In the course of his survey of short duration, the expert was not in a position to cover in depth, and in as much detail as he would have liked, all aspects relating to an assessment of fisheries development potential. Furthermore, for most water areas, catch data given in the report are approximate, because of the rudimentary character of the fishery statistical work carried out to date by the inadequately staffed fisheries services. Also, since thorough biological surveys and fish population studies have not been undertaken on the water areas of Kenya, all references to catch potential must be regarded as rough estimates rather than as scientifically calculated production targets. With few exceptions, the Fisheries Department of Kenya and the expert had only the experience from research conducted on - and actual exploitation of - similar water bodies in East Africa to go by in making these estimates of potential fisheries yields.
Notwithstanding the above reservations, the expert is confident in concluding that the development potential of the fisheries of Kenya, in particular in inland waters - to date nearly untouched - in the more remote areas (e.g., Lake Rudolf), is substantial. Full exploitation of fishery resources, which would result in important improvements in nutrition and in the creation of a cash economy in some areas and also, in marine fisheries especially, in additional foreign exchange income through expansion of exports, can only be achieved, in the expert's opinion, if the following requirements are fulfilled:
No program of the proportions envisaged in the 1965–1970 fisheries development plan drawn up by the Department of Fisheries in Kenya, not to speak of the additional projects for this period proposed by the expert in the course of his survey and the realization of ultimate production potential, can be implemented without a considerable strengthening of fisheries services, both at headquarters and in the field.
Expansion of administrative cadres will require the institution of a training program for the benefit of medium-level and junior grade staff. Training for scientific and other, more highly specialized, staff may have to be provided through fellowships, with the help of international and bilateral aid programs.
International and bilateral assistance will also be needed to ensure guidance in the research, developmental, and on-the-job training activities proposed in the discussion, in the following chapters of the report, of development possibilities in the various water areas.
Improvements in road communications will be a prerequisite for the expansion of existing, and opening up of new, markets.
To ensure that market absorption capacity expands in step with a rising volume of production, improvements in market organization and fish consumption promotional activities will have to be initiated at an early time.
The above are the pillars on which any major program of expansion of fish production and marketing will have to be based. Detailed findings and proposals are outlined in the following chapters for individual water areas after a general discussion of production potential estimates, market development requirements, and staffing needs of government fisheries services. In presenting his recommendations, the expert thought it best to spell out everything that was required to reach possible development targets. This inventory-type presentation will make it possible for the Government of Kenya to select those projects and proposals to which it wants to accord a higher priority in implementation, in accordance with basic objectives of policy and as staff and finances become available.
Although the expert has certain ideas on the assignment of priorities to the various projects outlined in the report and on the phasing of the work, he does not consider it appropriate to set, at this time, immutable targets and prepare rigid schedules. His experience in assisting, over a number of years, with the implementation of the proposals Professor Crutchfield made in 1958 for the development of the fisheries of Uganda has convinced him of the desirability of maintaining a high degree of flexibility in carrying out the various projects outlined in reports such as that on Professor Crutchfield's work.1
In the following, the expert merely wants to point out where, in his opinion, the emphasis in implementation of the many projects discussed in the report mightlogically be placed.
The key role of staff expansion and training in any fisheries development program has already been stressed. Development on Lake Rudolf, the last major East African lake whose resources have remained virtually untouched, merits the highest priority among all the water areas discussed. Much importance, therefore, is attributed to the establishment of a UNDP Special Fund scheme on the Lake. The Government may want to expedite preparation of a request to the UNDP Special Fund organization in New York along lines proposed in the report. Linked to Lake Rudolf development but covering other water areas as well, would be the launching of a proposed ‘Eat More Fish’ campaign. To achieve an early increase in fish production on the Lake, an experienced all-round Fisheries Officer will have to be recruited without delay.
It is also important that Kenya recruits a qualified fish farmer to take charge of work at Sagana Fish Farm and the fish-farming extension schemes (although these provide only a minor part of the fish supplies of the country) to see to it that the considerable investment made on this work over the past ten years or so does not have to be written off. Such a man could organize the various fish stockings which have been proposed.
On the coast, the launching of a tuna industry should have priority over all other development efforts. Inshore, proposals for development at Malindi should have priority. Among these, the improvements required at the wholesale and retail markets should take priority over other proposals.
A final explanatory comment on the recommendations in regard to fish stocking made in various sections of the report. These recommendations are based on the expert's personal experience in Uganda as well as on information on the experience of other personnel in fish stocking work assembled in Uganda over a period of some forty years.
The fisheries of Lakes Bunyoni, Mulehe, Mutanda, the Koki district, and Wamala which together produce nearly 5,000 tons of fish a year were all founded on tilapia stocked in the lakes. The fishery on Lake Kyoga is now largely based on Nile perch, Tilapia zilli, T. nilotica, and T. leucosticta introduced into the Lake. Since these species were introduced, and in no small measure because of them, production has risen since 1954, when the fish were first planted, from 3,000 tons to 14,000 tons per annum.
Carp were introduced in 1963 in Lakes Bunyoni, Muleke and Wamala in Uganda and are now contributing significantly to local fish supplies. They are growing well and are popular with consumers who will pay as much for them, or even more, as they will for tilapia.
Carp, Engraulicypris and tilapia were transferred from Uganda to Rwanda in 1963 for stocking in the lakes at the headwaters of the Kagera River by Belgian fisheries biologists after careful consideration of the Uganda experience. The results of the Uganda stockings are recorded in the Annual Reports of the Uganda Game Department 1930–1950, the Game and Fisheries Department 1950–1960, and the Fisheries Department from 1960 onwards, and also in the Fisheries Section of the Uganda Government Annual Report from 1960 onwards.
The stockings which the expert recommends are of fish which have been well tried economically and scientifically in East Africa, with the exception of Ptenopharyngodon which is now being tried out in Uganda by the FAO/TA expert, Mr. Y. Pruginin. The expert thinks that experiments should be carried out with this fish under the conditions prevailing in Kenya. If successful, they might help considerably in solving weeding problems.
