Development of fisheries management plans and opportunities for implementation

Abstract

The maritime area of Kenya is defined by the coastline which is about 640 Km long and lies within 1.75-4.65°S and 39.1S-41.22°E and includes the 200 nautical miles offshore EEZ and this creates numerous opportunities for investment in the marine fisheries sector. The near-shore or coastal waters are characterized by extensive coral reef systems and shallow off-shore banks, hosting many types of finfish (pelagic and demersal), molluscs (octopus and squid) and crustaceans (prawn crabs and lobster). The fishing grounds close to shore are used by artisanal fishers mainly on foot or in dug-out canoes, and a few larger motorized vessels fish further off-shore and target deep water demersal as well as pelagic fish. The coastal waters also host a small number of industrial shrimp trawlers and live ornamental fish form a growing trade in aquarium species. With the increased use of destructive fishing practices and coupled with environmental degradation and the effects of climate change, there can be negative impacts on the sustainability of the target fish populations as well as the functioning and diversity of the supporting ecosystems, if not properly governed. The critical issues of concern are the maintenance of healthy populations of targeted stocks, minimization of ecosystem impacts due to fishing, and mitigation of climate change impacts on the fishery. Most of the reef fisheries are declining with increased fishing effort and there is low capacity including technological capability to access offshore resources with several studies indicating the levels of exploitation are almost or above the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) level. The riparian fisher communities in the Kenyan coast have been fishing for as long as the recorded history, yet they are still marked by the highest poverty index as demonstrated by the coastal household surveys. The consumer demand for fish caught from sustainably managed fisheries has grown with time. In 2008, the State Department of Fisheries (currently Kenya Fisheries Service) embarked on a collaborative process with the support of World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) towards preparing the lobster fishery for certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. The fundamental principles included stock sustainability, ecosystem health, and management effectiveness hence the need to have a management plan for this fishery. The coastal and marine resources can contribute substantially to economic growth and poverty reduction; however, fisheries management has been open access with no restrictions on the fishing effort hence the increased fishing pressure on the nearshore resources. Fisheries management in Kenya is guided by the National Oceans and Fisheries Policy (2008). The overall objective of the Policy is geared towards enhancing the fisheries sector's contribution to wealth creation, increased employment for youth and women, food security, and revenue generation through effective private, public and community partnerships. The policy also focuses at securing the rights of vulnerable and traditional fisher communities. One of the guiding principles in the development of the Policy included the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM).