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By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, December 20 2025 -Kenya’s ornamental fish export sector, once a niche but lucrative source of foreign exchange, is under scrutiny following a TRAFFIC report revealing major discrepancies between Kenya’s reported exports and figures recorded by importing countries.
The findings raise concerns about lost revenue, environmental sustainability, and governance gaps in one of the country’s specialized marine trades. From 2012 to 2023, Kenya officially reported exports of 2,431,666 kg of marine ornamental fish valued at USD 2.7 million. Yet, importing countries recorded 1,751,127 kg valued at USD 33.4 million, a 1,133% discrepancy in value.
“The records of Kenyan international trade in marine ornamental fish on the UN Com trade database are inconsistent, and seemingly inaccurate, with large discrepancies between what is reported by Kenya and what is reported by Kenya’s trade partners,” the TRAFFIC report states.
Such discrepancies suggest potential undervaluation, misreporting, or illicit trade, which could be denying Kenya millions of dollars in revenue, while affecting the livelihoods of local collectors, exporters, and associated communities who depend on this trade.
The sector also faces sustainability challenges. The TRAFFIC report highlighted that Kenya lacks species-specific, long-term data needed to monitor the environmental impact of harvesting ornamental fish.
“The absence of robust monitoring and reporting systems means authorities cannot reliably assess the impact of trade on wild fish populations,” the report notes.
Without adequate oversight, overfishing and depletion of vulnerable species could threaten marine biodiversity in coastal ecosystems and compromise Kenya’s role as a sustainable supplier to global markets. Experts warn that continued exploitation without regulatory safeguards could jeopardize both ecosystems and the industry’s future.
The TRAFFIC report also identified significant governance and regulatory weaknesses. In particular, discrepancies in export data point to failures in customs reporting, inter-agency coordination, and enforcement of fisheries regulations. The report also flagged transit of Tanzanian fish through Kenya, noting: “Exports to Kenya accounted for ~90 % of Tanzania’s total marine ornamental fish exports.
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This suggests Tanzanian caught ornamental fish may be transiting Kenya on their way to overseas markets… most species from Tanzanian waters can be sourced locally.”
Experts say this highlights the need for better tracking systems, transparent reporting, and enforcement mechanisms to ensure Kenya’s trade data is accurate, revenue is properly collected, and international standards are upheld.
Industry stakeholders, environmental advocates, and policymakers argue that Kenya must adopt a multi-pronged approach to secure the ornamental fish sector:
1. Strengthen reporting systems and improve data collection to reconcile discrepancies between Kenyan and partner country trade data.
2. Implement species-level monitoring and sustainable harvest regulations to protect marine ecosystems.
3. Enhance governance and inter-agency coordination between fisheries authorities, customs, and trade regulators to reduce illicit trade and ensure compliance with international standards.
Failure to act risks lost revenue, damaged ecosystems, and weakened regulatory credibility, all of which could undermine Kenya’s position in a growing international market for ornamental fish.
Kenya’s ornamental fish trade sits at a critical crossroads. The TRAFFIC report shows that economic opportunities, environmental sustainability, and governance reforms are deeply intertwined, and that immediate corrective measures are
needed to protect both the sector and the livelihoods of thousands of Kenyans dependent on it.
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