Hydrodynamics of nearshore coastal waters: Implications for marine cage farming in Kenya

Hydrodynamic characteristics are important considerations in the design of cages used for fish farming in nearshore marine environments. The hydrodynamics of sites in mangrove creeks and comparatively open water channels in Kilifi and Kwale Counties in Kenya were sampled across tidal cycles and seasons using an Acoustic Wave and Current Profiler (AWAC). Water temperature ranged between 25.9 °C and 33.0 °C, and was lower in deeper areas with larger tidal heights than in shallower areas with smaller tidal heights. The water column height ranged between 9.68 - 14.69 m at Kijiweni, 1.16 - 6.7 m at Kibokoni and Tsunza, and 0.72 - 2.57 m at Dabaso. Maximum current speeds were 0.83 - 0.87 m/s at Kijiweni, 1.1 m/s at Kibokoni, 0.89m/s Tsunza, and 0.34 m/s at Dabaso. Wave height reached 0.35 and 0.36 m at Kijiweni, 2.7 m at Kibokoni, 1.3 m at Tsunza, and 1.6 m at Dabaso. The considerable difference in hydrodynamic characteristics between the sampling sites indicate that cages for marine fish farming should be designed specifically for local conditions in mangrove creeks and Cages for fish farming therefore require specific design and structural features depending on the local hydrodynamic conditions.