The Institute of Development Studies and Partner Organisations
Browse

Taxation of Fisheries in Kenya: Neither Improving Management nor Raising Revenue?

Download (1.45 MB)
report
posted on 2025-03-25, 09:35 authored by Giovanni OcchialiGiovanni Occhiali, Olivia Okello, Evert-jan QuakEvert-jan Quak

The fisheries sector in Kenya can develop more sustainably and raise revenue. However, fish stocks are overexploited, and the sector generates little revenue for its management and development. Fisheries employ 1.6 million people, contribute 2 per cent of total foreign exchange earnings through exports and fishing agreements, and absorb rural labour. The sector needs more effective management to strengthen economic opportunities – revenue collected from it should be reinvested into fisheries to build its institutions.

There is now an opportunity for change. The implementing regulation for the 2016 Fisheries Management and Development Act (2016 Act) was officially adopted in summer 2024. This paper explores how the Kenyan government can use this momentum, and utilise taxation as a tool for both sustainable development of fisheries and raising revenue. Our research included a review of guiding legal documents, in-depth interviews, and analysis of data on domestic taxes.


Summary of ICTD working Paper 206.

History

Publisher

Institute of Development Studies

Citation

Occhiali, G.; Okello, O. and Quak, E. (2025) Taxation of Fisheries in Kenya: Neither Improving Management nor Raising Revenue?, ICTD Research in Brief 155, Brighton: Institute of Development Studies, DOI: 10.19088/ICTD.2025.013

Series

ICTD Research in Brief 155

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

IDS Item Types

Series paper (non-IDS)

Copyright holder

Institute of Development Studies

Country

Kenya

Language

en

Pagination

2pp

Usage metrics

    International Centre for Tax and Development

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC