Kenya is one of the world’s most important sources of marine ornamental fish, and Bluefields Aquatics is a licensed Kenyan marine fish exporter based at Mtwapa, Mombasa, on the Indian Ocean coast. We hand-collect, condition and export over 250 marine species to aquarium importers, wholesalers and public aquariums in more than 67 countries, with full KEPHIS health certification, CITES permits where required, and dead-on-arrival rates held below 2%. This page explains why Kenya is such a strong source and how to import marine fish from a Kenyan exporter.
Why Kenya for marine ornamental fish
Kenya’s coastline sits on the rich reefs of the western Indian Ocean, which produce a remarkable diversity of angelfish, tangs, wrasses, butterflyfish and invertebrates, including regional colour forms prized by collectors. Kenya also offers strong export logistics: two international airports at Mombasa (MBA) and Nairobi (NBO), and short, efficient air routes to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. For buyers, a Kenyan exporter that collects from source means fresher fish on shorter journeys than stock routed through distant hubs. Read more on our Kenyan ornamental fish and Mombasa operation pages.
Our Kenyan export operation
From our coastal facility we run the full chain: sustainable hand collection by local divers, conditioning and disease screening in our holding systems, purging before packing, pure-oxygen bagging in insulated boxes, and short-route air freight with complete documentation. This control over every stage is how we hold DOA below 2%. Our guides on sustainable collection in Kenya and packing explain how it works.
Kenyan marine fish species
We export more than 250 species across 19 categories from Kenyan and wider Indian Ocean waters — tangs including the Powder Blue Tang, angelfish, a deep wrasse range, butterflyfish, clownfish, damsels, triggers, puffers, eels and invertebrates. Browse the species index or request the weekly stocklist.
Documentation and compliance
Every shipment from Kenya travels with KEPHIS health certification confirming the fish are healthy, a commercial invoice and packing list, and CITES export permits for any listed species. As your exporter we prepare this full set; you meet your own country’s import requirements, which we will advise on. See our CITES guide and documentation page.
Frequently asked questions
Where in Kenya are you based?
At Mtwapa, Mombasa, on the Indian Ocean coast. We export through Mombasa (MBA) and Nairobi (NBO) airports.
What certification do Kenyan marine fish exports carry?
KEPHIS health certification, commercial documents, and CITES export permits for any listed species. We prepare all of it.
How fresh are fish exported from Kenya?
Because we collect and ship from source on the coast, fish travel a single leg and arrive fresher than stock re-shipped through distant wholesalers, supporting our sub-2% DOA.