Kenya’s Fisheries Exports to EU Resume Fully After Compliance Upgrades

Kenya’s fish exports to the European Union have fully resumed after the European Commission lifted its yellow card on illegal fishing in April 2024. The certification, regained after a 3-year suspension, opens access to a €500 million market. The Fisheries Department credits drone surveillance, vessel monitoring systems, and community patrols for the compliance turnaround. Processors in Mombasa and Kisumu are scaling tilapia and Nile perch exports. Over 50,000 fisherfolk stand to benefit. The government will invest Ksh2 billion in cold chain upgrades and EU-certified processing plants to sustain access and meet growing demand for sustainable seafood.