By Ken Muthomi - Reporter
Kenya, June 15, 2026 - The government has launched its first National Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Manual for Fish Welfare in Aquaculture to strengthen sustainable fish farming and enhance food security.
Director General of Kenya Fisheries Service, Daisy Muriuki, said that the guidelines will be fundamental in enhancing governance, digitisation, welfare standards, and capacity building in the blue economy.
Muriuki revealed this on Sunday during the 11th Our Ocean Conference 2026 Scientific & Research Pre-Conference Symposium, ahead of the official start of the conference on 16 June.
"I am pleased to announce the official launch of Kenya's National Manual Standard Operating Procedure for Fish Welfare in Aquaculture. This framework is a transformative tool designed to drive economic growth while safeguarding our food and climate security," Muriuki said.
The manual was developed under the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries, in collaboration with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) and the One Health and Development Initiative.
"Through this initiative, we are setting a new, sustainable standard for the future of the fisheries industry. We remain committed to these partnerships as we continue to grow the blue economy sector," Muriuki said.
The 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) will be held in Mombasa and Kilifi, Kenya, from 16–18 June 2026, marking the first time the event is being held in Africa.
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The event features a dedicated Scientific and Research Pre-Conference Symposium on 14–15 June, which will bring together researchers, policymakers, and innovators to drive science-based, actionable ocean solutions across the globe.
The conference is set to provide actionable research to drive the main OOC11 action blocks, which include Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), sustainable blue economies, climate change resilience, maritime security, sustainable fisheries, and combating marine pollution.
Experts will also highlight recent advances in marine technology and advocate for greater regional access to ocean data to help the Global South combat illegal fishing and climate impacts.
The conference also aims to strengthen African-led scientific initiatives through UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOCAFRICA) to scale integrated ocean management and meet the global 30x30 biodiversity targets.