Kenya's Assessment of Hydrography Progress towards Hydrospatial Data Framework
In the heart of East Africa, Kenya is making significant strides in the development of its hydrospatial data infrastructure. This infrastructure, a crucial component of the country's blue economy, is geared towards a sustainable future under Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14).
The Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) are at the forefront of these efforts, often collaborating with international partners to develop marine data systems supporting sustainable ocean management, fisheries, and coastal development.
One such collaboration is with the International Oceanographic Commission's Ocean Teacher Global Academy (OTGA), which KMFRI utilises for conducting courses on marine spatial planning and other ocean sciences.
The Kenya National Hydrographic Office (KeNHOC), established in 1991 under the Survey of Kenya (SoK) and operational since 2006, plays a pivotal role in coordinating hydrographic services across various government ministries, departments, and agencies. The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is the Primary Charting Authority for Kenya, publishing, maintaining, and distributing nautical charts and publications on behalf of the country.
The future plans for hydrospatial data infrastructure in Kenya focus on expanding ocean observation networks, improving data sharing platforms, and integrating hydrospatial data into national geographic information systems (GIS) for better marine resource management and policy-making. Innovation, such as complex algorithms for data processing, will be key enablers in hydrographic surveys, moving towards a more data-driven hydrospatial future.
However, challenges remain. KeNHOC faces issues like a lack of coordination between hydrospatial stakeholders, low hydrography awareness, a lack of training institutions, high equipment costs, inadequate scientific and technical capacity, scarcity in capacity-building and technology transfer, and little data sharing by data producers.
To address these challenges and drive economic growth in Kenya's coastal regions, initiatives like the Go Blue Initiative have been launched. This four-year program aims to provide technical expertise on economic growth in six coastal counties in Kenya.
A well-defined hydrospatial infrastructure will support the three major actions of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science: a transparent and accessible ocean, a healthy and resilient ocean, and a predicted ocean. As Kenya continues to invest in its hydrospatial data infrastructure, it is poised to reap the benefits of a sustainable blue economy.
- The marine science field in Kenya is significantly advancing, with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) leading the charge.
- KMFRI collaborates with international partners, such as the International Oceanographic Commission's Ocean Teacher Global Academy (OTGA), to offer courses on marine spatial planning and other ocean sciences.
- The Kenya National Hydrographic Office (KeNHOC) plays a vital role in coordinating hydrographic services across various government agencies and, since 2006, has been operational under the Survey of Kenya (SoK).
- The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) serves as the Primary Charting Authority for Kenya, publishing, maintaining, and distributing nautical charts and publications on behalf of the country.
- Future plans for Kenya's hydrospatial data infrastructure include expanding ocean observation networks, improving data sharing platforms, and integrating hydrospatial data into national geographic information systems (GIS) for better marine resource management and policy-making.
- Innovation, such as complex algorithms for data processing, will be essential in hydrographic surveys, driving the hydrospatial sector towards a more data-driven future.
- Challenges, including a lack of coordination, low hydrography awareness, scarce resources for training institutions, high equipment costs, inadequate capacity, and insufficient data sharing by producers, can be addressed through initiatives like the Go Blue Initiative, which aims to stimulate economic growth in Kenya's coastal regions.
