Kenyan coast region has high aquaculture potential, artemia breeding - Marine expert

This proud fisherman in Mombasa shows his catch. There is a huge fishing potential at the Coast province

The Kenyan coast has a high aquaculture potential high a Belgian fisheries expert has said.

Professor Patrick Sorgeloos of the Artemia Reference Centre, University of Ghent, Belgium while visiting the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) recently singled out brine shrimp called artemia- a nutritious small, soft-bodied crustacean as a major investment.

“With adequate availability of artemia for use in the aquaculture hatcheries, milkfish and crabs can be farmed commercially in the coast region,” said Sorgeloos said when he toured KMFRI’s Artemi project in Gongoni, Malindi.

“There’s a captive market for the two fisheries at the coast”, added the professor, who is renown worldwide for his contribution to research and development of aquaculture.

In an online news release the research institute says artemia and its eggs which can be harvested and stored for several years act as a highly nutritious and a major substitute for the natural plankton diet for fish and shrimp fingerlings in aquaculture facilities worldwide.

“It occurs worldwide in natural highly salty lakes, ponds and lagoons which makes it convenient, largely due to its general availability, nutritional quality, and ease and versatility of use,” the statement says.

KEFRI’s aquaculture program coordinator, Dr. Betty Nyonje also added that artemia can be raised in man-operated solar salt-works since their proper population management will benefit farmers by increasing production and quality of salt.

“Artemia filters out the phytoplanktons, which when in excessive amounts lead to smaller and lower quality salt crystals. Its presence therefore leads to bigger and better quality salt crystals,” Nyonje said.

The institute’s their Malindi artemia project is set to be commercial by producing the shrimp for aquaculture industry locally and internationally.

“Several individuals, groups, and salt companies in the coast are gearing themselves to engage in the production of the Artemia cysts and/or biomass as a business venture to improve their livelihoods,” it said.

The Artemia project is a Belgian Interuniversity Council (VLIR) funded project, being implemented through a tripartite partnership between the KMFRI, Ghent University of Belgium and Can Tho University of Vietnam.

During Sorgeloos’ visit he was accompanied by the Belgian Ambassador to Kenya Bart Ouvry and KMFRI’s Deputy Director in-charge of inland waters research, Dr. Enock Wakwabi among others.

Manuel Odeny ©2013

Sewerage, fertilizer pollution choking River Galana – KMFRI

Fishermen pushing their boat at River Galana which passes through Tsavo East National park. Research shows pollution is affecting the river. 

River Galana in Coast region of Kenya is highly polluted following a direct input of sewerage and fertilizer into the river, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) research has said.

The finding follows a research carried by KMFRI in the river following complains by the management of Galana ADC farm regarding the water quality and recurrence of algae blooms in their farms for the last two years after using the water.

Researchers carried out investigation by analyzing samples collected in sites like Darajani in Galana ADC ranch, Sala gate and Tsavo East National Park.

“The results showed high levels of E. coli bacteria which pointed to discharge of raw sewerage into the water system and high levels of phosphates, nitrates and ammonia which can be attributed to use of fertilizers in agricultural activities upstream,” the research institute said in a press release.

Dr. Joseph Kamau, KMFRI’s researcher and Edward Waiyaki, a socio-economist say the pollution will affect fish population in the river, create scarcity of clean drinking water which will cause vomiting, diarrhea and stomach ailments among the community members which could directly be linked to the E. coli bacteria.

“Algae blooms occur as a result of excessive input of nutrients into the aquatic system from human activities with some species certain usually attaching themselves to the fish gills and thus compete for oxygen”, said Dr. Kamau.

Although the finding couldn’t attribute to any recorded fish kills as a result of harmful algae bloom but it says its high level can kill fish due to suffocation especially in instances where there are low levels of dissolved oxygen in water.

“We recommend interventions in prudent agricultural practices by creating buffer zones between farms and river banks, treatment of sewerage before discharge into the rivers and creating public awareness to enable the community take precautions to avoid health complications,” KMFRI says.

To further protect River Galana aquatic life KMFRI says it will embark on a comprehensive research upstream to determine the points of release of the identified inputs and advise the relevant government agencies to enforce the relevant laws and ensure sound management.

© Manuel Odeny, 2012