Kenya is in talks with its Norwegian counterparts through the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) to help them exploit the blue economy.
Blue economy experts say Kenya could inject an additional KSh90 billion into the economy should the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Indian Ocean be properly exploited.
Scientists from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KEMFRI) estimate that with proper investments, the country could benefit from 150,000 to 300, 000 metric tons of fish available in the EEZ annually.
However, the small-scale fishing that has been taking place around fishing zones over the years has largely benefitted foreigners, whose technological advancement has made them benefit more from the stocks than local fishers since they can fish in deeper waters.
In order to ensure that citizens benefit from local deep waters, the government has made it a requirement that for one to get a fishing license in the country, they should pick Kenyan fishermen on board as crew members.
According to the Kenya Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2016, 30% of the fish caught in Kenyan territorial waters have to be landed in Kenya. However, the lack of landing facilities has meant that Kenya has been losing out on this.
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