Fishing communities in the Shimoni area of Kwale County are looking to the future with hope as they embrace new technology to improve their income and improve standard of living.

Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) Scientists have started training them on the use of modern high-density plastic (HDP) circular cage technology

. The technology accommodates more fish fingerlings during rearing before taking them to the hatcheries to boost fish production.

Speaking to journalists yesterday David Mirera, KMFRI assistant director in-charge of Mari-culture said the technology accommodates 10,000 fish fingerlings and after they grow they are taken to the main hatcheries. “With the upcoming Shimoni fish port this project will boost fish productivity as each circular cage will be accommodating 10,000 fish fingerlings and when they grow and moved to the hatcheries we put other fish fingerlings in the cages,” he added.

Mirera noted that the first circular cage was introduced by Japanese government through Japan International Co-operation Agency and KMFRI will do two other cages so that they can be three in the area.

“There is a huge economic potential in the ocean and some of the projects that will assist in achieving this potential include circular cage technology,” he continued.

Mirera stated that they decided to change from wooden cages to the HDP circular technology because the wooden cages were not efficient and had a lot of challenges because at times the waves in the ocean can be too high .

Willam Reorizo, assistant Vice President for projects INCA Philippines added that the new cage technology will be of impact in fish production and rearing in the cages can be done twice a year.