Kenya's Senate is in the process of reviewing a petition seeking to regulate the establishment of new commercial fish-farming cages in Lake Victoria, as well as the relocation of existing ones.
The petition, which has the backing of investors in beach hotels, resorts, and ecotourism ventures around Lake Victoria, was forwarded to the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries for consideration and recommendations on the best path forward.
Production in Kenya's commercial cage fish farming sector has more than doubled between 2021 and 2025, increasing from 13,700 metric tons (MT) to 28,100 MT over that time frame, with nearly 7,000 cages responsible for that production, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
As the sector has grown, cages have been placed in the immediate proximity of hotels and resorts on the shores of popular Lake Victoria spots such as Mbita, Mfangano Island, Rusinga Island, Sindo, Gingo, and Ngodhe Island, the petition states, arguing cages have infringed on riparian access rights by blocking legitimate recreational water use.
The petition also argues cages have led to an increased number of boat accidents in the lake, especially at night, and that waste from these operations has led to a surge in water contamination.
Furthermore, petitioners have claimed unregulated establishment of fish cages has interfered with Lake Victoria’s wild fish breeding grounds, leading to dwindling stocks of free-range tilapia and Nile perch, which has, in turn, affected small-scale fishermen's primary source of income.
Regarding the latter claim, the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO), an Eastern Africa fisheries management organization, has previously said there is room for fish production in the region to grow, especially because it can help contribute to food security and economic growth, but it said growth must come “in a sustainable manner.”
"The bottom line is that the ongoing expansion of cage fish-farming practices requires adequate policy guidance and regulations," LVFO said.
Similarly, the petition is calling for a review of the nation’s current approval process and regulatory requirements for commercial fish cages in Lake Victoria and has also called on relevant regulatory agencies to determine companies’ level of compliance.
It has also requested a Senate review on the legal and regulatory framework relating to licensing, environmental impact, community social responsibility, and the designation of exclusive industrial aquaculture zones – a process petitioners said should include public participation and stakeholder engagement, particularly involving beach management units and other co-users.
The Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, chaired by Senator David Wakoli, has 60 days from 5 August, to present a report on its findings.
