Unbundling Fish Kills Associated Losses and Compliance Aspects in Lacustrine Cage Aquaculture Farms

Abstract

Cage fish farming has emerged as a key component of aquaculture in Lake Victoria, Kenya, providing critical contributions to food security, employment and local livelihoods. Despite its growth, the sector faces recurring challenges—including inadequate regulatory compliance, poor environmental management and frequent mass fish kills that threaten its long-term sustainability. Notably, there is a lack of empirical data and structured analyses on the economic consequences of these fish kills and the extent of non-compliance with statutory regulations. The mass fish kills that occurred in November 2022 in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties highlighted these systemic vulnerabilities, resulting in significant financial losses and ecological disruptions. This study addresses this critical gap by assessing the socio-economic impacts and governance shortcomings associated with fish kills in Lake Victoria's cage aquaculture. Specifically, the study quantifies economic losses, evaluates regulatory compliance among affected farms and proposes actionable recommendations to enhance sustainability and resilience in the sector. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving surveys, stakeholder interviews and field observations across 10 affected beaches. The study found that fish kills led to total economic losses of $7.7 million, with Kisumu County incurring 95.35% of the losses. High-density cage farms, particularly at Ogal, experienced severe losses due to overcrowding, degraded water quality and nutrient accumulation. Harmful algal blooms exacerbated these conditions, leading to widespread fish mortality. Male-owned farms bore the largest financial burden, reflecting their dominance in the sector. The lack of compliance with statutory licensing requirements further amplified vulnerabilities. Inadequate governance, poor environmental management and limited farmer training are critical threats to cage aquaculture sustainability. Therefore, strengthening regulatory frameworks, promoting environmental monitoring and enhancing farmer capacity through training are recommended. Additionally, integrating Beach Management Units (BMUs) into formal governance frameworks and supporting cooperative farming models could enhance fish health resilience.