Promotion and Promotion and Management of Marine Management of Marine Fisheries in KenyaFisheries in Kenya

Andrew W.WamukotaAndrew W.Wamukota11 & Nyawira & Nyawira MuthigaMuthiga22

1 Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Committee, 2 Wildlife Conservation 1 Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Committee, 2 Wildlife Conservation SocietySociety

IntroductionIntroduction

• Kenya’s fisheries comprises freshwater Kenya’s fisheries comprises freshwater and the marine sub-sector. and the marine sub-sector.

• Contribution to the country’s economy - Contribution to the country’s economy - employment creation, income generation employment creation, income generation and foreign exchange earningsand foreign exchange earnings

• auxiliary industries such as net making, auxiliary industries such as net making, packaging material industries and boat packaging material industries and boat building among others. building among others.

Map showing the Kenyan Coast provinceMap showing the Kenyan Coast province

Importance of the sectorImportance of the sector

• Contribute to Kenya’s GDP. Contribute to Kenya’s GDP.

• Between 1971 and 1981, it accounted for an Between 1971 and 1981, it accounted for an average 0.2% of GDP and in 1989/90 2%average 0.2% of GDP and in 1989/90 2%

• In 2004 it accounted for 5% of the GDP.In 2004 it accounted for 5% of the GDP.

• The country earns about Kshs. 4 billion The country earns about Kshs. 4 billion (approx. US$ 50 million) in foreign exchange (approx. US$ 50 million) in foreign exchange and the fishers over Kshs. 7 billion.and the fishers over Kshs. 7 billion.

Total fish production and value in Kenya. Total fish production and value in Kenya. 1996 – 2002 (Source: Gitonga and Achoki, 1996 – 2002 (Source: Gitonga and Achoki, 2003)2003)

Marine Fisheries CharacteristicsMarine Fisheries Characteristics

• ArtisanalArtisanal• Carried out in near shore areasCarried out in near shore areas• Mainly during NEM when conditions are Mainly during NEM when conditions are

favorablefavorable• Demarsals - parrot fish and rabbit fish Demarsals - parrot fish and rabbit fish • Pelagics - King fish, Jacks and TunaPelagics - King fish, Jacks and Tuna• Sharks, rays and crustaceansSharks, rays and crustaceans

ChallengesChallenges

• Overexploitation and decline Overexploitation and decline

• High levels of sea urchins indicating a High levels of sea urchins indicating a depletion of sea urchin predators; the depletion of sea urchin predators; the orange striped triggerfish and the orange striped triggerfish and the tripletail wrassetripletail wrasse

• Unfriendly gear e.g. high usage of beach Unfriendly gear e.g. high usage of beach seines and spear guns, dynamite, driftnet seines and spear guns, dynamite, driftnet and trawlers in N. Coastand trawlers in N. Coast

Overview of multiple demandsOverview of multiple demands

• From fishing, agriculture, tourism, shipping & From fishing, agriculture, tourism, shipping & ports, marine dredging, offshore oil exploration, ports, marine dredging, offshore oil exploration, curio trade, mining and fossil coral extractioncurio trade, mining and fossil coral extraction

• Decline in fish landing attributed to increased Decline in fish landing attributed to increased fisherfolk, destructive fishing methods and fisherfolk, destructive fishing methods and habitat (coral and mangrove) destruction. habitat (coral and mangrove) destruction.

• The most important issues are declining fishery The most important issues are declining fishery production, habitat destruction, resource use production, habitat destruction, resource use conflicts and decline in biodiversityconflicts and decline in biodiversity

Perceptions & non perceptionsPerceptions & non perceptions

• Decline in marine fishery generally Decline in marine fishery generally attributed to overfishing attributed to overfishing

• Population increase and use of destructive Population increase and use of destructive fishing gear blamed for decline in fish fishing gear blamed for decline in fish landings landings

• Traditional non fisher tribes joining fisheryTraditional non fisher tribes joining fishery• Upsurge of destructive fishing practicesUpsurge of destructive fishing practices• Upsurge of migrant fishersUpsurge of migrant fishers• Traditional leaders not seen to discourage Traditional leaders not seen to discourage

destructive gearsdestructive gears

Perceptions cont.Perceptions cont.

• Low degree of awareness (land-based, Low degree of awareness (land-based, political and economic activities)political and economic activities)

InsteadInstead

• Some fishermen attribute a reduction in Some fishermen attribute a reduction in marine fish to fish moving to other marine fish to fish moving to other locations, hiding, altering their behavior locations, hiding, altering their behavior or dogma.or dogma.

Suggested management Suggested management initiativesinitiatives

• General encouragement of responsible General encouragement of responsible fishing practices and co-management fishing practices and co-management structures; structures;

• Curtailment of destructive fishing methods; Curtailment of destructive fishing methods;

• Further development of MPAs Further development of MPAs

• Resolution of conflicts arising from the Resolution of conflicts arising from the migrant fishermenmigrant fishermen

Case study of Diani-Chale areaCase study of Diani-Chale area

• Estimated area of 25 kmEstimated area of 25 km22

• Economic activities revolve on fishing, agriculture Economic activities revolve on fishing, agriculture and tourism and tourism

• Fishing occurs inside reef thus pressure on Fishing occurs inside reef thus pressure on overexploited lagoon overexploited lagoon

• Fish caught include lethrinids, rabbit fish and Fish caught include lethrinids, rabbit fish and parrot fish; sea cucumbers, crabs, lobsters, squids parrot fish; sea cucumbers, crabs, lobsters, squids and octopusand octopus

• Sport fishing is popularSport fishing is popular• The catch is sometimes difficult to quantifyThe catch is sometimes difficult to quantify• Out of the five gears used, spear gun and beach Out of the five gears used, spear gun and beach

seines get 80 % of the total catchseines get 80 % of the total catch

Fisheries promotion regimes

• Data collected over Data collected over 1010 years by FiD indicates a years by FiD indicates a steady steady decreasedecrease in catch in catch between 1991 and 1999between 1991 and 1999

• Catch decline (approx. 4 - 6kg at the most productive Catch decline (approx. 4 - 6kg at the most productive site and season) attributed to the increased no. of site and season) attributed to the increased no. of fishers and the introduction of destructive gear fishers and the introduction of destructive gear especially small meshed beach seines. especially small meshed beach seines.

• Local fishermen estimate a 90% drop in catch since Local fishermen estimate a 90% drop in catch since the introduction of beach seines the introduction of beach seines

Conflicts reported due to lack of Conflicts reported due to lack of appropriate subsidy and non-existing appropriate subsidy and non-existing access to credit following the collapse of access to credit following the collapse of fisher cooperative societies. The only fisher cooperative societies. The only subsidy currently provided to fishermen is subsidy currently provided to fishermen is the importation of fishing gear duty free.the importation of fishing gear duty free.There are no development banks or micro There are no development banks or micro finance schemes accessible to fishersfinance schemes accessible to fishersIncreasingly, fishers have set up groups, Increasingly, fishers have set up groups, associations or committees that are associations or committees that are taking over the role of societies (10)taking over the role of societies (10)

Management- Diani/Chale case Management- Diani/Chale case studystudy

• Many traditions are viewed as forms Many traditions are viewed as forms of marine conservation. of marine conservation.

• Many of these traditions decayed Many of these traditions decayed • Inadequate capacity by FiD to enforce Inadequate capacity by FiD to enforce

legislation has shifted management legislation has shifted management focus towards resource users. focus towards resource users.

• A draft Fisheries Policy (2005) A draft Fisheries Policy (2005) awaiting Cabinet approval: create awaiting Cabinet approval: create vibrant fishing, alleviating poverty, vibrant fishing, alleviating poverty, and creating wealth, fisheries and creating wealth, fisheries management and developmentmanagement and development

Draft fisheries policy 2005Draft fisheries policy 2005

• Encourages community participation Encourages community participation through incorporated Beach through incorporated Beach Management Units (BMU’s) Management Units (BMU’s)

• Promotes the use of IKS along side Promotes the use of IKS along side scientific scientific

• Involves other stakeholders in promotion Involves other stakeholders in promotion of fisheries managementof fisheries management

• BMUs to be involved in implementation BMUs to be involved in implementation of legislation with regard to destructive of legislation with regard to destructive and banned gear.and banned gear.

• A more formal role for BMUs through A more formal role for BMUs through clarification of fishing ground tenure, clarification of fishing ground tenure, access rights, support for the development access rights, support for the development and enforcement of local fishing rules and enforcement of local fishing rules

However However • The socioeconomic condition of fishers, The socioeconomic condition of fishers,

their fear of losing landing sites, and pose their fear of losing landing sites, and pose barriers to initiatives seeking to promote barriers to initiatives seeking to promote local level management.local level management.

Realization of reformsRealization of reforms

• Policy provides for better coordination Policy provides for better coordination between fisheries management and between fisheries management and researchresearch

• KMFRI and Fisheries to promote and KMFRI and Fisheries to promote and coordinate co-management research coordinate co-management research activities for sustainable utilization of activities for sustainable utilization of fisheries resources. fisheries resources.

• An important departure is the proposal An important departure is the proposal for the Fisheries Department to for the Fisheries Department to establish an armed unit establish an armed unit

Policy reform agendaPolicy reform agenda

• The Kenyan government’s Economic Recovery Strategy Paper The Kenyan government’s Economic Recovery Strategy Paper (2003-2007) (2003-2007)

• Develop infrastructureDevelop infrastructure• Promote aquaculture to improve food security, Promote aquaculture to improve food security,

and incomes.and incomes.•   PPromote closer regional co-operation in the romote closer regional co-operation in the

management and regulation of the trans-management and regulation of the trans-boundary fisheries resources boundary fisheries resources

• EncEncourage growth of micro-finance institutions ourage growth of micro-finance institutions to provide credit to the sub sector.to provide credit to the sub sector.

• The need for the realization of these reforms The need for the realization of these reforms still persists as their implementation requires still persists as their implementation requires financfinancee

Exclusive Economic Zone Fisheries Exclusive Economic Zone Fisheries ManagementManagement

• The ocean bordering the East Coast of Africa is The ocean bordering the East Coast of Africa is largely unregulated. Although Kenya has largely unregulated. Although Kenya has declared 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones declared 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), lack the institutional and financial (EEZs), lack the institutional and financial capability to exercise her jurisdiction. capability to exercise her jurisdiction.

• The more lucrative and much larger offshore The more lucrative and much larger offshore fisheries are harvested mostly by distant-water fisheries are harvested mostly by distant-water fishing fleets from Europe and East Asiafishing fleets from Europe and East Asia

• Main species sought: tunas including Main species sought: tunas including skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna.skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna.

• Up to 38 foreign fishing vessels have been Up to 38 foreign fishing vessels have been licensed to fish in the Kenya EEZ. licensed to fish in the Kenya EEZ.

• No research has been done on fisheries No research has been done on fisheries resources in the deeper waters of the resources in the deeper waters of the Kenyan zone to establish species Kenyan zone to establish species composition, distribution, behavior, and composition, distribution, behavior, and migration. migration.

• A FAO publication put the potential catch A FAO publication put the potential catch at around 3,125 metric tones per year at around 3,125 metric tones per year

• There is lack of effective Monitoring There is lack of effective Monitoring Control and Surveillance System. Control and Surveillance System.

• Access arrangements are poorly Access arrangements are poorly organized and so distant-water organized and so distant-water operators do little in the way of operators do little in the way of reporting catches reporting catches

Recommendation Recommendation

Fitting VMS in each vessel, acquiring Fitting VMS in each vessel, acquiring monitoring and surveillance capacity monitoring and surveillance capacity and resources and joining the Indian and resources and joining the Indian Ocean Tuna CommissionOcean Tuna Commission have been have been proposed.proposed.

Asanteni sanaAsanteni sana