https://programs.wcs.org/kenya RSS feeds for WCS Kenya 60 https://programs.wcs.org/kenya/Resources/Newsroom/ID/24605/WCS-Kenya-Marine-holds-the-23rd-Fishers-Forum-to-Dialogue-with-Community-Members#Comments 0 https://programs.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=25379&ModuleID=56333&ArticleID=24605 https://programs.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=24605&PortalID=256&TabID=25379 https://programs.wcs.org/kenya/Resources/Newsroom/ID/24605/WCS-Kenya-Marine-holds-the-23rd-Fishers-Forum-to-Dialogue-with-Community-Members The 23rd Edition of the Fishers’ Forum was held on November 19, 2024, in Kwale County, Mombasa, Kenya, under the theme, celebrating successes and restoring near-shore fisheries sustainability. The event highlighted the progress local fisher men and women, researchers, and policymakers made in creating a balance between marine conservation and human activity.    The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Kenya Marine Program annually organizes the Fishers’ Forum in partnership with the State Department of Fisheries as a platform for dialogue and engaging Fisher communities. During these forums, research findings on various aspects of small-scale fisheries, updates on fish catches at the different landing sites (places where fishers bring their catch), and recommendations are shared with fishery communities. Views and inputs from fishers are heard during breakout groups and plenary sessions to enhance fishing practices, prevent over-exploitation of marine resources and protect the ocean.    This year, WCS brought together fishers from Beach Management Units (BMU) from across the Kenyan coast, key stakeholders in marine research and fisheries sectors in Kenya for the largest gathering in the forum’s 20-year history. The event attracted over 250 participants, including County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) responsible for fisheries and the blue economy from the coastal counties of Mombasa, Kilifi and Lamu. The forum also hosted fishers from Tanzania and South Africa, and WCS marine global experts.  “WCS has been conducting research on fish catch and fish stock assessment for over two decades, and in the last two years, we have shifted our approach to more community-based measurements of fishing involving fisher men and women, and other stakeholders in Kenyan coastal fisheries.” explained Remy Oddenyo, Marine Scientist and Program Manager at WCS Kenya. “This forum was an opportunity to share the results of that research, listen to ideas and opinions from the BMUs, and provide recommendations on achieving sustainable fisheries.”  Fishing communities along the East African coastline have always met their nutritional needs based on fish production in fringing and island reefs, mangrove and seagrass habitats. Poor management of this resource affects not only their sustenance but also their economic well-being. Research by WCS shows that fish biomass has declined by nearly 50% over the last 27 years, reducing catches for fishers and affecting the market price of fish. The recovery rate has remained unchanged despite declining fishing effort due to poor catches.  “What we are looking for in sustainability is balancing production and capture,” said Tim McClanahan, Director of Marine Science at WCS, while presenting the study findings at the forum.    “Often, fish capture exceeds fish production, which has led to a decline of fish stock by almost half over the 27 years of the study”. McClanahan added.   Reducing fishing will allow fish to recover, allowing fishers to catch more fish and improve the health of nearshore fishing areas.   Key topics discussed during the forum included the impact of changing fish incomes amid rising costs of living, challenges in sustaining fisheries, opportunities in the fishing industry, knowledge gaps, and the role of fish distribution in food security.    Potential solutions discussed by experts at the forum to overcome some of the challenges in fisheries included the creation of marine parks and no-take fishing zones, restricting fishing gear to allow small fish to grow, promoting alternative livelihoods such as aquaculture and transport, and implementing community-managed fishing closures, known as “tengefus”.  The forum sensitized the fishers on these options while encouraging them to adopt sustainable fisheries management.  Taking care of our natural resources is a collective responsibility that requires all stakeholders to join hands. Likewise, the management of our oceans calls for good governance and adherence to principles of good governance by all stakeholders. The Fishers’ Forum created awareness of the importance of good governance in improving the status of marine resources and, consequently, the livelihoods that depend on these resources.   The forums have been instrumental in shaping the work done by WCS by incorporating the valuable indigenous knowledge from the communities on fisheries management into WCS approaches.   Furthermore, the forums have been successful in leading to a change of attitudes where more fishers are acknowledging their role in fisheries management and marine resource conservation.   Participants appreciated efforts to convene the forum every year.   Mwanatumu Kadau, Chairlady, Vanga BMU, who has been attending the forum for many years, observed that: “Being at this forum has been of great value for all of us. We have been able to see where we went wrong, where we have succeeded, where we need to improve, who is most affected, and what we need to do to better the situation – so that we conserve our ocean ecosystem because it is a resource we depend on for our sustenance.”    Wed, 28 May 2025 17:13:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:24605 https://programs.wcs.org/kenya/Resources/Newsroom/ID/24604/Miamba-Yetu-Podcast-Incentivizing-Investment-to-Protect-Climate-Resilient-Coral-Reefs-in-Kenya-and-Tanzania#Comments 0 https://programs.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=25379&ModuleID=56333&ArticleID=24604 https://programs.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=24604&PortalID=256&TabID=25379 https://programs.wcs.org/kenya/Resources/Newsroom/ID/24604/Miamba-Yetu-Podcast-Incentivizing-Investment-to-Protect-Climate-Resilient-Coral-Reefs-in-Kenya-and-Tanzania To protect some of the world’s most climate-resilient coral reefs and support the communities that rely on them, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Kenya Marine Program is implementing the Miamba Yetu: Sustainable Reef Investments Programme, a pioneering blended finance initiative that brings together grant funding and private capital to address urgent conservation and development needs in East Africa. The Miamba Yetu Programme—named from the Swahili phrase meaning “Our Reefs”—focuses on Kenya, Tanzania, and the Zanzibar Archipelago, a region recognized for its exceptional coral reef ecosystems that have shown unique resilience to rising ocean temperatures. This conservation financing model is supported by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), a United Nations-led coalition established in 2020 to fill the critical funding gap facing coral reef ecosystems around the world. As highlighted in a recent episode of the WCS Wild Audio Podcast, WCS experts Fahd Al-Guthmy, Programme Director (Conservation Finance), and Ray Victurine, Director of Business and Conservation, emphasized the growing urgency of diversifying funding strategies for reef conservation. They stressed that current conservation funding is insufficient to address the threats facing coral reefs, highlighting the need to close the funding gap to protect resilient reef systems. “Miamba Yetu is Swahili for ‘Our Reefs,’ and the focus is on trying to protect those reefs. It’s also looking at something that’s called blended finance—that is, not only trying to bring in money from grants, from typical donors, but also to use that money in a way to attract funding from the private sector,” said Victurine. A key focus of the programme is the Trans-Boundary Conservation Area (TBCA)—a proposed marine protected zone spanning southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. “This area is a climate refuge,” Al-Guthmy explained. “It sits on a continental shelf with shallow coral systems adjacent to a deep-sea drop-off, allowing for cooler upwellings that reduce the impacts of climate change. These systems host seagrass beds, mangrove forests, and vibrant biodiversity.” To attract private capital into sustainable reef-positive businesses, Miamba Yetu offers highly competitive incentives. The programme provides technical assistance and security-free debt instruments with interest rates that are far more attractive than the conventional market. “When businesses are asked to become more sustainable, their first concern is cost and effort. Our model offers a better alternative to conventional loans, security-free debt with competitive interest rates. Plus, we provide hands-on technical support to help them become reef positive. we don’t just finance them; we walk with them through that journey,” said Al-Guthmy. The initiative is already identifying and nurturing a pipeline of promising projects for investment. One such project is a waste-to-value treatment plant that transforms human waste into fuel briquettes, reducing illegal dumping near marine protected areas and providing sustainable energy alternatives to charcoal. Another project is on wastewater pollution assessments in Malindi and Watamu areas along the Kenya coast, to gather critical data on the impact of human waste on coral reef systems done in collaboration with Sanivation Kenya, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and Pwani University. These insights will guide conservation action and policy development within the TBCA. The programme invests in and provides technical assistance support to businesses addressing coral reef loss through sustainable fishing, community livelihoods, ecotourism and waste management for lasting marine conservation. With nearly 90% of the world’s coral reefs at risk of collapse by 2050 due to human activity—and considering that these ecosystems support nearly 25% of all marine life and the livelihoods of over one billion people globally, Miamba Yetu offers a unique, scalable solution to protect resilient reef systems while empowering the coastal communities that depend on them. Tue, 27 May 2025 17:08:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:24604 https://programs.wcs.org/kenya/Resources/Newsroom/ID/24603/WCS-and-Partners-Participates-in-National-Wildlife-Census-using-Baited-Remote-Underwater-Video-Surveys-in-Coastal-Kenya#Comments 0 https://programs.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=25379&ModuleID=56333&ArticleID=24603 https://programs.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=24603&PortalID=256&TabID=25379 https://programs.wcs.org/kenya/Resources/Newsroom/ID/24603/WCS-and-Partners-Participates-in-National-Wildlife-Census-using-Baited-Remote-Underwater-Video-Surveys-in-Coastal-Kenya WCS Kenya partnered with Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Bahari Hai, Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO), and A-Rocha Kenya to undertake Baited Remote Underwater Video Surveys (BRUVs) in Kenya’s coastal marine waters as part of the ongoing national wildlife census.    The activity took place from February 12 – 21, 2025 with a total of 120 deployments in the regions of Kisite, Watamu and Malindi from very shallow waters to about 35 m deep.    The survey documented the distribution, richness, relative abundance, size structure and habitat type associations of elasmobranch species in Kenya’s coastal waters. Preliminary analyses of some of the underwater footage suggests very low abundances of reef-associated sharks and rays. The activity is simultaneously contributing to the Global FinPrint Project , a large-scale and first of its kind assessment of the status of coral reef sharks and rays in 26 countries.   The survey was carried out using Stereo-BRUV systems which are comprised of paired and calibrated high-definition video cameras (GoPro Hero cameras) mounted inside a small metal frame, with a bait canister to attract wildlife in the vicinity towards the cameras. Stereo-BRUVs are easily standardised, record information about species in their natural habitat and are non-extractive, so they can be used in sensitive areas such as Marine Protected Areas.    Information obtained from these surveys will provide valuable insights on the status of wildlife underwater and inform management strategies in coastal Kenya.   Mon, 26 May 2025 17:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:24603 https://programs.wcs.org/kenya/Resources/Newsroom/ID/24602/WCS-works-with-fisher-communities-to-identify-potential-locations-for-marine-conservation-and-voluntary-community-fisheries-closures-along-Kenyan-Coast#Comments 0 https://programs.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=25379&ModuleID=56333&ArticleID=24602 https://programs.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=24602&PortalID=256&TabID=25379 https://programs.wcs.org/kenya/Resources/Newsroom/ID/24602/WCS-works-with-fisher-communities-to-identify-potential-locations-for-marine-conservation-and-voluntary-community-fisheries-closures-along-Kenyan-Coast WCS works with fisher communities to identify potential locations for marine conservation and voluntary community fisheries closures along Kenyan Coast   Mombasa, Kenya | May 2025 — In an effort to safeguard marine biodiversity and sustain small-scale fisheries along Kenya’s coastline, researchers, in collaboration with local fisher communities, have identified 170 potential areas for voluntary fisheries closures, known locally as tengefus.   The results were shared through a series of workshops hosted by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Kenya Marine Program, bringing together representatives from all coastal Beach Management Units (BMUs).    The workshops marked the culmination of a three-year collaborative project with WCS and Macquarie University, Australia, which combined local knowledge and cutting-edge scientific modelling to identify ecologically important coastal habitats for conservation, the social and governance capacity of communities that depend on them as well as the social feasibility or trade-offs that need to be considered when establishing tengefus.   The process culminated in a National Policy Integration Meeting with government and non-government stakeholders to discuss how the findings could be integrated into ongoing marine spatial planning efforts.   “We’ve been working to identify optimal locations for small-scale fisheries closures along the Kenyan coast by combining traditional knowledge with AI-powered spatial models,” said Remy Oddenyo, Marine Scientist at WCS Kenya. “By combining what communities know with machine learning, we can map and identify optimal locations to establish small-scale fisheries closures, ultimately conserving the ocean in a way that works for both people and nature.”    The project mapped key marine ecosystems including coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds—habitats essential for fish reproduction, carbon sequestration, shoreline protection, and sustaining marine life. The research involved extensive collaboration with community fishers, local and national government agencies, and conservation NGOs.   Maina Mbui, Associate Professor at Macquarie University and head of the Spatial Decisions Group, emphasized the role of policy and community engagement in meeting global conservation targets. He stated that their work cuts across the intersection between science and policy implementation.   “In Kenya, we are supporting Sustainable Development Goal 14— to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development— and the global 30x30 conservation target by integrating community-driven conservation into national planning frameworks,” said Mbui.   Kyle Zawada, a doctoral fellow at Macquarie University, praised the participatory approach used in the mapping process. Calling it a form of validation of the work they have done in preparing the maps using their technology. He acknowledged the importance of getting the communities’ insights, which otherwise would not have been captured by their scientific models.   “We held workshops where we printed out our maps and sat down with local fishers to show them the areas our models identified as ideal for closures,” said Zawada. “They pointed out where we got it right—and where we missed. It was a true integration of cutting-edge technology with local and indigenous knowledge, helping us better understand and identify these critical habitats.”   The Kenya Fisheries Service (KeFS) has observed a growing interest among coastal communities in establishing community-managed marine closures. They noted that the WCS initiative supports and complements existing efforts such as the Marine Spatial Plan and the development of Joint Co-Management Area (JCMA) plans. KeFS commended the project’s inclusive and participatory approach, stating that it is part of their core mandate to involve communities in fisheries resource management efforts.   Building on the success of thriving tengefus in Kuruwitu in Kilifi Couty and Wasini in Kwale County—both of which serve as inspiring models—WCS has helped spark interest in other areas. Communities such as Chale–Jeza BMU in the Southern Seascape and Kanamai BMU in the Northern Seascape are now exploring the establishment of their own tengefus.   As the project concludes, WCS Kenya hopes the tools and frameworks developed will be adopted by agencies and integrated into ongoing marine spatial planning initiatives.    Tue, 20 May 2025 16:33:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:24602