Enhancing Fisheries Data Governance Through Digital Innovation: A Case of MiFBeDAS in Migori County

Effective fisheries governance depends on timely, accurate, and accessible data for planning, monitoring, and decision-making. However, fisheries data management in many devolved systems remains constrained by fragmented manual processes, delayed reporting, inconsistent records, and limited analytical capacity. In response to these challenges, the Migori County Directorate of Fisheries and Blue Economy developed the Migori Fisheries and Blue Economy Data Analytics System (MiFBeDAS), an integrated digital platform designed to strengthen fisheries data governance and support evidence-based management.

MiFBeDAS combines web and mobile technologies to facilitate real-time data collection, storage, analysis, visualization, and reporting across fisheries and blue economy subsectors. The system supports farmer registration, aquaculture monitoring, capture fisheries data collection, cage culture tracking, infrastructure mapping, and production analytics. It also incorporates offline mobile synchronization and dashboard-based visualization to improve accessibility and operational efficiency for field officers and decision-makers.

The platform enhances data accuracy, transparency, and institutional coordination by replacing paper-based workflows with centralized digital processes. Through automated reporting and analytics, MiFBeDAS enables fisheries managers to monitor production trends, identify sector challenges, allocate resources efficiently, and generate timely statistical reports for planning and policy formulation.

This innovation demonstrates the potential of digital transformation in strengthening fisheries governance within devolved government systems. MiFBeDAS provides a scalable framework for improving data-driven decision-making, promoting sustainable fisheries management, and supporting climate-resilient blue economy development in Migori County and similar contexts.