Status and prospects of the ornamental fish industry in Kenya

Abstract

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 identify the existing opportunities for enhancing the production and trade of ornamental fish in the country. The findings reveal that there are opportunities for collection of native freshwater ornamental fish species from the vast freshwater resources in the country; for the culture of marine ornamental fish; for public aquariums as centres of recreation, conservation, research and education; and for employment and development of support industries. The findings also show that there are international legislations and national policies that create an enabling environment for the growth of the industry. To unlock the full potential of the industry, training and research, investment and infrastructure development, quality assurance, collaboration and networking, and environmental sustainability strategies need to be put in place. This will ensure Kenya's position as a key player in the global ornamental fish trade.

Full text

Received: 3 February 2024 Revised: 4 May 2024 Accepted: 6 May 2024
DOI: 10.1002/aff2.172
REVIEW ARTICLE
Status and prospects of the ornamental fish industry in Kenya
Jonathan M. Munguti1Jimmy B. Mboya2Jacob O. Iteba3
James G. Kirimi4Kevin O. Obiero2Domitila N. Kyule1Mary A. Opiyo1
Francis K. Njonge5
1Kenya Marine & Fisheries Research Institute,
National Aquaculture Research Development
& TrainingCenter (NARDTC), Sagana, Kenya
2Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research
Institute (KMFRI), Sangoro Aquaculture
Research Center, Pap Onditi, Kenya
3Directorate of Fisheries, County Government
of Busia, Busia, Kenya
4Department of Animal Sciences, Chuka
University, Chuka, Kenya
5Department of Animal Sciences, Jomo
Kenyatta University of Agriculture and
Technology,Nairobi, Kenya
Correspondence
Jimmy B. Mboya, Kenya Marine and Fisheries
Research Institute (KMFRI), Sangoro
Aquaculture Research Center, P.O. Box
136-40111, Pap Onditi, Kenya.
Email: jimmybrianmboya@gmail.com
Abstract
Kenya is a major player in the global ornamental trade, exporting substantial quan-
tities 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 identify the existing opportunities for enhancing the production and trade
of ornamental fish in the country. The findings reveal that there are opportunities
for collection of native freshwater ornamental fish species from the vast freshwa-
ter resources in the country; for the culture of marine ornamental fish; for public
aquariums as centres of recreation, conservation, research and education; and for
employment and development of support industries. The findings also show that there
are international legislations and national policies that create an enabling environment
for the growth of the industry. To unlock the full potential of the industry, training and
research, investment and infrastructure development, quality assurance, collaboration
and networking, and environmental sustainability strategies need to be put in place.
This will ensure Kenya’s position as a key player in the global ornamental fish trade.
KEYWORDS
aquarium, Kenya, ornamental aquaculture, ornamental fish
1INTRODUCTION
The ornamental fish industry is a global industry that involves the
trade of freshwater and marine organisms such as finfish, crustaceans
and aquatic plants. More than a millennium ago, the domestication
of freshwater goldfish in China marked the beginning of the prac-
tice of raising ornamental fish. Subsequently, the export of coral
reefs for aquariums led to the establishment of the marine trade
in Sri Lanka in the 1930s (Biondo & Burki, 2019). Ornamental fish
are frequently referred to as living jewels because of their many
and beautiful colours, sizes and behaviours and are kept in aquari-
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided
the original work is properly cited.
© 2024 The Author(s). Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
ums or garden pools for entertainment and beauty (Hoseinifar et al.,
2023).
Though marketed in far smaller quantities than food fish (Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO), 2022), it is a multibillion-dollar global
sector, valued at US $5.4 billion in 2021, and is anticipated to expandat
a compound annual growth rate of 8.5% up to 2030 (Hoseinifar et al.,
2023). More than 20 million ornamental fish are projected to be col-
lected from the wild each year and sold to over two million aquarium
enthusiasts worldwide (Chen et al., 2020). Globally, about 5000 fresh-
water and 1800 marine species are traded as ornamental fish (Evers
et al., 2019; Novák et al., 2020). Most freshwater species (90%) are
Aqua. Fish & Fisheries. 2024;4:e172. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/aff2 1of12
https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.172

2of12 MUNGUTI ET AL.
FIGURE 1 Top-10 countries exporting live ornamental fish in
2022. Values in US $1000 (World Bank, 2022).
reared in captivity, as opposed to marine species (Hoseinifar et al.,
2023). Eighty (80) countries participate in the export of ornamental
fish, with Asian and developing nations accounting for the majority in
this business (World Bank, 2022).
The global trade in ornamental fish is estimated to be worth US
$15–30 billion annually (Evers et al., 2019). The top-five importers
of ornamental fish are the United States, the United Kingdom, Ger-
many, France and China, whereas the top-five exporters are Japan,
Indonesia, Singapore, the Netherlands and Sri Lanka (Observatory of
Economic Complexity (OEC), 2022; Ornamental Aquatic Trade Asso-
ciation (OATA), 2023; Pinnegar & Murray, 2019; World Bank, 2022).
Figure 1shows the top-10 exporters of ornamental fish globally in
2022.
Kenya is the largest exporter of ornamental fish in Africa, export-
ing 448,237 kg of ornamental fish valued at US $669,530 in 2022
(World Bank, 2022). The sector plays an important role in the country’s
economy through foreign exchange (Okemwa et al., 2016; Opiyo et al.,
2016). Nevertheless, the Kenyan ornamental fish industry has not fully
developed to generate more economic benefits (Opiyo et al., 2016).
Optimistically, there is a vast opportunity for livelihood and trade for
ornamental fish. In this paper, we review the potential of expanding
the ornamental fish industry in the country. Specifically, we look at
the existing opportunities that can be leveraged on to enhance the
production and trade of ornamental fish in the country.
2METHODOLOGY
The five-stage scoping review framework by Arksey and O’Malley
(2005) was adopted for this review of the status and prospects of the
ornamental fish industry in Kenya. The framework employs an intense
transparency approach that makes it possible to replicate the search
approach and improves the reliability of the findings of the study
(Levac et al., 2010). The five stages include (1) identifying the research
questions; (2) identifying relevant studies; (3) selecting relevant stud-
ies; (4) charting the information; and (5) assembling, summarizing and
reporting the findings.
We posed research questions to ensure that a substantial range of
literature was captured relating to the ornamental fish industry and its
prospects in Kenya. The questions included the following:
1. What is the status of the ornamental fish industry in Kenya?
2. What are the prospects for the growth of the ornamental fish
industry in Kenya?
To answer these questions and achieve the intended objectives,
we used a set of keywords to search scientific databases of Research
Gate, Google Scholar, and The Lens to find published research articles,
review papers, technical reports, books, book chapters and disser-
tations/thesis. This search produced 670 articles. Additionally, we
searched for published materials and websites of international institu-
tions that are directly and indirectly involved in ornamental trade, fish-
eries, aquaculture and conservation, that is International Union on the
Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations (FAO), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), West-
ern Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), Ornamental
Aquatic Trade Association (OATA), World Bank and Observatory of
Economic Complexity (OEC), resulting in the inclusion of additional
nine articles. The literature review was conducted between Novem-
ber 2023 and January 2024. The search terms used were ‘ornamental
fish’, ‘ornamental aquaculture’, ‘aquarium’ and ‘Kenya’. Boolean opera-
tors (‘OR’, ‘AND’ and ‘NOT’) were appropriately used in databases and
search engines to narrow down and refine the search.
Considering the constraints of time and budget, inclusion and exclu-
sion criteria were established. We used a five criteria checklist to
include publications for review. Specifically, the publications were to (1)
be topically relevant and focused on ornamental aquatic industry; (2)
meet academic quality, that is, only scientific, technical and academic
documents were accepted; (3) year of publication (published between
2000 and 2024 [research prior to this time was unlikely to reflect the
modern advancements in the ornamental fish industry]); and (4) be
written in English language. To reduce reporting bias, the full full-text
and abstract of each article were reviewed by at least two reviewers
in accordance with suggested protocols for scoping reviews (Peters
et al., 2015). We then removed duplicates and screened the remain-
ing articles, finally including 52 articles. The relevant studies were
then imported into the Mendeley literature management software.
Microsoft Excel was used to develop a data-charting form for analy-
sis. The process of article selection followed the Preferred Reporting of
Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement
(Moher et al., 2009) as illustrated in Figure 2.
Our aim to explore the status and prospects of the ornamental fish
industry in Kenya was complicated by the fact that there were inade-
quate recent publications on the ornamental fish sector in the country.
The challenge was how to approach the ‘missing data’ without resorting
to judgements based on our own understandings and preconceptions
to minimize the influence of our assumptions, interpretations and opin-
ions. This was inevitably difficult, and our evaluation of prospects is,

MUNGUTI ET AL.3of12
FIGURE 2 Preferred Reporting of Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram of the selection process of studies
included in the review.
therefore, subject to our interpretations of the opportunities in the
ornamental fish industry based on the resources available in Kenya,
and what has been done globally, and their applicability in the Kenyan
context.
3RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 The status of ornamental fish industry in
Kenya
Kenya’s ornamental fish industry started in the late 1960s and has
expanded ever since (Opiyo et al., 2016). The domestic market is
expanding as more people use aquariums as decorations in their homes,
workplaces and hotels (Opiyo et al., 2016). Globally, Kenya is ranked
the 32nd largest exporter of ornamental fish, exporting 448,237 kg of
ornamental fish valued at US $669,530 (World Bank, 2022). The two
sectors of the ornamental fish industry in the country have contrast-
ing production and trade methods. The marine ornamental fish sector is
characterized by the gathering of wild, native and endemic species from
coral reef areas, and trading them almost entirely for the export mar-
ket (Okemwa et al., 2016). However, the freshwater ornamental sector
involves the farming of a variety of exotic and imported ornamental
fish species that are mostly traded locally, as discussed in Section 3.1.2
(Opiyo et al., 2016).
3.1.1 Marine ornamental fish industry in Kenya
Kenya’s marine ornamental fish industry targets diverse organisms,
including reef fish and invertebrates such as soft corals, sea anemones,
brittle stars and starfish, crustaceans (e.g. crabs, hermit crabs and
cleaner shrimps), mollusks (e.g. snails and clams) and ‘live rock’
(Okemwa et al., 2016). The fishery is managed by licensing fishing
access for aquarium fishers and exporters. According to Okemwa et al.
(2016), there are 144 aquarium fishers and 8 exporters licensed by the
State Department of Blue Economy and Fisheries. The supply chain is
direct from the fisher to the exporter. There are also unlicensed ‘free-

4of12 MUNGUTI ET AL.
FIGURE 3 Some of the most commonly exploited marine ornamental fish: (a) Twobar anemonefish (Amphiprion allardi); (b) Fire goby
(Nemateleotris magnifica); (c) Sixline wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) and (d) Sea goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis). Source: FishBase1
lance’ or ‘private’fishers who fish independently and sell directly to the
exporters. The fishing is carried out along the Kenyan coast from Lamu
to the North and Kwale to the south, along the fore reef slopes north-
wards from Malindi to the Lamu archipelago (approximately 100 km
in distance) and southwards from Msambweni to Shimoni (Okemwa
et al., 2016). The fishers use SCUBA diving to reach species that live
in deeper depths, or snorkeling at shallow, accessible depths (0.5–3 m)
along the beach (Okemwa et al., 2016).
Kenya contributes to the marine ornamental fish trade with other
nations in the Western Indian Ocean, such as South Africa, Mada-
gascar, Tanzania and Mauritius, collecting about 300,000 pieces of
marine ornamental fish worth US $700,000 each year (Okemwa et al.,
2016). However, no recent data has been reported on the quan-
tities, prices and value of ornamental fish traded in recent years.
The United Kingdom, the United States, South Africa, Hong Kong,
Germany, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Austria, Israel, Denmark,
Poland, Hungary, Italy, Romania, the United Arab Emirates and Aus-
tria are among the countries to which the marine ornamental fish
are shipped (Okemwa et al., 2016). Approximately 250 species of
saltwater fish, belonging to 35 families – including the Acanthuri-
dae, Labridae, Serranidae, Blenniidae, Scorpaenidae, Pomacanthidae,
Microdesmidae, Gobidae and Chaetodontidae – are collected for orna-
mental purposes. Bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus), Sea
goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), Fire goby (Nemateleotris magnifica),
Sixline wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) and Twobar anemonefish
(Amphiprion allardi) are the most commonly exploited marine orna-
mental fish (Okemwa et al., 2016; Opiyo et al., 2016), as shown in
Figure 3.
1https://www.fishbase.se/search.php.
3.1.2 Freshwater ornamental fish industry in
Kenya
The freshwater ornamental fish are produced in captivity by fish farm-
ers who breed and raise the fish in tanks, hapas and ponds, and the two
predominant families are the Cyprinidae and Cichlidae. This comprises
two major species of Koi carp (Cyprinus carpio) and goldfish (Caras-
sius auratus) (Opiyo et al., 2016) as shown in Figure 4.Bytheyear
2015, only 24 freshwater ornamental fish farmers had been recorded
in the country (Opiyo et al., 2016). However, there is no up-to-date
information, indicating inadequate documentation of freshwater orna-
mental fish farmers and associated practitioners, such as aquarium
traders. The two major non-native species of ornamental freshwa-
ter fish that are produced in the country are acquired from other
countries such as Singapore and Israel (Opiyo et al., 2016). However,
there are many native fish species in Kenya’s freshwaters with the
potential of being traded as ornamental fish, especially those that are
found in the Lake Victoria basin (Ngugi & Manyala, 2009; Opiyo et al.,
2016).
Freshwater ornamental fish have excellent commercial prospects
both locally and internationally, particularly in the East Africa region
(Opiyo et al., 2016). However, the sector is still not well developed
and has challenges, including weak implementation of regulations,
lack of priority in investment and inadequate inputs, especially fish
feeds. Most farmers use feeds formulated for foodfish, which are
not appropriate for ornamental fish that require carotenoids-rich
diet to enhance their attractive pigmentations. The appropriate orna-
mental fish feeds are not produced in the country and are only
imported, which makes it unaffordable for most farmers (Opiyo et al.,
2016).

MUNGUTI ET AL.5of12
FIGURE 4 The most commonly cultured freshwater ornamental fish: (a) Goldfish (Carassius auratus) and (b) Koi carp (Cyprinus carpio). Source:
FishBase2
3.1.3 Disease management practices
Disease occurrences are not common in the Kenyan fisheries and aqua-
culture sector. Nevertheless, disease management in the ornamental
fish industry conforms to that for food fish and is done in the fresh-
water aquaculture sector by use of preventive measures to reduce the
likelihood of disease occurrence (Musa et al., 2012). Disinfection of
farming equipment and culture facilities is an integral component of
fish health management plans in hatcheries, unlike in grow-out systems
(Opiyo et al., 2018). The farmers’ knowledge and experience deter-
mine the choice of management techniques and the use of preventative
measures (Magondu et al., 2011). Sodium chloride and potassium per-
manganate are the commonly used remedies to treat bacterial and
fungal illnesses in the Kenyan aquaculture systems (Syanya & Mathia,
2023), whereas the use of antibiotics is not common (Opiyo et al.,
2018).
Kenya lacks quarantine facilities, and the few biosecurity measures
that have been implemented are meant to monitor new fish introduced
and fish disease outbreaks (Obwanga et al., 2017). This is because
there are not enough human resources specialized in fish diseases
and because fish diseases are not reported, which makes it difficult
to develop such facilities (Opiyo et al., 2018; Syanya & Mathia, 2023).
The World Animal Health Organization does not recognize Kenya’s fish
diagnostic laboratories, and in the case of a disease epidemic, diag-
noses are made at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
(KMFRI) and local universities (Opiyo et al., 2018).
3.1.4 Regulations and institutions governing the
industry
The sector is governed by various acts and regulations (Table 1).
These include (1) the Fisheries Management and Development Act,
2016; (2) Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA)
No. 8 of 1999; (3) the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act
(WCMA) Cap 376; and the Science, Technology and Innovation Act,
2013 (Munene & Wanjiku, 2020).
2https://www.fishbase.se/search.php.
As shown in Table 2, the institutions coordinating and managing
the sector include the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime
Affairs, KMFRI, the Kenya Fisheries Service (KeFS), the Kenya Wildlife
Service (KWS) and the National Environmental Management Authority
(NEMA) (Munene & Wanjiku, 2020; Opiyo et al., 2018).
3.2 Prospects of the ornamental fish industry
3.2.1 Opportunities for native freshwater
ornamental fish species
Kenya is endowed with several freshwater lakes, reservoirs and rivers
with a high potential for use in freshwater aquaculture. Currently, most
of the freshwater fish cultured are for food, and not for ornamental
fish trade (Munguti et al., 2021). The freshwater cichlids, Haplochromis
spp. found in the Lake Victoria basin and the clariidae found in Lake
Turkana are just a few of the many species in Kenya’s freshwaters that
have the potential to be ornamental fish (Ngugi & Manyala, 2009). The
haplochromines that can be collected for ornamental purposes include
Pitch-black fulu (Haplochromis piceatus), Blue victoria mouthbrooder
(Haplochromis nubilus), Haplochromis sp. ‘blue obliquidens’, Haplochromis
sp. ‘Kenya Gold’, Haplochromis sp. ‘carp’,Neochromis omnicaeruleus,Pseu-
docrenilabrus multicolor victoriae, Nyerere’s Victoria Cichlid (Pundamilia
nyererei) and Alluaud’s haplo (Astatoreochromis alluaudi). Barbus spp.,
mostly found in Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria, Schilbe spp., Lake Vic-
toria squeaker (Synodontis victoriae) and Fischer’s Victoria squeaker
(Synodontis afrofischeri) are other freshwater fish that have the poten-
tial to be collected for aquariums (Opiyo et al., 2016). Some of the
potential freshwater species that can be collected for ornamental pur-
posesinKenyaareshowninFigure5. It is vital to unlock the potential of
these native fish species for ornamental purposes and financial benefit.
3.2.2 Opportunities for the culture of marine
ornamental fish
Concerns about overexploitation and habitat degradation, particu-
larly to the coral reef, have been raised regarding the sustainability

6of12 MUNGUTI ET AL.
TAB L E 1 Acts governing the ornamental fish industry.
Act Content Achievements
Science, Technology and Innovation Act,
2013
Promotion, coordination and regulation
of science, technology and innovation
of the country
Confirmed registration of Kenya Marine and
Fisheries Research Institute
Environment Management and
Coordination Amendment Act, 2015
Regulation and preservation of fishing
areas, aquatic areas, water sources
and other areas where water may
need special protection
Enabled protection of natural resources
Fisheries Management and
Development Act, 2016
Streamline the existing fisheries
policies with the Constitution 2010
Established Kenya Fisheries Service (KeFS)
Established the Kenya Fisheries Advisory Council
Created the Fish Marketing Authority
Created the Fisheries Research and Development
Fund
Wildlife Conservation and
Management Act, 2013
Management of wildlife resources and
protected areas
Confirmed registration of the Kenya Wildlife Service
and Wildlife Research and Training Institute
TAB L E 2 The institutions coordinating and managing the ornamental fish industry.
Institution Legal status Mandate
Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and
Maritime Affairs
Formed by government Coordination of development of policy,legal,
regulatory and institutional framework for the
fisheries industry and the blue economy
Developing fisheries and marketing policies
Fishing licensing
Fish quality maintenance
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research
Institute (KMFRI)
Act of Parliament (Science and Technology
Act, Cap 250 of the Laws of Kenya) of
1979
Conducting research and making management
recommendations essential for the national
exploitation of living and non-living aquatic
resources in the ocean waters, and fresh water
Kenya Fisheries Service (KeFS) Fisheries Management and Development
Act No. 35 of 2016
Conserve, manage and develop Kenya fisheries and
aquaculture resources
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Act of Parliament (Cap 376). Repealed by
WCMA (2013)
Conserve and manage wildlife in Kenya including
Marine National parks and marine Reserves
National Environment Management
Authority (NEMA)
Environmental Management and
Coordination Act No. 8 of 1999 (EMCA)
Supervision and coordination matters in relation to
environment
Principal instrument of the Government of Kenya in
the implementation of all policies relating to the
environment
Abbreviation: WCMA, Wildlife Conservation and Management Act.
FIGURE 5 Some of the potential freshwater species that can be collected for ornamental purposes in Kenya: (a) Nyerere’s Victoria Cichlid
(Pundamilia nyererei); (b) Blue victoria mouthbrooder (Haplochromis nubilus); and (c) Fischer’s Victoria squeaker (Synodontis afrofischeri). Source:
FishBase3

MUNGUTI ET AL.7of12
of the wild-caught marine ornamental fish trade (Moorhead & Zeng,
2010; Olivotto et al., 2017; Pouil et al., 2020). Thus, there is general
agreement that immediate action is required to prevent the damag-
ing exploitation of coral reefs and to guarantee the long-term viability
of the marine ornamental trade. Aquaculture is perceived as a viable
alternative for the sustainability of the trade (Molina & Segade, 2012;
Pouil et al., 2020). The comparatively premium prices of marine orna-
mental fish has stimulated interest in their culture, primarily as a
by-product of commercial marine aquaculture aimed at producing food
(Job, 2011).
According to Pouil et al. (2020), the main drivers of marine ornamen-
tal fish aquaculture research are the trade of ornamental organisms
and policy, and successful large-scale production of marine ornamen-
tal fish is mainly dependent on consumer choice. Marine ornamental
fish culture has several advantages, including fast turnover, which leads
to a rapid recovery of capital and operating costs, reducing depen-
dence on credit (Groover et al., 2020). Additionally, as the production
of fish in an aquacultural setting is more predictable, in terms of sup-
ply and price (Watson et al., 2023), there exist prospects to establish a
direct connection between production and markets, guaranteeing the
sale of fish at a relatively stable price. Farmers should be at less risk
as a result. Some systems, particularly those centred around aquar-
iums, may require a lot of labour, creating job opportunities (Tlusty,
2002). When aquaculture becomes sufficiently concentrated, there
could be more opportunities in support industries. However, access
to some production systems will be restricted due to their relatively
high capital cost for those who cannot afford them (Groover et al.,
2020).
Reef organisms especially will continue to fetch high prices, but
their culture is still going to be a lucrative business venture. Globally,
businesses are already investing resources into the creation of tech-
nologies for the closed-system farming of reef species (Hill et al., 2020).
The good news for ornamental fish farming in the future is that aquar-
ists today are growing increasingly conscious of the sustainability of
ornamental fish production, so price does not appear to be a deciding
factor in their purchase (Militz et al., 2017). However, there is no infor-
mation on marine ornamental aquaculture in Kenya, indicating that the
sector has not yet taken off in the country. To uptake marine orna-
mental aquaculture in Kenya, prospective investors can benefit from
the species, resources and technologies that are now readily available
globally. Clownfish, for example, continue to be the most sought-after
marine tropical fish and are found throughout the Indo-Pacific region,
with Kenya holding a sizable portion of the Indian Ocean (Groover
et al., 2020). Current technologies for breeding marine ornamental fish
are primarily focused on producing clownfish (Groover et al., 2020;
Kumar et al., 2015). As culture methods advance and become more
streamlined, more species will be able to be cultivated in intensive units
(Kumar et al., 2015).
Nonetheless, as the ecological and social ramifications of aqua-
culture are not always obvious, a prior assessment of the industry’s
threats is essential (Tlusty, 2002). Marine ornamental fish culture is a
3https://www.fishbase.se/search.php.
capital-intensive venture (Lal & Kumar, 2021) and therefore, it is likely
to concentrate the market in the hands of those with the resources
to invest as well as the education and skills required to participate
in a high-tech industry. This implies that the low-income and remote
communities who depend on collecting fish from the wild and lack
the resources to invest in aquaculture would be the most negatively
impacted. However,such negative effects can be avoided if aquaculture
programmes target species whose capture from the wild is expected
to be restricted or stop in the future through development of breeding
and rearing technologies for marine ornamental organisms (Chen et al.,
2020; Lal & Kumar, 2021).
3.2.3 Opportunities for public aquariums
Public aquariums are important institutions for recreation, conserva-
tion, research and education (Gusset & Dick, 2010; Pouil et al., 2020;
Tlusty et al., 2013). However, considering that public aquariums exist
to exhibit aquatic organisms for these purposes, it is paradoxical that
fish species intended for consumption are currently the focus of more
sustainability initiatives than live fish retained by private aquarists and
public aquariums. This is partly because the home aquarium live animal
trade operates on somewhat smaller proportions than the huge biolog-
ical and economic scales of food fish (Tlusty et al., 2013). This industry
deserves more attention because of the wide range and diversity of
the ornamental fish, and the fact that many young people who are only
now starting to establish their conservation and purchasing habits are
drawn to the aquarium hobby.
The global zoo and aquarium community is governed by the World
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). Prominent aquariums and
zoos, local and national associations of aquariums, and a few inter-
national affiliate organizations are among its almost 300 members
(Gusset & Dick, 2010). There exists an opportunity for the estab-
lishment and expansion of public aquariums in Kenya to engage in
recreation, conservation, research and education through ornamental
fisheries and aquaculture.
Recreation
There are three commercially and socially valuable recreational sub-
sets of the ornamental aquatic industry with regards to public aquar-
iums: (1) the ornamental fish hobby, (2) sport fishing and (3) tourism.
Ornamental fish keeping is emerging as one of the most popular hob-
bies across the world irrespective of age, class, creed or geographical
variations in the residing area of hobbyists. Ornamental fish market in
the world for public aquaria is less than 1% at present, and over 99% of
the market for ornamental fish is still confined to hobbyist (Selvarasu
&Sankaran,2011). The attraction, relatively minimum requirement of
space and attention compared to other pet animals, is the reason for
growing interest in keeping aquarium all over the world (Laskar et al.,
2016). In the contemporary times of space restrictions and craze for
beautifying interiors, the aquariums can become an integral element of
homes, offices, hospitals, hotels, business establishments, airports and
other institutions in Kenya.

8of12 MUNGUTI ET AL.
Recreational fishing is a well-liked sport in aquatic ecosystems
around the world, using a range of equipment, including rod and line
and, to some extent, handlines, spears, bows and arrows, traps and
nets (Cooke et al., 2018). The provisioning ecosystem services of sport
fishing support leisure activities that have a high social impact and gen-
erate significant economic returns (Britton & Orsi, 2012; Cooke et al.,
2018). In Kenya, most of the fish are harvested for commercial pur-
poses through artisanal fisheries, but recreational fishing is still low
especially in Lake Victoria with a high potential for growth (Nyaboke
et al., 2022). However, recreational fishing is well established in the
coastal Kenya in Watamu, Malindi, Kilifi, Diani, Shimoni and Lamu fish-
ing areas (Kadagi et al., 2020). Sport anglers can work together with
aquarists and other industry players in the ornamental aquatic indus-
try to promote sport fishing and generate income to communities and
the country through their activities.
Fish tourism is a profitable business venture. Interaction with
fish during aquatic nature tourism contributes to non-extractive
economies that support fish and their habitats, provided that the
tourism is sustainable (Bessa et al., 2017). Additionally, exciting activ-
ities like diving and snorkeling introduce us to many different kinds of
life under the ocean that is not usually visible from the surface. There-
fore, through conservation of marine ornamental fish in their natural
habitats, the ornamental aquatic sector in Kenya can view the expand-
ing nature-based tourism market for snorkeling and diving tours as a
significant source of income, in addition to being an essential recre-
ational activity (Balmford et al., 2015). Additionally, the establishment
of public aquariums can be a lucrative opportunity to harness fish
tourism as a recreational activity in the country.
Conservation
Conservation of biodiversity is one of the most pertinent goals of con-
temporary aquariums. In this context, there are two methods: (1) ex
situ, which describes activities taken outside of the species’ natural
habitat; and (2) in situ, which describes activities carried out within
the species’ environment (Miranda et al., 2023). In the past, these
organizations have concentrated their conservation efforts on ex situ
conservation operations, preserving genetic variety and maintaining
healthy captive populations – often through regional Taxon Advisory
Groups (Reid et al., 2013; Tlusty et al., 2013).
Public aquariums keep a variety of collections of decorative fish
that they have either collected themselves or obtained from the same
sellers who supply the ornamental fish trade (Tlusty et al., 2013). As
a result, they serve as environmental organizations to support the
environmental stewardship of the fish industry. However, aquariums
continue to be a major consumer of specimens that have been collected
from the wild, particularly those belonging to the marine and estuarine
species.
For freshwater fish, ex situ conservation may be necessary in cer-
tain situations where maintaining a population in their natural habitat
keeps them from going extinct and acts as a ‘insurance policy’ while the
main risks are being managed (Reid et al., 2013). One example of how
research can directly benefit conservation is the Lake Victoria Cichlid
Fishes Species Survival Plan (LVSSP) issued by the Association of Zoos
and Aquariums (AZA) in 2012 (Hemdal, 2012). Established in 1994, the
LVSSP of the AZA Freshwater Fish Taxon Advisory Group aims to pre-
serve the native fishes and habitats of Lake Victoria-Kyoga (Reid et al.,
2013). Working harmoniously between the lake and public aquariums,
the LVSSPis an example of an intricately coordinated in situ/exsitu con-
servation strategy. Through LVSSP, the Pitch-black fulu (H. piceatus)is
one prioritized species that has been rescued from the Lake and which
has been successfully managed and bred in public aquariums for some
20 years (Reid, 2013).
The ethical and sustainable harvesting of aquatic organisms for
the ornamental aquatic business can, when done right, offer com-
pelling incentives to nearby populations to save delicate ecosystems
from resource competition (International Union on the Conservation
of Nature (IUCN), 2015). Therefore, the ornamental aquatic sector
can help safeguard vulnerable ecosystems from potentially harmful
practices, including slash and burn, mercury-based gold mining, coral
construction, dredging and damming (King, 2019). Nonetheless, a con-
siderable proportion of aquariums do not prioritize this particular
function. The majority of aquariums currently devote comparatively
little resources – including non-financial support – to in situ conser-
vation, which could severely limit the impact of these aquariums on
conservation (Reid et al., 2013). It seems prudent for zoological insti-
tutions to combine their resources more in order to optimize the
worldwide contribution of the zoo and aquarium community to in situ
conservation.
By involving the aquarium industry in initiatives and programmes
that support conservation programmes in source water bodies where
the native animals that represent aquarium biodiversity are threat-
ened in the wild, the Kenyan ornamental fish industry can capitalize
on the current conservation efforts. To join WAZA, one must make
a legally binding commitment to conservation (Gusset & Dick, 2010).
The allure of ornamental species can be used by public aquariums
to educate tourists about ocean conservation. An example of orna-
mental aquatic trade investment in Kenya with WAZA membership is
the Kenya Tropical Sealife Limited4, a marine ornamental export com-
pany located in Mombasa, Kenya. Established in 2002, it is the largest
exporter of ornamental fish in Kenya, with expertise and knowledge in
raising and exporting marine species, including ornamental fish, sharks
and rays (Masiga & Knoester, 2023).
Research
Ornamental fish research is a significant and quickly growing field.
Research on fish behaviour, nutrition, disease, physiology, reproduc-
tion and life cycles is conducted in some aquariums, both in situ and
ex situ (Reid et al., 2008). Ornamental fish are good models for a vari-
ety of research topics, including genetic engineering, gene and receptor
function, learning, and memory.
Aquarists and aquarium groups can collaborate with professional
scientists to protect endangered fish species and/or develop scientific
knowledge in alongside spearheading their own initiatives (Miranda
et al., 2023). Studies can be conducted on food (bionomic) or non-
4https://www.waza.org/members/waza-members/corporates/kenya-tropical-sealife/

MUNGUTI ET AL.9of12
food (fundamental) applications; the findings benefit both fields in turn,
and the data gathered occasionally has application to the economy,
the environment or conservation. However, the corpus of scientific
research that is currently available tends to suggest that these two
groups are headed in different ways, with environmentalists gener-
ally believing that aquarists are doing harm to the conservation of
species (Miranda et al., 2023). The many ideologies of the many aquar-
ists who come under the tent of the aquarium hobby, including ‘pet
owners’ whose primary interest is maintaining fish as ‘ornaments’, are
likely the cause of this perception of the hobby (Maceda-Veiga et al.,
2016; Miranda et al., 2023). Pure science programmes and collabora-
tive arrangements with traders and hobbyists can serve as a shared
foundation between these groups to guide and incentivize the devel-
opment of sustainability in the trade, and to encourage and foster a
market for properly obtained aquarium fish.
With their large collection of captive fish, public aquariums pro-
vide an opportunity for researchers to gain data that they might not
be able to access in any other setting (Miranda et al., 2023). Aquari-
ums and the public have benefited from these kinds of research before,
which are largely practical and focused on problem-solving, as they
have been able to enhance their businesses and the welfare of the
fish they keep. For instance, Yalowitz (2004) carried out an evaluation
and audience research at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, Cal-
ifornia, about their visitors’ conservation knowledge, understanding,
attitudes and behaviour, which he reported as a learning experience
for the aquarium and helped in improving its conservation efforts. This
was part of AZA’s long-term effort to provide zoos and aquariums with
information about how a visit contributes to public understanding of
conservation. Additionally, Zang et al. (2013) developed a novel, mini-
mally invasive method to collect blood samples from adult zebrafish at
the Zebrafish International Research Center, Eugene, Oregon, which
is essential for small aquarium fish research requiring repeated blood
samples and increases the utility of the zebrafish as a model animal in
haematological studies of human diseases.
Education
The majority of aquariums nowadays view education as having a key
role. Zoos and aquariums will be acknowledged as leaders and men-
tors in formal and informal education for conservation because of their
distinctive resource of live animals, their knowledge and their con-
nections to field conservation, according to WAZA’s vision (WAZA,
2005). The majority of aquaria include education personnel and trained
volunteers who conduct educational programmes for school groups
and the general public. Education and conservation themes are fre-
quently conveyed through demonstrations, and aquarium exhibits are
not complete without interpretation and education (Packer & Ballan-
tyne, 2010). These aquarium exhibits offer first-hand encounters with
real-life objects, places or animals, and learning is optional and driven
by the learner’s needs and interests (Miranda et al., 2023).
Public aquaria have the potential to leverage their educational
strengths and capacities to provide environmental education and
awareness as they reach a broad and diverse audience (Gusset & Dick,
2011; Packer & Ballantyne, 2010). Institutions can gain from ornamen-
tal fish displays because they are space-efficient and can be used to
present and educate people about issues pertaining to aquatic habi-
tats, such as the interdependence of aquatic and terrestrial habitat,
the effects of habitat destruction on ecosystem services, the prob-
lems posed by invasive species and the preservation of biodiversity
(Danovaro et al., 2021; Geist & Hawkins, 2016; Tlusty et al., 2013). Pre-
senting ornamental fishes in a way that highlights the industry’s ability
to take the initiative to address the issues pertaining to aquatic habitats
may help inspire tourists to value biodiversity and habitat preservation
(Tlusty et al., 2013). Aquaria can therefore play a significant role in envi-
ronmental education in Kenya, provided visitors are willing to engage in
a learning experience, and if aquariums view conservation teaching as
an essential component of their mission.
3.2.4 International legislation, existing country
policies and regulations
The adoption of laws that will encourage the fair distribution of ben-
efits and the sustainable growth of commerce may have significant
advantages. On the other hand, laws that aim to completely ban or
severely restrict the trade could have a negative effect on the poor-
est people and tend to concentrate benefits in the hands of a smaller
number of better-financed farmers. The 1992 Convention on Biologi-
cal Diversity (CBD) (UN, 1992) has not yet had its full potential fulfilled,
and many developing nations do not reap the full benefits of fully
exploiting their biodiversity (Ijinu et al., 2023; Li et al., 2023). One of
the intents of the CBD is the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits
arising out of the utilization of genetic resources (UN, 1992). There is
still plenty of room to advance the rights of countries of origin to keep
a portion of the profits from the export of their biological resources.
The Kenyan ornamental trade industry can utilize the CBD to ensure
that the local communities involved in the collection of the ornamental
fish from the wild get maximum benefits and the country gets equitable
share of its income from exports.
The fundamental purpose of the Fisheries Management and Devel-
opment Act in Kenya is to ensure expanded and sustainable fish
production and use by appropriately managing the ocean and other
fisheries waters. Developed policies prioritize the advancement of
aquaculture, the execution and oversight of sustainable management,
and the adoption of ethical fishing methods (Opiyo et al., 2016). In
accordance with the goals of the Kenyan national development policy,
the policy directs the efficient and coordinated growth and administra-
tion of the fisheries industry. This aims to expedite and augment the
industry’s input to the nation’s development goals of reducing poverty
and generating prosperity (Ngugi & Manyala, 2009; Munguti et al.,
2021). The creation of a marine aquarium fishery management plan
is one of the additional initiatives that will guarantee the growth of a
thriving, sustainable ornamental fish business that benefits everyone
equally and preserves the long-term ecological sustainability of the tar-
geted species (Maina, 2012). Conducive policy environment creates an
opportunity for the growth of a sustainable ornamental industry in the
country.

10 of 12 MUNGUTI ET AL.
3.2.5 Opportunities for employment and support
industries
As ornamental fish is regarded as high value fish, it provides for-
eign earnings and improves the livelihood of the people involved in
the value chain by offering employment opportunities in different
capacities as fishermen, fish packers, aquarium maintenance person-
nel, drivers, shallow water and deep sea scuba divers (Okemwa et al.,
2016; Opiyo et al., 2016). The sector can create more opportunities
for industries to produce materials and equipment used in handling
and transportation of live fish such as fish packaging bags, styrofoam
boxes, carton boxes, rubber bands and sealing tapes. Other key areas of
industrialization include fabrication of aquariums and accessories and
production of ornamental fish feeds which will contribute to employ-
ment in the ornamental fish industry. There are huge demands for
fresh water and marine ornamental fish (Okemwa et al., 2016;Opiyo
et al., 2016). Hence, farmers may be encouraged to enter the export
market. In fact, fish producers can become exportersto have the advan-
tage of earning foreign exchange themselves without trading through
middlemen.
Many accessory industries can also be established for supply of
rocks, gravels, artificial toys, natural as well as artificial plants, dry
feed, live feed, aerators, filters, among others. These accessories are
required for the beautification and maintenance of aquaria in the
ornamental fish industry. Additionally, the production and supply of
artificial feed for ornamental fish is an important aspect of the orna-
mental fish industry that that creates employment opportunities and
builds the national economy (Opiyo et al., 2016).
4CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The ornamental fish industry in Kenya has significant potential and
economic benefits in terms of improving rural livelihoods, creating
job opportunities and fostering environmental conservation. There are
several opportunities for the growth of the industry, including the col-
lection of native freshwater ornamental fish species from the vast
freshwater resources in the country, culture of marine ornamental fish,
establishment of public aquariums as centres for recreation, conser-
vation, research and education and opportunities for job creation and
development of support industries. Additionally, the existing interna-
tional legislations and national policies create an enabling environment
for the growth and sustainability of the industry.
Nevertheless, the sector is still grappling with inadequate invest-
ment in industry and research. There is inadequate data on the market
dynamics for both the ornamental fish and inputs in terms of quantities
and prices. Additionally,there is no up-to-date data and documentation
of the catches, aquaculture production and major industry practition-
ers such as exporters, public aquariums and input suppliers. To unlock
the full potential of the industry, training, research, investment and
infrastructure development, quality assurance, collaboration and net-
working, and environmental sustainability strategies need to be put in
place. This will ensure Kenya’s position as a key player in the global
ornamental fish trade.
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Jonathan M. Munguti: Conceptualization; writing—review and editing.
Jimmy B. Mboya: Writing—original draft. Jacob O. Iteba:Writing—
original draft. James G. Kirimi: Writing—review and editing. Kevin O.
Obiero: Writing—original draft; writing—review and editing. Domi-
tila N. Kyule: Validation; writing—review and editing. Mary A. Opiyo:
Validation; writing—review and editing. Francis K. Njonge: Validation;
writing—review and editing.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The review and documentation of the status and prospects of the orna-
mental industry in Kenya was supported by the Kenya Marine and
Fisheries Research Institute.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial inter-
ests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the
work reported in this paper.
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data is created
or analysed in this study.
ETHICS STATEMENT
The current study was a review, and no animal or human subjects were
used. Therefore, there was no ethical approval needed.
ORCID
Jonathan M. Munguti https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4883-4074
Jimmy B. Mboya https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4863-5008
Jacob O. Iteba https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0153-9705
James G. Kirimi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9692-1258
Domitila N. Kyule https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1264-3743
Mary A. Opiyo https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9660-5888
PEER REVIEW
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.
com/publon/10.1002/aff2.172
REFERENCES
Arksey, H. & O’Malley, L. (2005) Scoping studies: towards a methodological
framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19–
32.
Balmford, A., Green, J.M., Anderson, M., Beresford, J., Huang, C., Naidoo, R.
et al. (2015) Walk on the wild side: estimating the global magnitude of
visits to protected areas. PLoS Biology, 13(2), e1002074. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002074
Bessa, E., Silva, F. & Sabino, J. (2017) Impacts of fish tourism. In: Ecotourism’s
promise and peril: a biological evaluation. New York City: Springer Pub-
lishing. pp. 59–72. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-
58331-0_5

MUNGUTI ET AL.11 of 12
Biondo, M.V. & Burki, R.P. (2019) Monitoring the tradein marine ornamental
fishes through the European Trade Control and Expert System TRACES:
challenges and possibilities. Marine Policy, 108, 103620.
Britton, J.R. & Orsi, M.L. (2012) Non-native fish in aquaculture and sport
fishing in Brazil: economic benefits versus risks to fish diversity in
the upper River Paraná Basin. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 22,
555–565. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-012- 9254-x
Chen, J.Y., Zeng, C., Jerry, D.R. & Cobcroft, J.M. (2020) Recent advances
of marine ornamental fish larviculture: broodstock reproduction, live
prey and feeding regimes, and comparison between demersal and pelagic
spawners. Reviews in Aquaculture, 12(3), 1518–1541.
Cooke, S.J., Twardek, W.M., Lennox, R.J., Zolderdo, A.J., Bower, S.D.,
Gutowsky, L.F. et al. (2018) The nexus of fun and nutrition: recreational
fishing is also about food. Fish and Fisheries, 19(2), 201–224. Available
from: https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12246
Danovaro, R., Aronson, J., Cimino, R., Gambi, C., Snelgrove, P.V. & VanDover,
C. (2021) Marine ecosystem restoration in a changing ocean. Restoration
Ecology, 29, e13432. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13432
Evers, H.G., Pinnegar, J.K. & Taylor, M.I. (2019) Where are they all from?—
sources and sustainability in the ornamental freshwater fish trade.
Journal of Fish Biology, 94(6), 909–916.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2022) The state of world fisheries
and aquaculture 2022: towards blue transformation.Rome:FAO
Geist, J. & Hawkins, S.J. (2016) Habitat recovery and restoration in aquatic
ecosystems: current progress and future challenges. Aquatic Conserva-
tion: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 26(5), 942–962. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2702
Groover, E.M., DiMaggio, M. & Cassiano, E.J. (2020) Overview of commonly
cultured marine ornamental fish: FA224, 4/2020. EDIS, 2020(3), 7–7.
Gusset, M. & Dick, G. (2010) ‘Building a future for wildlife’? Evaluating the
contribution of the world zoo and aquarium community to in situ con-
servation. International Zoo Yearbook, 44(1), 183–191. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1090.2009.00101.x
Gusset, M. & Dick, G. (2011) The global reach of zoos and aquariums
in visitor numbers and conservation expenditures. Zoo Biology, 30(5),
566–569. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.20369
Hemdal, J. (2012) Lake Victoria cichlid SSP. 2012 North American regional
studbook and husbandry manual. Toledo, OH: Toledo Zoo.
Hill, M., Pernetta, A. & Crooks, N. (2020) Size matters: a review of live feeds
used in the culture of marine ornamental fish. Asian Fisheries Science,
33(2), 161–174. Available from: https://doi.org/10.33997/j.afs.2020.33.
2.007
Hoseinifar, S.H., Maradonna, F., Faheem, M., Harikrishnan, R., Devi, G.,
Ringø, E. et al. (2023) Sustainable ornamental fish aquaculture: the
implication of microbial feed additives. Animals, 13(10), 1583.
Ijinu, T.P., Rajasekharan, S., George, V. & Pushpangadan, P. (2023) Access
and benefit sharing in indigenous knowledge stewardship and sustain-
able development. In Biodiversity conservation through access and benefit
sharing (ABS) Himalayas and Indian sub-continent. Cham: Springer Interna-
tional Publishing. pp. 163–185. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/
978-3- 031-16186- 5_8
International Union on the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (2015)
Aquarama 2015: partnerships for fostering ethical, beneficial and sustain-
able aquarium fisheries. International Union for Conservation of Nature,
Freshwater Fish Specialist Group Home Aquarium Sub-Group. Avail-
able from: https://www.ornamentalfish.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/
07/HAFSG-Aquarama-2015_final.pdf
Job, S. (2011) Marine ornamental fish culture. Recent Advances and New
Species in Aquaculture, Aug 26, 277–317. Available from: https://doi.org/
10.1002/9781444341775.ch10
Kadagi, N.I., Wambiji, N. & Swisher, M.E. (2020) Potential for conflicts in
recreational and artisanal billfish fisheries on the coast of Kenya. Marine
Policy, 117, 103960. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.
2020.103960
King, T.A. (2019) Wild caught ornamental fish: a perspective from the UK
ornamental aquatic industry on the sustainability of aquatic organisms
and livelihoods. Journal of Fish Biology, 94(6), 925–936. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.13900
Kumar, T.A., Gunasundari, V. & Prakash, S. (2015) Breeding and rearing of
marine ornamentals. In: Advances in marine and brackishwater aquaculture.
Springer. pp. 101–107. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-
322-2271- 2_11
Lal, K.K. & Kumar, T.A. (2021) Marine ornamental aquaculture: measure
towards biodiversity conservation and livelihood promotion. Journal of
the Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research, 39(2), 49.
Laskar, B., Saha, B. & Sarkar, A. (2016) Extent of knowledge and level of
adoption of hobbyists in ornamental fish keeping and aquarium manage-
ment in Tripura. International Journal of Bio-resource and Stress Manage-
ment, 7(6), 1330–1335. Available from: https://doi.org/10.23910/ijbsm/
2016.7.6.1687
Levac, D., Colquhoun, H. & O’Brien, K.K. (2010) Scoping studies: advancing
the methodology. Implementation Science, 5(1), 1–9.
Li, X., Chen, S. & Wang, S. (2023) Economic growth, government efficiency,
and biodiversity loss: an international trade perspective. Environment,
Development and Sustainability, Nov 4, 1–27. Available from: https://doi.
org/10.1007/s10668-023- 04059-2
Maceda-Veiga, A., Domínguez-Domínguez, O., Escribano-Alacid, J. & Lyons,
J. (2016) The aquarium hobby: can sinners become saints in freshwa-
ter fish conservation? Fish and Fisheries, 17(3), 860–874. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12097
Magondu, E.W., Rasowo, J., Oyoo-Okoth, E. & Charo-Karisa, H. (2011) Eval-
uation of sodium chloride (NaCl) for potential prophylactic treatment
and its short-term toxicity to African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell
1822) yolk-sac and swim-up fry. Aquaculture, 319(1–2), 307–310. Avail-
able from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2011.06.038
Maina, G.W. (2012) A baseline report for the Kenyan small and medium marine
pelagic fishery. Ministry of Fisheries Development, South West Indian
Ocean Fisheries Project (SWIOFP), EAF.Nairobi, Kenya. pp. 78.
Masiga, B. & Knoester, E. (2023) Community-managed restoration in
Southern Kenya initiates coral reef recovery. WIOMSA Newsbrief, 33(3),
35–36.
Militz, T.A., Foale, S., Kinch, J. & Southgate, P.C. (2017) Consumer perspec-
tives on theoretical certification schemes for the marine aquarium trade.
Fisheries Research, 193, 33–42. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
fishres.2017.03.022
Miranda, R., Escribano, N., Casas, M., Pino-del-Carpio, A. & Villarroya, A.
(2023) The role of zoos and aquariums in a changing world. Annual Review
of Animal Biosciences, 11, 287–306. Available from: https://doi.org/10.
1146/annurev-animal-050622-104306
Moher, D., Liberate, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. & Group T.P. (2009) Preferred
reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA
statement. Physical Therapy, 89(9), 873–880.
Molina, L. & Segade, A. (2012) Aquaculture as a potential support of marine
aquarium fish trade sustainability. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the
Environment, 148, 15–25.
Moorhead, J.A. & Zeng, C. (2010) Development of captive breeding tech-
niques for marine ornamental fish: a review. Reviews in Fisheries Science,
18(4), 315–343. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/10641262.
2010.516035
Munene, B. & Wanjiku, A. (2020) Contribution of fisheries to job creation
among the youth in Kenya. Nairobi: Kenya Institute for Public Policy
Research and Analysis. Available from: https://repository.kippra.or.ke/
handle/123456789/2518
Munguti, J., Obiero, K., Orina, P., Mirera, D., Kyule, D., Mwaluma, J. et al.
(2021) State of Aquaculture Report 2021: Towards nutrition sensitive fish
food production systems. Nairobi, Kenya: Techplus Media House, pp. 190.
Musa, S., Aura, C.M., Owiti, G., Nyonje, B., Orina, P. & Charo-Karisa, H. (2012)
Fish farming enterprise productivity program (FFEPP) as an impetus to

12 of 12 MUNGUTI ET AL.
Oreochromis niloticus (L.) farming in Western Kenya: lessons to learn.
African Journal of Agricultural Research, 7(8), 1324–1330.
Ngugi, C. & Manyala, J. (2009) Kenya country review: assessment of national
aquaculture policies and programmes in Kenya. Scotland, UK: Sustainable
Aquaculture Research Networks in Sub Saharan.
Novák, J., Kalous, L. & Patoka, J. (2020) Modern ornamental aquaculture in
Europe: early history of freshwater fish imports. Reviews in Aquaculture,
12(4), 2042–2060.
Nyaboke, H., Nyaundi, J., Owili, M., Nyamweya, C.S., Aura, C.M., Gichuru, N.
et al. (2022) Emerging frontiers for blue growth in African Great Lakes:
the potential for recreational fishing industry in Lake Victoria, Kenya.
Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 25(4), 3–11. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.14321/aehm.025.04.03
Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA). (2023) Annual report 2022–
2023. Westbury: OATA. Available from: https://ornamentalfish.org/
about-us/annual- reports/
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC). (2022) Ornamental fish.OEC.
Available from: https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/ornamental-fish
Obwanga, B., Lewo, M. R., Bolman, B. C., & van der Heijden, P. G. M. (2017)
From aid to responsible trade: driving competitive aquaculture sector devel-
opment in Kenya: quick scan of robustness, reliability and resilience of the
aquaculture sector (No. 2017-092 3R Kenya). Wageningen University &
Research.
Okemwa, G.M., Kaunda-Arara, B., Kimani, E.N. & Ogutu, B. (2016) Catch
composition and sustainability of the marine aquarium fishery in Kenya.
Fisheries Research, 183, 19–31.
Olivotto, I., Chemello, G., Vargas, A., Randazzo, B., Piccinetti, C.C. &
Carnevali, O. (2017) Marine ornamental species culture: from the past
to “Finding Dory”. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 245, 116–121.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.03.004
Opiyo, M.A., Marijani, E., Muendo, P., Odede, R., Leschen, W. & Charo-Karisa,
H. (2018) A review of aquaculture production and health management
practices of farmed fish in Kenya. International Journal of Veterinary Sci-
ence and Medicine, 6(2), 141–148. Available from: https://doi.org/10.
1016/j.ijvsm.2018.07.001
Opiyo, M., Mugo, B.J., Kyule, D. & Okemwa, G. (2016) Overview of orna-
mental fish production in Kenya: current status, opportunities and
challenges. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa, 64(2),
193–200.
Packer, J. & Ballantyne, R. (2010) The role of zoos and aquariums in edu-
cation for a sustainable future. New Directions for Adult and Continuing
Education, 2010(127), 25–34. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/
ace.378
Peters, M.D., Godfrey, C.M., Khalil, H., McInerney, P., Parker, D. & Soares,
C.B. (2015) Guidance for conducting systematic scoping reviews. JBI
Evidence Implementation, 13(3), 141–146.
Pinnegar, J.K. & Murray, J.M. (2019) Understanding the United Kingdom
marine aquarium trade—a mystery shopper study of species on sale.
Journal of Fish Biology, 94(6), 917–924. Availablefrom: https://doi.org/10.
1111/jfb.13941
Pouil, S., Tlusty, M.F., Rhyne, A.L. & Metian, M. (2020) Aquaculture of
marine ornamental fish: overview of the production trends and the
role of academia in research progress. Reviews in Aquaculture, 12(2),
1217–1230. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12381
Reid, G.M. (2013) Introduction to freshwater fishes and their conservation.
International Zoo Yearbook, 47(1), 1–5.
Reid, G.M., Contreras MacBeath, T. & Csatádi, K. (2013) Global challenges in
freshwater-fish conservation related to public aquariums and the aquar-
ium industry. International Zoo Yearbook, 47(1), 6–45. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.1111/izy.12020
Reid, G.M., Macdonald, A.A., Fidgett, A.L., Hiddinga, B. & Leus, K. (Eds) (2008)
Developing the research potential of zoos and aquaria. In: The EAZA
research strategy. Amsterdam: EAZA Executive Office. pp. 64.
Selvarasu, A. & Sankaran, A. (2011) Marketing strategies vis-a-vis con-
sumer preference for aquarium business service. International Journal
of Latest Trends in Finance and Economic Sciences, 1(1), 23–29. Avail-
able from: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/68
176
Syanya, F.J. & Mathia, W.M. (2023) Status of fish health and biosecurity
management systems in Kenya’s aquaculture production units. A Case of
Government Authenticated Fish Hatcheries, 3, 18. Available from: https://
doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2430657/v1
Tlusty, M. (2002) The benefits and risks of aquacultural production for the
aquarium trade. Aquaculture, 205(3–4), 203–219.
Tlusty, M.F., Rhyne, A.L., Kaufman, L., Hutchins, M., Reid, G.M., Andrews,
C. et al. (2013) Opportunities for public aquariums to increase the sus-
tainability of the aquatic animal trade. Zoo Biology, 32(1), 1–12. Available
from: https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21019
UN. (1992) Convention on biological diversity treaty collection. United
Nations. Available from: https://www.cbd.int/convention</bib>
Watson, G.J., Kohler, S., Collins, J.J., Richir, J., Arduini, D., Calabrese, C.
et al. (2023) Can the global marine aquarium trade (MAT) be a model
for sustainable coral reef fisheries? Science Advances, 9(49), eadh4942.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adh4942
World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). (2005) Building a
future for wildlife: the world zoo and aquarium conservation strategy.Bern
Switzerland: WAZA Executive Office.
World Bank. (2022) Fish; live, ornamental exports by country in 2022. World
Integrated Trade Solution (WITS). Washington,D.C., United States. Avail-
able from: https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/
year/2022/tradeflow/Exports/partner/WLD/product/030110
Yalowitz, S.S. (2004) Evaluating visitor conservation research at the Mon-
terey Bay Aquarium. Curator: The Museum Journal, 47(3), 283–298.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2151-6952.2004.tb00126.x
Zang, L., Shimada, Y., Nishimura, Y., Tanaka, T., & Nishimura, N. (2013)
A novel, reliable method for repeated blood collection from aquar-
ium fish. Zebrafish, 10(3), 425–432. https://doi.org/10.1089/zeb.2012.0
862
How to cite this article: Munguti, J.M., Mboya, J.B., Iteba, J.O.,
Kirimi, J.G., Obiero, K.O., Kyule, D.N. et al. (2024) Status and
prospects of the ornamental fish industry in Kenya.
Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries, 4, e172.
https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.172