A review of Kenyan inland aquaculture with an eye to the status of animal welfare in the sector

Abstract Kenya’s inland aquaculture sector is one of the most productive in Africa. Efforts are currently being made at the national level to expand and intensify the sector. Despite the drive to develop Kenyan inland aquaculture, the sector continues to encounter barriers to sustainability and economic profitability. Fish welfare is also highly neglected which has implications for fish health and overall sector productivity. This review documents the current state of inland aquaculture in Kenya, covering its considerable growth since 2009 to the current day and looking at both intensive and extensive forms of fish farming, paying special attention to the challenges faced in terms of animal welfare. Given that the inland aquaculture sector in Kenya has been earmarked for further rapid growth, with considerable economic and strategic support in place to foster this, some of the core issues of sustainability must be recognised and addressed. This review focuses on one of those, namely animal welfare.