Top Kenya Fish Catches

Kenya's fishing industry is centered primarily around Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake, which accounts for the vast majority of the country's fish catches. The top species harvested include Nile perch (Lates niloticus), which is the most commercially valuable, tilapia (mainly Oreochromis niloticus), and dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea, also known as silver cyprinid). The industry has deep roots in the local communities, with traditional fishing practices dating back centuries, but it saw significant expansion in the 20th century after the introduction of Nile perch in the 1950s, which transformed both the ecosystem and the economy. Today, the Kenyan fishing industry supports hundreds of thousands of livelihoods, contributing to food security and export revenues, although it faces challenges such as overfishing, pollution, and competition with neighboring countries sharing Lake Victoria’s resources. Coastal fisheries in the Indian Ocean also contribute to Kenya’s catch, with species like tuna, snapper, and prawns, but inland fisheries remain dominant.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.