Standing Against the Tide of Illegal Fishing: Kenya’s Call to Action
By Andrew Mwangura
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail
June 5th, 2025, marks the International Day for the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing—a global moment of reckoning that resonates particularly strongly along Kenya’s 536-kilometer coastline.
As we observe this critical day, Kenya faces a stark reality: our marine resources are being systematically plundered, threatening not just our economy but the very foundation of coastal livelihoods.
Magnitude of the Crisis
The statistics paint a devastating picture. Globally, an estimated 26 million tons of fish worth nearly $24 billion are stolen from our oceans annually through illegal fishing operations.
Kenya bears a disproportionate burden of this maritime crime, losing approximately 10 billion shillings ($97 million) each year to foreign vessels operating illegally in our territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone.
This is not merely an economic statistic—it represents stolen food from the tables of coastal communities, lost employment opportunities for thousands of fishermen, and the systematic destruction of marine ecosystems that have sustained life along our coast for generations.
When daily catches plummet from 600 tons to 200 tons, as witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic when illegal fishing tripled, the human cost becomes unmistakable.
Maritime Sovereignty Under Siege
Our Exclusive Economic Zone in the Indian Ocean has the potential to produce between 150,000 and 300,000 tonnes of fish annually.
Yet foreign industrial fleets continue to exploit our waters with impunity, employing sophisticated technology and destructive fishing practices that local artisanal fishermen cannot compete against.
The establishment of the Kenya Coast Guard Service in 2018 marked a crucial step forward, but the challenge remains immense.
The problem extends beyond simple theft. IUU fishing often operates as part of a criminal nexus involving human trafficking, drug smuggling, forced labor, and money laundering.
These vessels threaten not just our fish stocks but our national security, making this fight a matter of sovereignty as much as sustainability.
Ripple Effect on Communities
Behind every illegal fishing vessel lies a community pushed deeper into poverty. Beach Management Units (BMUs) along our coastal strip witness f irsthand how foreign trawlers drain the waters that have sustained their ancestors.
Local fishermen, armed with traditional dhows and basic equipment, find themselves competing against industrial vessels that can fish deeper waters and harvest vast quantities in a single operation.
The decline in fish production to 164,000 metric tons in 2023, down from 171,000 metric tons the previous year, reflects this unsustainable pressure.
Each declining ton represents lost protein for families, reduced income for fishing communities, and diminished prospects for the next generation of coastal dwellers.
Coordinated Action
The fight against IUU fishing demands unprecedented coordination among all maritime stakeholders.
The State Department for Fisheries must strengthen regulatory frameworks and enforcement mechanisms.
The Kenya Coast Guard Service requires enhanced resources and expanded patrol capabilities to effectively monitor our vast maritime territory.
The Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) must tighten vessel registration and monitoring systems, while the Coast Development Authority (CDA) should integrate anti-IUU measures into coastal infrastructure planning.
County governments along the coastal strip—Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Taita-Taveta, and Kwale—must collaborate to create a unified front against illegal fishing.
Their proximity to fishing communities positions them uniquely to implement grassroots monitoring and reporting systems. Beach Management Units, as the eyes and ears of our coastline, need empowerment through training, equipment, and direct communication channels with enforcement agencies.
The Kenya Fisheries Industry Association (KFIA) should lead private sector efforts to promote sustainable fishing practices while supporting the transition of local fishermen to legal, profitable operations.
Investment in modern fishing technology, cold storage facilities, and processing plants can help legitimate operators compete effectively while creating employment opportunities that discourage participation in illegal activities.
Building Sustainable Alternatives
While law enforcement remains crucial, lasting solutions require addressing the root causes that drive communities toward illegal fishing.
The economic desperation highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, when poverty pushed more people into illegal fishing, underscores the need for alternative livelihoods and social safety nets.
Investment in aquaculture, eco-tourism, and marine conservation programs can provide sustainable employment while protecting our marine environment.
Training programs for fishermen in modern, sustainable fishing techniques, coupled with access to microfinance for equipment upgrades, can transform potential violators into conservation champions.
As we mark this International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, Kenya stands at a crossroads.
We can continue watching helplessly as foreign vessels drain our waters and impoverish our communities, or we can marshal our collective will to reclaim our maritime heritage.
The establishment of the Coast Guard Service was a beginning, not an end. We need enhanced surveillance technology, including satellite monitoring systems and drone patrols. We need regional cooperation with neighboring countries to prevent illegal operators from simply moving between territorial waters.
Most importantly, we need political will that prioritizes long-term marine sustainability over short-term economic gains.
Collective Responsibility
The fight against IUU fishing is not the sole responsibility of government agencies—it requires every Kenyan who values our marine heritage to play a part.
Consumers must demand sustainably sourced fish, local communities must report suspicious activities, and civil society must maintain pressure for transparent, effective enforcement.
Our coastal waters are not just economic assets; they are the lifeblood of communities that have called the coast home for centuries.
Every illegal fishing vessel we allow to operate unopposed is a betrayal of future generations who will inherit depleted seas and impoverished coastlines.
Today, on this International Day for the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, let us recommit to protecting what is rightfully ours.
The tide can still be turned, but only if we act with the urgency and unity this crisis demands. Our fish, our livelihoods, and our maritime future depend on the choices we make today.
*The author calls upon all maritime stakeholders to treat June 5th not as a mere calendar observance, but as a rallying cry for action against the systematic theft of Kenya’s marine resources.*
