For generations, coastal communities have depended on the Indian Ocean for food and income. But for many fishermen, limited equipment, poor storage facilities, declining catches and weak access to markets have made it difficult to turn the ocean’s resources into sustainable livelihoods.
That picture is beginning to change as Kenya expands investment in fisheries, aquaculture, marine infrastructure and community enterprises.
Fish production increased by 8.1 per cent, from 173,741 tonnes in 2022 to 189,151 tonnes by August 2026, according to government data cited in recent reporting.
At the centre of the transformation is the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development Project (KEMFSED), which has provided about KSh3.3 billion in grants to 1,263 community groups involving more than 212,000 people.
Investment is moving beyond traditional fishing
The grants have targeted women, young people and vulnerable communities, supporting training, equipment and businesses linked to the wider blue economy.
Government programmes have also trained 875 young people in deep-sea fishing and distributed hundreds of boats and fish cages to coastal communities. The support is helping communities explore activities such as aquaculture, mud crab farming, shrimp production, marine tilapia and seaweed farming.
For some communities, the shift is already visible.
Asman Ambeta, a tour guide and part-time fisherman from Shimoni and Wasini Island, says residents have long relied on the ocean but struggled with damaged coral reefs, declining catches, poor storage and low fish prices.
“Before the government put more focus on the blue economy, residents of Shimoni depended heavily on the ocean. But there were many challenges,” Ambeta said.
He said the development of the Shimoni Fish Port has made fish handling easier while creating opportunities for young people.
Shimoni port could change the value chain
The Shimoni Fish Port is one of the biggest infrastructure investments supporting the coastal fisheries sector.
Kenya Ports Authority says the modern facility is designed for fish landing, processing, cold storage and value addition, helping fishermen and traders retain more value from their catch. The port has capacity to process up to 24,000 metric tonnes of fish annually for local and export markets.
The project is also linked to broader investments in marine research and aquaculture, including the National Mariculture Resource and Training Centre at Shimoni.
For coastal communities, the potential extends beyond fishing.
Ambeta said tourism, boat transport and seaweed farming are creating alternative income streams, particularly for women and young people.
Training and cooperatives strengthen livelihoods
In Mombasa, Beach Management Units are also being supported through leadership, financial management and cooperative training.
Salim Amin Salim, chairman of the Old Town Beach Management Unit in Mvita, said the training was helping fishing communities improve their organisations and work towards financial independence.
“We have been trained in leadership skills, financial management, how to manage and cooperate, and how to run our Beach Management Units and fishing communities,” he said.
He said fishermen were increasingly adopting motorised boats while cooperatives were helping members save and manage their earnings.
The government is also strengthening maritime safety and supporting measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The bigger challenge now is ensuring that the new infrastructure, skills and financing translate into lasting incomes.
For coastal communities, the blue economy is increasingly being viewed not simply as a source of fish, but as a wider economic opportunity spanning food production, tourism, transport, aquaculture and marine enterprises.
