Sustainable fisheries: testing methods for improving livelihoods in coastal communities in northern Kenya

The overall goal of the project was to provide a sustainable management plan for one of the primary marine fishery resources in Lamu District in northern Kenya. The purpose of the project was to inject new and advanced fishery management approaches to the primary fisheries that coastal people depend on in Kiunga Marine National Reserve, a globally significant area of marine biodiversity in northern Kenya. The project trialled innovative fishery management approaches that combined:

a) recent scientific advances in fishery stock assessment and management;

b) community based implementation mechanisms and

c) government led fisheries operational management plans.

The project focused on the lobster fishery as one of the key livelihoods for coastal people in Kiunga. Lobster populations have declined dramatically in recent years and current fishing practices are now unsustainable.

MRAG were asked to provide technical advice on the stock assessment software developed under the Fisheries Management Science Programme (FMSP) as well as reviewing and providing feedback on the stock assessments undertaken for the project.