Fishing Netting Solutions in Kenya – Types, Applications & Best Suppliers

Fishing netting is at the heart of Kenya’s fisheries, aquaculture, and marine safety sectors. Whether the goal is catching fish in Lake Victoria, raising tilapia or catfish in cages, or securing marine structures, choosing the right netting type, material, and supplier makes a critical difference in productivity, sustainability, and cost-efficiency.

At Maimun Fishing & Tackles Ltd, we offer a broad range of netting solutions built for Kenya’s diverse aquatic environments. This guide will help you understand the major types of fishing netting, their applications, the key specifications to look out for, and reliable suppliers in Kenya.

Types of Fishing Netting

Kenya’s fishers and fish farmers use several netting types depending on method, target species, and location. Here are the most common:

Gill Nets
These are nets that catch fish by entangling them around the gills as they attempt to swim through. They are commonly used in coastal regions and larger lakes.
Seine Nets
Large nets that are deployed and then dragged or hauled, often from boats or shore. Good for schooling fish near the surface or along shallow banks.
Cast Nets
Circular nets thrown by hand, useful in shallow waters, also for small fish and bait collection.
Trawl or Drag Nets
Used in deeper or moving water (rivers, seas) to sweep large volumes of water and catch fish along a path.
Happa Nets / Enclosure Nets
Used in aquaculture for fry or fingerling containment, or to isolate growth areas.
PE / Knotless Netting
Made of polyethylene or other synthetic materials, often knotless (or with minimal knot structure) which reduces snagging, improves durability, and sometimes reduces handling time.
Protective Netting (Bird Nets, Predator Nets, Pond Cover Nets)
These are not always for catch but are used in aquaculture or ponds to protect fish from birds or predators. Also used for covering cages, or for safety in marine structures.
Cargo Elastic Netting / Latex Netting
Though sometimes auxiliary, these nettings are useful in securing gear, bundling catch or equipment, or in transport. They are part of comprehensive netting solutions in marine settings.

Key Specifications & Considerations

When selecting netting, you should assess several technical and environmental factors:

Mesh Size & Shape
Determines which sizes of fish are caught. Mesh size may need to comply with regulations to avoid juveniles.
Twine Material & Diameter
Common materials include polyethylene (PE), nylon, polypropylene. Diameter influences strength, weight, and drag.
Knot vs Knotless Construction
Knotless netting (or raschel knotless) tends to snag less, has smoother flow in water, and can reduce debris accumulation.
UV Resistance & Chemical Resistance
Nets in marine environments face sunlight, salt, biofouling, abrasion. Materials with UV stabilizers, corrosion resistance, or anti-fungal/anti-mildew treatments last longer.
Buoyancy vs Sinking Nets
Some nets float (for surface operations or floats/rope lines), others sink. For example, seine nets partially float, trawl nets sink.
Durability & Maintenance
How easy it is to repair, store, and maintain. Net repair capacity, availability of repair tools and twine matter.
Regulation & Sustainability
Compliance with fish size limits, bycatch reduction, environmental impact. Choosing netting that allows juvenile fish escape can support sustainable practices.

Applications of Fishing Netting in Kenya

Each netting type has its typical use case. Understanding application helps make the best purchase decision.

Commercial Fishing
Uses seine nets, trawl nets, large gill nets. For capturing large volumes; requires heavy-duty materials, high strength twine, large mesh options.
Aquaculture Farms / Cage Culture
Application of happa nets, containment nets, predator protection nets. Netting solutions that allow flow but contain fish and permit maintenance of water quality.
Small-Scale & Artisanal Fishing
Cast nets, hand-launched seine nets, small gill nets. Priorities include affordability, ease of repair, availability locally.
Marine Hardware & Infrastructure
Netting for barriers, safety nets, cargo netting, and protective nets on structures or boats.
Protective Uses
Bird nets or other predator exclusion nets over ponds or cages; also anti-bird nets in agriculture or aquaculture to protect fish.

Fishing Netting Solutions Available from Maimun Fishing & Tackles Ltd

Maimun supplies many of the netting types above, both ready-made nets and raw netting materials. Some specific netting solutions include:

Gill nets, seine nets, cast nets ready made or custom made per specification. Maimun Fishing Tackles
PE / Polyethylene netting material, both knotted and knotless; mesh and twine sizes for different applications (commercial, recreational, aquaculture). Maimun Fishing Tackles
Fish farming happa nets for pond culture or dam-based fish farming. Maimun Fishing Tackles
Cargo elastic netting / latex netting (e.g. for secure load bundles) that can serve auxiliary functions in marine or transport usage. Maimun

Other Suppliers of Fishing Netting in Kenya

In addition to Maimun, these suppliers provide netting solutions. They differ in region, specialization, or scale.

Supplier	Location	Specialization / What They Offer
Monasa Nets (Kenya) Ltd	Kisumu	Large supplier and distributor of fishing gear: pond nets, fingerling nets, happa nets, scoop nets, transport folly bags, floats, ropes etc. Yellow Pages Kenya
Cougar Nets Kenya	Kenya (Nairobi area)	Netting, tarpaulin, mesh supplier; customizable netting solutions. Cougar Nets
Yangfan Mesh (China manufacturer)	Exports to Kenya	High quality raschel knotless netting; aquaculture cage nets; experienced with African market. Yangfan Mesh+1

Cost Expectations for Netting Solutions

Costs vary widely depending on netting type, dimension, raw material, and whether it's ready-made or custom built. Here are approximate ranges in Kenya (2025 estimates):

Netting Solution	Cost Range (KES)	Factors Influencing Cost
Basic cast nets	1,000 – 3,500	Material quality, mesh size, twine diameter
Small gill nets (local use)	2,500 – 10,000	Length, mesh openings, material (PE vs nylon)
Seine nets for commercial use	10,000 – 40,000+	Size, depth, finishing, reinforcement
Cage/happa nets for aquaculture	5,000 – 25,000	Mesh strength, UV treatment, size
PE knotless netting material (raw)	Price per square meter depending on mesh and twine	Bulk order vs small order; sourcing from importers or local stock

How to Choose the Right Netting Solution

When considering netting, these steps help ensure you pick what aligns with your fishing or farming needs:

Define the purpose — what fish species, where (lake, sea, pond), what production scale?
Select net type — see the types above, pick based on application (capture vs containment vs protection).
Test material quality — check UV resistance, strength under load, knot stability.
Ask for sample or small order — to inspect quality first before full investment.
Consider long-term costs — cost of repairs, replacements, maintenance.
Work with reputable suppliers — look for known names like Maimun, Monasa, etc.

Why Maimun Fishing & Tackles Ltd Is a Trusted Supplier

Offers both ready made nets and netting material for custom net solutions. Maimun Fishing Tackles
Has a wide range of PE / knotless and knotted nets, suitable for commercial, aquaculture, recreational use. Maimun Fishing Tackles
Supplies happa nets and aquaculture-friendly netting. Maimun Fishing Tackles
Delivers countrywide; has technical support for specification and net design.

Maintenance and Durability Tips

To get the most from your netting investment in Kenya’s climate:

Rinse in fresh water after saltwater exposure.
Store dry and out of direct sun when not in use.
Repair breaks and tears promptly to prevent worsening damage.
Use UV-stabilized nets or materials.
Avoid dragging nets over rough surfaces unless reinforced.

Conclusion

Netting solutions are foundational for fishing, aquaculture, and marine operations in Kenya. With the right net type, material, and supplier, you can maximize catch, protect your stock, reduce losses, and work sustainably.

Maimun Fishing & Tackles Ltd is well placed to help you select the ideal netting solution — whether for capture fishing, fish farming, or protection and containment tasks.