Strengthening Fisheries Governance for Kenya’s Blue Economy: Policy Priorities for Sustainable Growth and Livelihoods

Abstract

Kenya’s fisheries sector holds strategic potential for food security, livelihoods, youth employment, and Blue Economy transformation, yet governance performance and development outcomes remain uneven across inland and marine fisheries and aquaculture systems. This study assessed the effectiveness of Kenya’s fisheries governance framework using qualitative document analysis combined with stakeholder consultations to identify priority governance domains, implementation bottlenecks, and opportunities for strengthening sector performance. The analysis revealed eight key governance areas: licensing and access rights, monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS), fisheries data systems, co-management institutions, institutional coordination under devolution, aquaculture development, value addition and market upgrading, and equity and livelihoods safeguards. Results indicate that while policy frameworks strongly emphasise regulatory design and institutional mandates, weaker attention is given to operational systems necessary for effective implementation. Major constraints include limited MCS capacity, weak fisheries data and traceability systems, insufficient safeguards in offshore licensing, high aquaculture input costs, inconsistent seed quality, and inadequate extension and financing support. Policy benchmarking further demonstrates that successful fisheries systems combine strong legal frameworks with robust enforcement capacity, integrated data platforms, and market-oriented traceability infrastructure. The study concludes that enhancing Kenya’s fisheries contribution to the Blue Economy requires prioritising implementation capacity over further policy expansion. Key actions include strengthening enforcement operations, establishing national digital fisheries information systems, improving licensing transparency, supporting co-management institutions, enabling urban aquaculture regulation, and investing in cold chain and processing infrastructure to promote value addition and competitiveness.