NAIROBI — Braving an early morning chill that swept over a scenic beach-front in Kenya's coastal county of Kwale recently, Abdi Dura offloaded a bucket full of anchovies, locally known as dagaa, onto a waiting truck for delivery to a processing factory in a nearby village.

The 30-year-old father of two, who was born into a fishing family in a village on the shores of the Indian Ocean, said venturing into the deep waters in search of anchovies, a popular delicacy along the Kenyan coast, has always felt surreal.

Currently, Dura is among hundreds of fishermen in Kwale who are supplying anchovies to Huawen Food (Kenya) Export Processing Zone Ltd, a Chinese firm that has established a factory for processing, drying, and packaging the small fish in a serene village on the edge of Kwale.

Huawen Food recently facilitated the export of the first batch of dried anchovies to China at a ceremony graced by senior officials, investors, and local fishermen.

Salim Mvurya, Cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, termed the inaugural shipment of anchovies sourced from local fishermen "a historic moment for the country".

The first batch of anchovies was showcased at the third edition of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo held from June 29 to July 2 in Changsha, capital of Central China's Hunan province.

Earlier, on hand to witness the flagging-off ceremony were Dura and his fellow fishermen, who cheered the move, as they always look forward to improved revenue streams.

"It is an exciting moment to witness the maiden export of anchovies to the Chinese market," Dura said. "Now that we have secured a new market for the small fish, we expect our income to increase and look forward to purchasing new fishing gear to help improve the volumes of our catch."

He said he is currently able to supply 3 to 4 metric tons of anchovies daily to the processing factory established by Huawen Food, cushioning him from market volatility locally.

Granted permission by Chinese Customs authorities to export sun-dried and frozen anchovies to the Asian nation, Huawen Food has forged a partnership with local fishermen to facilitate a seamless supply of the small fish caught in the Indian Ocean, said Liu Zhiyong, the firm's executive director.

Liu said the factory, upon completion of the two phases of development, is expected to process about 200 tons of anchovies daily, boosting revenue streams for local fishermen.

Mohamed Salim, 56, said since entering into a partnership with Huawen Food to supply anchovies to the company's factory, his income has been on an upward trajectory. With 36 years of experience as a fisherman, Salim said the export of anchovies to China is a giant stride that marks the beginning of transformed livelihoods for local fisherfolk and their dependents.

"It is my hope that the export of anchovies to China will be sustained and open new opportunities for local fishermen," Salim said.

In January 2022, Kenya and China signed two protocols aimed at facilitating bilateral trade in avocados and aquatic products, setting the stage for the export of anchovies, popular worldwide for their rich nutrient content.

Daniel Mungai, director-general of the Kenya Fisheries Service, said by securing a new market in China for its anchovies, the country's economy stands to gain from new foreign exchange earnings.

Mungai said Kenya looks forward to cooperation with China in order to boost value addition on anchovies and revitalize the entire fisheries subsector that contributes 0.5 percent to the country's gross domestic product.

Rishadi Iki Hamisi, the 70-year-old chairman of a fishermen's lobby in Kwale that has inked a deal with Huawen Food to supply anchovies, hailed the opening of a Chinese market for the small fish, describing it as a "watershed moment" for coastal fishermen yearning for economic vitality.

Mwanamgeni Juma, a 28-year-old mother of one, said attending the flagging-off ceremony of the first batch of anchovies destined for China has reassured her that the economy of her fishing village will be revived.