STATUS OF Artemia franciscana PRODUCTION IN KENYAN COASTAL SALTWORKS

Artemia franciscana was first introduced in Kenyan solar saltworks in the mid 80's to test the feasibility of producing it in the salt ponds. The viability of producing the Artemia species was a success besides improving the quality and quantity of salt produced from the saltworks. Production of the brine shrimp Artemia in solar saltworks for aquaculture development, however started in 2010 (20 years after its introduction into the salt ponds). This initiative targeted the rural communities in coastal Kenya with the overall objective of building their capacity for Artemia production in existing salt production systems and application in local aquaculture initiatives to raise their socio-economic status by offering alternative livelihoods. This has been achieved by generating extra income through production of Artemia cysts and biomass which is crucial for the optimal local development of shrimp and fish larviculture. The initiative has helped build capacity of local institutions to develop sustainable and environmentally sound models of Artemia pond production and application of locally produced Artemia in emerging aquaculture. The local hatcheries have benefitted greatly by using the locally produced Artemia cysts which many have termed as a better option as compared to the imported Artemia cysts. However, the initiative has not lacked its fair share of challenges such as eutrophication, predation, access to sea water challenges, land tenure and unstable weather conditions with which some have been addressed. The biggest challenge is the hindrance in commercializing the industry since the seven commercial salt farms have not taken up the enterprise citing less income generated from the sale of Artemia cysts as compared to their core business of salt production. Six artisanal farmers have responded positively to the integrated Artemia production and have upscaled their farms to practice Artemia/fish/salt production.

Key words: brine shrimp, pond production, rural communities, aquaculture development