Researchers in Kenya are developing a special barcoding technology method in order to achieve a challenging and urgent goal: protecting aquatic life.
Kenya’s blue economy remains one of the country’s anchor sub sectors, currently contributing an estimated $1.7 billion to the national purse – predominantly from fisheries and tourism.
The fisheries and aquaculture industry, a vital subset of the blue economy contributes approximately $57 million each year to Kenya’s economy, which translates to 0.8 percent of the country’s DGP. Up to 500,000 Kenyans rely on the industry to earn a livelihood directly with an additional 2 million benefitting indirectly.
To help tame fish and other aquatic life loss, guarantee quality and monitor trends in breeding to bolster fish population, Kenya is now courting technology.
The East African nation is now using a barcoding system and DNA to verify species’ identity and create a huge repository that it hopes to use to sustainably grow the aquaculture industry, reduce smuggling of sea organisms and inform policies that will guide the sector.
Read more:
https://www.fairplanet.org/story/how-barcoding-technology-is-rescuing-aquatic-animals/