Attitude towards Mariculture Enterprises and its Influence on the Implementation of Poverty Alleviation Mariculture Projects

Abstract

Mariculture projects are implemented along the coast of Kenya to provide an additional livelihood source and address the problem of poverty among the coastal communities. Development of mariculture has however lagged behind due to negative beliefs and attitudes. This study was carried out in Kwale, Mombasa and Kilifi Counties of the coast of Kenya to examine the influence of attitudes towards mariculture enterprises on the implementation of mariculture projects. The specific objectives were to examine the influence of attitudes towards benefits of mariculture enterprises on the implementation of mariculture projects, and to establish the influence of attitudes towards costs of mariculture enterprises on the implementation of mariculture projects. A quantitative research approach was used with the application of survey method. The study revealed that mariculture has been adopted as a source of livelihood and income by more women than men in the coast of Kenya. Most of the respondents had attained different levels of primary education. The degree of success in the implementation of mariculture projects was moderate and the products generated by mariculture made beneficiaries happy. Correlation analysis showed that there is a significant and strong positive relationship between attitudes towards benefits of mariculture and project implementation, implying that higher levels of benefits from mariculture projects would be associated with better implementation of mariculture projects. On the other hand, attitudes towards costs of mariculture was statistically insignificant and therefore considered less important compared to attitudes towards the benefits of mariculture.