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For Decision-Makers

KMFRI's evidence, ready for policy

Policy briefs, management recommendations, regulatory frameworks, and a direct pathway to the scientists behind the findings — structured for policymakers, county officials, and government advisors.

Fisheries status — current cycle
Nile perch — Lake Victoria Under Review
Dagaa — Lake Victoria Healthy
Coastal demersal stocks Caution
Octopus — South Coast Recovering
Lake Turkana fisheries Data updated May 2025
Evidence Summaries for Decision-Makers

Policy briefs

Two-to-four-page summaries distilling KMFRI research into specific policy-relevant findings and recommendations. Each brief links to the underlying technical report.

Full Publications Archive
Jun 2025
Nile Perch Stock Assessment 2024 — Implications for LVFO Harvest Guidelines
Authors: Ochieng A., Njiru M. · KMFRI Technical Brief No. 18
Fisheries
May 2025
Aquaculture Expansion in Western Kenya — Site Suitability and Regulatory Considerations
Authors: Munguti J., Orina P. · KMFRI Technical Brief No. 17
Aquaculture
Apr 2025
Octopus Periodic Closure Model — Evidence Base and National Rollout Implications
Authors: Munga C., Kimani E. · KMFRI Technical Brief No. 16
Coastal
Mar 2025
Kenya's EEZ Offshore Fisheries Potential — Data Gaps and Governance Readiness
Authors: Kimani E., Obura D. · KMFRI Technical Brief No. 15
Blue Economy
Feb 2025
Lake Turkana Fisheries — Status, Threats, and Adaptive Management Options
Authors: Aura C., Ogari J. · KMFRI Technical Brief No. 14
Freshwater
Jan 2025
Mangrove Restoration and Blue Carbon — Recommendations for County Coastal Management Plans
Authors: Kairo J., Bosire J. · KMFRI Technical Brief No. 13
Coastal
Dec 2024
Feed Import Dependency in Kenya's Aquaculture Sector — Risks and Domestic Alternatives
Authors: Opiyo M., Wainaina M. · KMFRI Technical Brief No. 12
Aquaculture
Nov 2024
Coastal Demersal Fisheries Assessment 2024 — Status and Gear Regulation Implications
Authors: Munga C., Fulanda B. · KMFRI Technical Brief No. 11
Fisheries
Current Cycle — 2024/2025

Standing management recommendations

Current KMFRI recommendations to the State Department of Fisheries and county governments, updated following the 2024 stock assessment cycle. Each links to its supporting technical evidence.

Lake Victoria Fisheries
Maintain current minimum mesh size for Nile perch — extend monitoring to gill net effort

2024 stock assessment shows Nile perch biomass below 2020 reference point. KMFRI recommends maintaining existing minimum mesh size regulations under LVFO framework and extending effort monitoring to include gill net CPUE as a leading indicator.

Evidence basis: KMFRI Technical Report TR-2024-08 · Annual Stock Assessment 2024
South Coast — Kwale, Mombasa
Formalise community octopus closure model into county fisheries by-laws

Periodic octopus closures trialled at four Kwale sites show catch-per-unit-effort increases of 30–47% in re-opening cycles. KMFRI recommends formalising the co-management framework into Kwale County fisheries by-laws with a monitoring obligation attached.

Evidence basis: KMFRI Technical Brief No. 16 · Monitoring data 2022–2024
Aquaculture Regulation
Mandate biosecurity reporting for tilapia farms above 500kg production threshold

The 2024 Sangoro disease surveillance cycle identified two undiagnosed bacterial pathogens in the Lake Victoria basin. KMFRI recommends extending disease reporting obligations to commercial-scale tilapia farms and establishing a rapid-response reporting pathway to KMFRI's diagnostic team.

Coastal County Governments
Incorporate KMFRI mangrove carbon data into Integrated Coastal Zone Management plans

KMFRI's updated mangrove carbon stock map (2024) provides county-level biomass estimates for all six coastal counties. KMFRI recommends integrating this data into ICZM plans currently under revision, and establishing community carbon monitoring committees at all mangrove restoration sites.

Evidence basis: KMFRI Technical Brief No. 13 · Gazi Bay long-term dataset 2018–2024
Legal & Governance Context

Regulatory frameworks KMFRI informs

Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2016
KMFRI is the designated scientific advisory body for stock assessments and management recommendations under this Act.
Related briefs →
LVFO Frame Survey & Management Framework
KMFRI provides Kenya's stock assessment data to the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation, directly informing transboundary harvest guidelines shared with Uganda and Tanzania.
Fisheries dashboards →
Kenya National Blue Economy Strategy (2024 revision)
KMFRI's sector data and EEZ fisheries intelligence underpins 14 citations in the 2024 revised strategy, including the aquaculture expansion and offshore fisheries chapters.
Blue Economy hub →
BBNJ Agreement — High Seas Governance
KMFRI contributes to Kenya's technical delegation under the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, providing scientific input on EEZ and high-seas conservation measures.
Partnerships overview →

Need KMFRI data cited in a policy or legal document?

KMFRI regularly provides data citations, technical endorsements, and scientific evidence statements for use in regulatory impact assessments, court proceedings, and parliamentary submissions.

Official citation support with DOI and dataset reference
Expert witness statements (subject to Director-General approval)
Parliamentary and Cabinet submissions on fisheries and aquaculture
Contact the Policy Office
Direct Expert Access

Request expert advisory

Government ministers, county officials, parliamentary researchers, and regulatory bodies can request direct advisory consultations with KMFRI's scientific leads. Response within 3 business days.

Key scientific contacts by domain

Marine & Coastal Fisheries
Dr. Christopher Munga
Demersal fisheries, EEZ stock assessment, coastal co-management
c.munga@kmfri.go.ke
Freshwater & Lake Fisheries
Dr. Cecilia Aura
Lake Victoria fisheries, limnology, transboundary stock management
c.aura@kmfri.go.ke
Aquaculture Policy
Dr. James Munguti
Aquaculture regulation, broodstock programs, feed policy
j.munguti@kmfri.go.ke
Coastal Ecosystems & Blue Carbon
Prof. James Kairo
Mangrove science, blue carbon, ICZM, coastal resilience
j.kairo@kmfri.go.ke

How a policy advisory request works

1
Submit a request with context
Email the Policy Office or the relevant scientific contact directly. Include your institution, the policy question, and any timeline constraints.
2
Scoping confirmation within 3 days
The relevant scientific lead confirms availability and scope. For complex requests, KMFRI may convene a small team.
3
Advisory meeting or written response
Delivered as a consultation call, written advisory note, or formal technical statement — depending on the nature of the request and urgency.
4
Follow-up data or publication access
Where underlying data or full technical reports are needed, KMFRI facilitates access through the data portal or a data-sharing agreement.

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