Africa economy

Consumption: fish imported from China invade Kenya

Audio 02:11

Sale of fish caught in Mbita, Kenya, in February 2021. © AFP/Simon Maina

By: Albane Thirouard

3 mins

In Kenya, fish imported from China compete with local fishing.

The Kisumu region, on the shores of Lake Victoria, is famous for its tilapia, eaten fresh or dried.

Whether it is the fishermen or the women in the markets, many depend on this body of water to live.

But now, for a few years China has started to export fish to Kenya, and this, at unbeatable prices, thus penalizing the local trade.

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From our special correspondent in Kisumu,

It's almost 8am on Dunga beach on Lake Victoria.

The night fishermen are back.

In the boats, the freshly caught fish are waiting to be sold.

“ 

,” says Nelson Ocheng Otieno.

In business for more than 15 years, this fisherman has seen his work evolve.

Because of the pollution of the lake and the water hyacinths, catching enough fish has indeed become more difficult.

Nelson Ocheng Otieno must now also face Chinese competition.

He says he has more difficulty selling his catch.

It really affected us.

The Chinese come to sell in Kenya at much lower prices.

This fresh fish, for example, is sold for 3.20 euros, while its Chinese equivalent will be 1.20 euros.

You can clearly see the difference.

So when they bring these fish from other countries to our hotels, where are we supposed to sell ours?

A stronger demand for fish than the proposed local supply

Industry players have called for a ban on imports from China.

But in response, the Kenyan authorities put forward a production deficit.

In 2019, Nairobi estimated the demand for fish and seafood products at 500,000 tonnes per year compared to 147,000 put on the market by Kenyans that year.

So, Chinese products continue to circulate.

Simon Okumbe is a trader.

At his feet, in front of the downtown fish market, a bag is thawing in the sun.

“ 

 ,” he says.

“It fills a need”

A lower price, certainly, but a lower quality.

In Kisumu, locals agree: fresh local fish tastes much better than that imported from Asia.

However, if the sale of Chinese fish is down in the region, it still finds a customer, explains Simon Okumbe.

It fills a need.

People who can afford 4 euros per meal will buy Kenyan fish.

But there are people who cannot spend 4 euros per meal.

They can go to neighborhoods where Chinese fish is sold cheaper, and thanks to that, they can feed their families for less than two euros in total, and with fish!

The difference is huge.

People need to eat well!

In response, Kenyan fishermen, accustomed to fishing with nets from their boats, have taken up cage farming in Lake Victoria… to produce more and try to compete with Chinese fish.

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• Economy Africa