Fish spoilage hits Kilifi fishermen hard and threatens food security

At 5:45am, the first rays of sunlight strike the tranquil waters of the Indian Ocean, casting a golden glow over Kilifi’s Old Ferry landing site and gently stirring it to life.

The salty breeze mingles with the scent of fresh fish as fishermen return from a long night at sea. Among them is Kitsao Jefwa, a seasoned fisherman whose muscular arms, clad in a faded, rust-stained vest, bear the marks of decades spent battling the tides. “I am the fourth generation in my family to take up fishing. I inherited the skills from my father 55 years ago,” he reflects, his voice carrying the weight of tradition and the ever-changing rhythms of the ocean.

Kitsao’s boat is the first to dock today. The boat glides towards the shore, its hull weighed down by the morning’s catch. With practiced ease, he leaps onto the damp sand, securing the vessel before turning his attention to the tangled nets.

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He owns two deep-sea fishing boats valued at Sh1 million and employs 58 fishermen. His boats land an average of three tonnes of fish daily at Kilifi’s Old Ferry fish landing site. A series of trays filled with tuna, fresh sardines, red snapper, rabbitfish, and kingfish are carefully weighed and recorded as traders line up to buy. Kitsao smiles as he flips through every note and coin, jotting down figures in his worn, discoloured ledger, now fading to grey. “Today’s sales are not bad. On average, I make around Sh30,000 in profit daily,” he remarks.

However, his profits fluctuate due to fish losses. Between January and March 2025, he made Sh191,000, while between October and December 2024, it dropped to Sh150,000.

He said that such financial instability makes long-term investments and business growth difficult, limiting his ability to scale up operations or improve his fishing fleet.

One of the most pressing issues is the lack of proper storage facilities, leading to substantial fish losses. “On average, I lose approximately 100 kilogrammes of my three-tonne catch daily due to inadequate preservation methods, amounting to a monthly loss of Sh100,000,” he explains.

Henry Muzungu, Chairman of the Kilifi Central Beach Management Unit (BMU), which was established in 2006 and now boasts a membership of 428, oversees 12 ring-net fishing boats.

“The Old Ferry fish landing site currently receives about 100 tonnes of fish per month, with daily landings of approximately 10 tonnes. However, between 2006 and 2023, the lack of storage facilities has led to staggering fish losses. “In 2022 alone, we lost two tonnes in a single day, an estimated Sh500,000, mostly on hot days when, without cold storage, fish spoil quickly or must be sold at low prices to clear stock,” he said, flipping through the records, revealing millions of shillings lost due to post-harvest spoilage.

Dr Johnstone Omukoto, a senior research scientist at the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Research Institute (KEMFRI), said lack of proper refrigeration, inadequate storage facilities, and improper handling during transportation contribute to spoilage and quality deterioration. He emphasises that the absence of cold-chain facilities, drying racks, and essential infrastructure at landing sites and processing points hampers fish preservation.

Dr Patteson Mwagona, Kilifi County Executive Member for Agriculture, Livestock Development and Blue Economy, said these losses will continue to undermine Kenya’s food security and the livelihoods of those in the fisheries sector. “Lack of proper post-harvest management in the fisheries sector is not just an economic concern; it poses a direct threat to our nation’s food security. This sector sustains thousands of livelihoods in Kilifi County, making immediate interventions essential,” he said.

Beyond the fishermen, fish traders also bear the brunt of post-harvest losses. Rukia Pamba, a 53-year-old fish trader from Kisumu Ndogo Village, Sokoni Ward, Kilifi County, and a mother of eight, has been in the trade for 21 years.

She started her business with a capital of Sh700 and now makes an impressive daily profit of Sh10,000. She leads a group of women fish traders who buy fish from fishermen at the dock and resell it to fishmongers.

The group also grapples with significant challenges of post-harvest losses; erratic fish supply, driven by climate change and overfishing, leading to soaring prices and reduced availability. “Fish that used to sell for Sh200 now goes for Sh350, while kingfish has doubled from Sh300 to Sh600. These price hikes make fish less affordable, limiting market access for consumers and squeezing traders’ profits. During peak production seasons, large quantities spoil due to the lack of refrigeration facilities. At times, I lose over Sh20,000,” she laments.

Dr Omukoto said marine fisheries account for 11 per cent of the country’s total fish production. “The sector directly supports 14,000 fishermen, with an estimated 150,000 people relying on fisheries for their livelihoods. Notably, 80 per cent of the industry is controlled by small-scale fishers.”

Recognising the urgent need to curb fish losses, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Socio-Economic Development (KEMFSED) project has initiated the construction of a cold storage and ice plant at the Kilifi Old Ferry landing site.

The facility is expected to revolutionise the fishing industry, according to KEMFSED Kilifi County Project Coordinator Msucy Kapombe. “This facility is designed to reduce post-harvest losses, double fish landing and storage capacity, and boost revenue generation. With proper storage, fish can be preserved longer and even exported to neighbouring countries for higher prices,” she explains.

The Kilifi Beach Management Unit (BMU) is not only working to reduce post-harvest fish losses but also generate additional income by selling ice to fishermen and traders, strengthening the community’s financial stability. “Previously, we had to travel to Mombasa to buy refrigerating ice. Now, we will sell it locally to those in need, while BMU members will receive it for free,” says Henry Chiko Muzungu, Chairman of the Kilifi Central Beach Management Unit.

Another pressing issue is the lack of deep-sea fishing skills among local fishermen. Most local fishermen stick to shallow waters, leading to overfishing and a declining fish population. Without proper training, the industry remains limited in its capacity to exploit deeper waters where fish stocks are more abundant. “Our objective is to double fisheries revenue and create more employment opportunities for the fishing community. We are expanding training programmes on fish handling, safety gear, sustainable fishing, and environmental conservation. We are also promoting modern processing techniques, including improved drying, smoking, and packaging methods to extend fish shelf life,” says Dr Mwagona.