Aquaculture production has doubled in the last two years from 12,000 metric tonnes to stand at the 22,000 metric tonne despite challenges in the fishing industry.

The National Aquaculture Research Development and Training Centre officer Harrison Charo speaking in Kisumu during a Kenya marine and fisheries symposium said the growth in fish farming has been tremendous in the country.

He said indicators of the growth can be seen in the high demand for seeds and fish feeds in the country. Currently there are more than 50,000 farmers in Kenya.

In his presentation jointly with colleague Mary Opiyo they said hatcheries producing Nile tilapia and African catfish seed increased from 21 in 2009 to 147 in 2012.

They attributed the growth to the establishment of more hatcheries between 2009 to 2011 and the establishment of the economic stimulus programme within the ministry of fisheries that saw construction at least 210 fish ponds per constituency.

The government in its fisheries stimulus packages earmarked over Sh1.12 billion for the promotion of fish farming across the country. The duo made the presentation during a Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and Japan based university of Nagasaki symposium on the state of fish industry in Kenya.

During the meeting, researchers expressed concern over declining fresh water species of fish such as Nile perch that has fallen to all time low in Lake Victoria.