Jonathan Munguti

• Professor
• Director at Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute

Fish products are essential to Kenya's economy and nutrition, yet their high perishability limits their accessibility and export potential. Developing fish value-added products-such as fish samosas, sausages, fillets, and powders-presents a promising solution, potentially enhancing resource utilization, reducing waste, and expanding markets. Despit...

Aquaculture plays a critical role in global food security, with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) recognized for its adaptability and robust growth. However, traditional feeds, heavily reliant on fishmeal (FM) and soybean meal, face economic and environmental challenges. In response, black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) has emerged as a promisi...

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles were fed experimental diets with duckweed (Lemna minor) supplementing fish meal at 0% (LM0), 5% (LM5), and 15% (LM15) and compared to a commercial diet as a positive control (COMM). Growth performance, feed utilization, and body composition were evaluated and compared with the control diet. The final w...

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has been promoted in Kenya as a panacea for climate change impacts on agricultural productivity. Consequently, various climate-smart aquaculture technologies, innovations, and management practices (CSA-TIMPs) have been developed, validated, and adopted through the Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP). Neve...

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has been promoted in Kenya as a panacea for climate change impacts on agricultural productivity. Consequently, various climate-smart aquaculture technologies, innovations, and management practices (CSA-TIMPs) have been developed, validated, and adopted through the Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP). Neve...

Fish feed is critical in aquaculture production, accounting for over 60% of operational costs, with protein being the most expensive component. Traditionally, fish meal (FM) has been the primary protein source. However, due to declining capture fisheries and high demand, FM has become scarce and costly, necessitating the search for alternative, low...

This review paper provides an in-depth analysis of the current status, challenges, and strategies for improvement within the fish feed industry in East Africa, focusing on Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Aquaculture production in these countries is experiencing steady growth, driven by increasing demand for fish and fish products for both nutr...

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing sector in agriculture. However, this increase is constrained by the high cost of fish feeds occasioned by scarcity of fish meal (FM) which is a main source of dietary protein in aquafeeds. This necessitates the need to consider alternative protein sources that are sustainable, cheap, available and highly nu...

Aquaculture plays an important role in the provision of food, livelihood and source of income in Kenya. There is a rapid shift from extensive methods to semi-intensive and intensive culture methods with the potential to produce higher output. However, intensification in aquaculture comes with risks of diseases. In recent years, there has been an in...

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing sector in agriculture. However, this increase is constrained by the high cost of fish feeds occasioned by scarcity of fish meal (FM) which is a main source of dietary protein in aquafeeds. This necessitates the need to consider alternative protein sources that are sustainable, cheap, available and highly nu...

Fish is an important seafood that provides quality nutrients to human beings which is vital for health and development. This is especially critical in the diets of children under two years old and reproductive women (pregnant and lactating). Selected fish species were sampled from both Lake Victoria and fish farms, and their weight was determined u...

This study evaluated the effect of replacing fish meal (FM) with black soldier fly (Hermatia illucens) larvae meal (BSFLM) on growth performance and economic efficiency of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) production. The BSFLM replaced FM at 0, 25, 50 and 75% (T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively). One thousand two hundred (1,200) all-male Nile til...

Kenya is a major player in the global ornamental trade, exporting substantial quantities of ornamental fish to the global market. The sector plays an important role in the country's economy through foreign exchange. However, the country's ornamental fish industry has not fully developed to generate more economic benefits. This paper sought to ident...

Insect meals have the potential to be used as a source of nutrients in aquafeeds due to their high nutritional profile and cost-effectiveness. The objective of this study was to elucidate the impact of black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) as a replacement for fish meal (FM) on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, L) growth performance, survival ra...

Lake Jipe, is a shared water resource between Kenya and Tanzania located at the East African Coast is under multiple pressures. The present study assessed the current state of Lake Jipe and its biodiversity dilemma. Random sampling was conducted at 14 sampling points set at equidistant parallel to each other. Sampling depths and location coordinate...

Extensive and intensive, harvesting of earthworms and polychaetes from wetland substrate, for artisanal hook fishery, affect structural and functional integrity of these critical habitats. Cultured Black Soldier Fly larvae (BSF, Hermitia illucens), are suggested as sustainable alternatives. This study compares bait and landed fish properties of wil...

Rising feed cost challenges due to expensive conventional protein sources continue to make headlines in Africa causing drops in profit margins. We assessed the impact of insect (Hermetia illucens Linnaeus larvae meal, HILM) protein as a substitute for soybean meal and sunflower seed cake on layer chicken performance and profitability. Our results s...

Utilization of quality aqua-feed relies heavily on fish meal sources of protein because of its nutritional balance. However, due to its limited supply, high cost, and decline of wild fish populations, aquaculture production has shifted focus to cheaper and more readily available alternatives to guarantee sustainable aquaculture productivity. Black...

Essential oils (EOs) from medicinal plants like lemon (Citrus limon) are considered promising to replace synthetic antibiotics in aquaculture production due to their ability to improve fish health. The aim of the research was to investigate the in vitro antibacterial potentials of varying levels of lemon EO against Streptococcus agalactiae, Escheri...

Rapid population and economic growth, increased health benefits of aquatic food, and changes in lifestyles and preferences as a result of rapid urbanization and globalization are all contributing to the rapid growth of aquaculture production in Kenya. Despite significant investment efforts from the national and devolved governments as well as donor...

The report is about the basics of fish health management in a fish farm

The potential for culture of sandfish Holothuria scabra in Kenya was investigated based on a sample of 1000 wild individuals with an average weight of 40-80 g. This experiment was conducted to identify suitable methods of collection, transportation, acclimatization, and growth at different stocking densities. Packing methods tested during collectio...

It is evident from scientific studies that black soldier fly larvae can replace the widely used fishmeal, which is costly and unsustainable for smallholder farmers, in aquafeeds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors t influencing fish farmers’ awareness of use of black soldier fly larvae meal as an ingredient in fish feeds. The eff...

Improved fish post-harvest technologies (IFPT) have been promoted as more efficient methods of fish processing, preservation, and value addition than the traditional methods prevalent in developing countries. The adoption rates, however, do not appear to be convincing. The purpose of this study was to determine the socio-demographic and psychologic...

Indigenous knowledge is critical in the conservation of wild fish genetic resources and consequent development of fish seed for improved aquaculture production. Local fisher communities rely on aquatic resources mainly for livelihood and subsistence and have therefore come up with systems to manage these resources for sustainable use. This study ai...

For many Kenyans, the aquaculture business provides a vital source of food and work. However, information on Kenya’s aquaculture sector’s resilience in the face of emerging global shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic requires additional examination. Prior to the epidemic, Kenya’s aquaculture industry had grown from a tiny participant to a critical...

In this study, nutrients digestibility and growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed on oilseed meals with crude papain enzyme were determined. A control diet (D1) of 30% crude protein (CP) was formulated using fishmeal (FM), soybean meal (SBM), canola meal (CM) and sunflower meal (SFM). The test diets were formulated with repl...

Cost of fish production can be reduced by replacement of high-priced fishmeal (FM) with insects sourced ingredients. Four months feed experiment was conducted at a fish farm in Baringo County, Kenya to investigate effects of substituting fishmeal (FM) with black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) on survival and growth performance of C. gariepinus und...

Fish culture plays an important role in supplying high-quality proteins, lipids (omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids), minerals and vitamins. Since the 1990s, the rising demand for fish products has been met by aquaculture rather than by capture fishery. Quality fish feeds are therefore important in maintaining the productivity of aquacu...

This study examines the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and adaptive strategies to build resilience among stakeholders and actors in the aquaculture value chain in Kenya. Prior to the pandemic, Kenya's aquaculture sector had progressed from a minor player to a key component of the country's fish food system. Fish and fishery products have become t...

Capture fisheries production sector, which is the main source of consumed fish in Kenya has been declining over the years, causing huge deficit in fish supply in local market. Even though aquaculture has been fronted as a step-gap measure, there are still eminent fish supply gaps, prompting importation of frozen tilapia, mainly from China. However,...

In Kenya, breeding programmes whose source of genetic material is local water bodies are at inception with the National Aquaculture Research Center, Sagana being the Nile tilapia and African catfish breeding nucleus. Fish are susceptible to a variety of infections and diseases. These microorganisms are often present on the external surfaces and vis...

African catfish is one of the aquaculture species in Kenya and a potential source of cheap protein for human nutrition. However, the major hindrance in the culture of catfish is seed production. The high-mortality rate of fry and fingerlings experienced by hatchery operators has limited the access and availability of catfish seeds. This had resulte...

African catfish is one of the aquaculture species in Kenya and a potential source of cheap protein for human nutrition. However, the major hindrance in the culture of catfish is seed production. The high-mortality rate of fry and fingerlings experienced by hatchery operators has limited the access and availability of catfish seeds. This had resulte...

The dwindling capture fisheries has triggered an increase in Kenya's annual fish demand deficit, currently estimated at 553,000 MT. With the adoption of sustainable policies, aquaculture can bridge and surpass this deficit. Kenya's fish farming environment is however characterized by its highly fragmented production farms, which limit the dynamism...

Aquaculture has been recognized to play a vital role in food production to support the expanding global human population. However, concerns over the negative environmental impacts of aquaculture have made integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) receive increased attention. A study on the pond environment was conducted to show the distinction be...

Background Aquaculture is one of the critical sectors contributing to food and nutrition security, income and employment opportunities to millions of people, and is currently the fastest growing food-producing sector globally. With the global increase in aquaculture production, focus on biosecurity and fish health management is becoming increasingl...

This study presents the first trial application of an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system in pond culture in Kenya using a combination of locally available species. Sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, and cockles, Anadara antiquata were obtained from the wild for culture trials with Indian white shrimp, Penaeus indicus in an IMTA for co...

The study aimed to evaluate the fatty acid and proximate composition of diets for Nile tilapia containing soybean meal (SBM), canola meal (CM) and sunflower meal (SFM) as replacements of fishmeal (FM). A control diet (D1) of 30% crude protein (CP) was formulated using fishmeal as main protein source. The test diets (D2, D3 and D4) were formulated b...

Recent experiences and successes, including the decline in capture fisheries and the overall increase in aquaculture production, have sparked the development of commercial cage culture in Africa. This case study focuses on tilapia cage culture in the waters of Lake Victoria in Kenya and in secondary dams in the Lake Victoria basin. It highlights th...

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings were reared in earthen ponds at three different feeding frequencies; twice daily, twice after 1 day, and twice after 2 days for a period of 7 months. Three hundred and seventy five fish were stocked into each of the nine, 150 m2 ponds with three replicates for each treatment. The fish were fed with a...

Recent experiences and successes including the dwindling capture fisheries and global increaseinaquacultureproductionhavespurredinterestinthedevelopmentofcommercial cage culture in Africa. Thiscase study centres on cage culture of tilapia inKenyan waters ofLakeVictoriaand insatellitedamswithinLakeVictoria’scatchment.Itreportsonunique challenges a...

Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Kenya. Its control depends on many factors, some of which have not been studied at the level of rural community. To identify what households in a Kenyan rural community perceive to be the cause and symptoms of malaria and their treatment behaviour for malaria. Community-based study...