aquaculture is practiced constitute an assured market. The market for food fish is still mainly confined to whole fish except for North African catfish fillet for which there is a high demand in some parts of the Central Province. The aim is to ensure the sector reaches its maximum potential and avoid declines in production as was experienced in the two consecutive years, 2015 and 2016.
‘
Recommendations
I. The Kenyan government should set (and maintain) quality standards for locally produced fish feeds. Some progress is currently being made with regards to the setting of standards for tilapia feed.
II. Through the development of intensive catfish aquaculture, Kenyan fish production can grow exponentially. Catfish is relative easy to grow in high densities, thus making it an ideal species for the provision of cheap fish protein under conditions of limited natural resources (available land and sufficient amounts of suitable water). Therefore, a substantial production increase can be realized through the development of intensive catfish culture in Kenya. This can be done in land-based farming systems, but possibilities for intensive fish farming in cages should not be ruled out.
III. The government needs to come up with more programs such as the ESP, to boost aquaculture, finance and expand already existing projects.
IV. There needs to be more support for development of fisheries and aquaculture related courses in institutions.
V. Development of more institutions to promote aquaculture research and information to farmers.
VI. Both government and private organizations to invest in producer organizations and market infrastructure.
VII. The government should focus on putting more research, input and support especially in the development of mariculture.
‘
your text in here…