The wise men said that the best time to start creating wealth is during your youth, when you have the energy to do it and the time to spend it.

Tukaungu Bodaboda Youth Group, based in Mnarani ward in Kilifi County, is working hard to live the saying to the fullest.

In their quest to achieve the goal, they have identified the aquaculture industry as their path to glory.

The group uses a motorboat to fish various kinds of fish like tuna and red snapper from the Indian Ocean and then sell for cash.

"We are seven members and started the group nine years ago seeking to create job opportunities for ourselves and the community," Abdulrazaq Kahindi, the chairman, tells Mkulima Young.

Until recently, the group was buying fish from farmers and selling, some raw and adding value to others.

"We would buy fish, take them to our shop, clean and pack for selling," says Kahindi.

But things have changed for the better, they now do fishing themselves after acquiring a boat through Vijabiz project, which supports youth agribusinesses.

You will now find their boat coloured blue and white in the waters of the ocean as the youth fish.

"Buyers visit our shop for supplies. We clean and then pack them in wrapping papers. Some customers have started asking for filleting and we will soon begin doing it," says Kahindi.

They market their products by word of mouth, selling particularly to fish mongers and members of the community. Lately, they have also embraced online sales, selling their products through Mkulima Young.

"We sell between 20 and 60kg per day. We produce three varieties of fish," he says, noting Covid-19 affected business but it is now recovering.

Kahindi says one of their challenges is that sometimes they fail to catch enough fish than what the market needs.

They are currently working to own cold storage facilities so that they can be able to buy and store huge quantities of fish for good business.

There are about 3,000 small-scale fishing crafts and 14,000 fishermen in the Indian Ocean. As for Tukaungu group, the business provides food and nutrition security, livelihoods and economic development for coastal communities.

According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation, over 70 per cent of households at the Coast rely on artisanal fisheries and tourism activities for survival.