Commercial Aquaculture Species in Kenya

Credits: Biovision-Infonet

The following are the important commercial aquaculture species cultured in Kenya:

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) 

• Tilapia are indigenous to Africa, but have been introduced in many parts around the world. 
• They are disease-resistant
• They are prolific breeders and reproduce easily under culture conditions
• Feed on a wide variety of foods and tolerate poor water quality with low dissolved oxygen levels. 
• Can grow in brackish water and some will adapt to sea water
• Mainly grow under semi-intensive systems as monoculture, males only monoculture or polyculture with African catfish
• Optimum temperature range 27 – 30degC
• Very popular in Kenya and have a good market in world
• Fillets yield is from 30% to 37%, depending on fillet size and final trim

African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

• Indigenous to Africa.
• Can be described as omnivorous eating vegetable matter, zooplankton, insects, snails, tadpoles, leeches, small fish etc.
• Very hardy and can survive in low oxygen waters
• Can grow in brackish water in salinities of 10ppm
• Has ability to breath atmospheric oxygen
• Do not breed in captivity and artificial spawning is used
• Grows very quickly if adequate high protein feed is available.
• Few bones; has higher fillet percentage than tilapia
• Mainly grown in semi-intensive polyculture systems with tilapia
• Optimum temperature range 25 – 27degC

A good candidate for rural aquaculture in developing countries

Rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss)

• Native of North America but has been introduced and farmed all over the world
• A carnivorous fish which in natural waters consumes insects, crustacean and other small animals
• Grows well in cool fast flowing waters, 10 – 18degC, with high oxygen content
• Under culture conditions, require a water flow rate of 1 l/min/kg without aeration 
• Trout will not spawn naturally in aquaculture systems and artificial spawning is used
• Produced in intensive systems in tanks and raceways
• Restricted to highland areas in tropical regions where favorable conditions allow
• Requires high quality feed, >40% protein.
• High market price, especially when fresh
• Fine bones; high fillet percentage and excellent when smoked.

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

• An exotic species that has established itself in natural water bodies in Kenya
• An omnivore feeding onorganisms in mud at pond bottom, makes the pond water muddy. 
• Eats a variety of supplementary foods including bran.
• Very limited aquaculture production in Kenya where they are grown under semi-intensive systems
• Attains a large size and does not usually overpopulate a pond.
• Optimum temperature range, 23 – 26degC
• Poor market in Kenya due to intramuscular bones but popular in Asia.