KWALE, Kenya – Seaweed farmers and fishermen in Kwale County have a reason to smile after receiving at least 13 boats from the Governor Fatuma Achani-led administration.
Out of the 13 boats, 6 will be used by the seaweed farmers to harvest the seaweed from the waters to the offshore while the remaining boats will enable them to undertake fishing activities in the sea and increase the fish catch from 2.3kgs to 1.5 tonnes on daily basis.
Governor Achani issued this during the commemoration of this year’s World Sea Weed Day held at Mkunguni Beach Management Unit, in Ramisi Ward, Msambweni Sub-County.
World Seaweed Day highlights the potential of seaweeds in addressing global challenges like food security, climate change, and ecosystem health.
The day also serves as a platform to showcase the importance of seaweed as a sustainable food source and its various applications in different industries.
What is the Kwale County Government doing to support seaweed farming
This year’s event is themed “Enhancing Innovation, Production, Value Addition and Market Linkages”.
The celebrations come when the County Government has established over 21 seaweed farming groups with about 420 farmers in Msambweni and Lunga Lunga Sub-Counties.
Speaking during the event, Governor Achani said she recognises seaweed farming as an “untapped treasure” and is committed to supporting its growth through various interventions.
“So far, my administration has established 21 seaweed farming groups with about 420 active farmers in Msambweni and Lunga Lunga Sub-Counties. We are also supporting seaweed farmers every year with seaweed farm inputs including ropes, gumboots, gloves and weighing scales,” said Governor Achani.
She however said that the County Government is constructing a seaweed store at Mwazaro, noting the purchase and distribution of 6 seaweed transportation boats to 6 seaweed groups which will be used for harvesting and transportation of farmers and harvesting of seaweed.
“My administration also has purchased and distributed assorted seaweed value addition equipment to eight seaweed farmer groups (disc mill, pulverising machine, soap plodder),”she added.
Why should the seaweed farming be supported
While reacting to the development, Mtengo Omar from the Beach Management Unit Network thanked the County Government and the National Government for recognising them as fishermen.
“So far we have been given over 62 boats which have made fishing easy,” he noted.
Ashura Sheboi, a representative of Tumbe Seaweed, thanked the County Government saying their lives have changed through seaweed farming.
Seaweed is used in making various products, including soap, shampoo, seaweed powder for food, and as a raw material for pharmaceutical and cleaning products.
Additionally, to boost blue economy and maritime affairs, devolved unit has built 9 fish landing sites which have been upgraded with refrigerators and other modern equipment for storing fish and other marine products in the areas of Tsunza, Mwaepe, Waa, Tiwi and Vanga, and also provided fishing training to 1,200 women.
How the Kwale County Government is supporting the fishing sector
Governor Achani said that the County Government has made significant strides in strengthening the fishing industry and blue economy on enhancing the livelihoods of fishing communities through purchase of 50 modern fishing boats that has increased catches from 2-3 kilograms to 1.5 tonnes on a daily basis.
“I want to commend the National Government for transforming the blue economy sector in Kwale through the construction of Shimoni Port that is expected to stimulate the local economy. “Achani said.
Construction of a fish landing site facility in Mwaepe, Kinondo Ward, Msambweni Sub-County includes a fish processing plant, cold storage, gear mending shed, boatyard, and retail stalls.
The landing site is designed to reduce post-harvest losses, improve fish marketing, and provide safer working conditions for artisanal fishermen.
Kwale County is about 13% of the national mangrove area. These mangroves, particularly in areas like Munje, Mwache, and along Funzi Island, are important for biodiversity, local livelihoods, and climate change resilience.
