The coast region of Kenya is facing significant challenges to its livelihoods and food security due to the combined effects of climate change and human activities. As the world prepares for the potential impacts of El Niño, critical biodiversity hotspots in the region are under pressure, putting food security and livelihoods at risk. Warming oceans and shifting currents are adding strain to marine fish stocks that are already depleted by illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Fishermen in the region, such as Abdulrizak Salim, have noticed a significant decline in fish catches over the past two decades. Salim, who has been fishing for years and owns a fleet of more than ten boats, notes that the catches have grown smaller, and the waits longer. He estimates that it costs around Ksh. 7,000 to Ksh. 10,000 to operate a single boat for a day, and with a fleet of ten boats, the daily cost would be around Ksh. 100,000. This has forced him to consider alternative livelihoods as fish stocks continue to dwindle.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that 37% of assessed marine fish stocks are overfished, with more than half of key commercial species in the Western Indian Ocean, including red and white snapper, already fully exploited. Prof. Manuel Barange, the director of fisheries and aquaculture at FAO, explains that overfishing means removing more from the fish stock than the natural growth rate, which can lead to a decline in fish populations. He uses the analogy of a bank account, where overfishing is equivalent to withdrawing more than the interest earned.
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing poses a significant threat to marine stocks and the wider ecosystem in the region. Kenya's State Department for Blue Economy estimates that 40% of fish caught in the country come from illegal fishing, costing Kenya up to Ksh. 45 billion in lost revenue. The law requires industrial fishing vessels to carry tracking devices, but compliance levels are low, with Assistant Director of Kenya Fisheries Service, Robert Wanyama, estimating that only around 60% of industrial fishing vessels comply with the regulations.
Climate change is also having a significant impact on the region, with Prof. Christina Hicks from the Environment Centre at Lancaster University warning that the effects of El Niño will add increasing pressure on an already stressed system. She notes that there are a series of illegal foreign fishing activities across Africa that contribute to the pressure on fish stocks, and that urgent action is needed to address these issues. The impacts of climate change and human activities are being felt by communities in the region, with Kadzo Katsutsu, a resident of Malindi, noting that the decline in fish stocks is affecting her family's livelihood and ability to access basic necessities.
The issue of bycatch is also a significant problem in the region, with a 2022 study finding that 75% of fish caught in bottom trawls are bycatch, including juvenile fish, dolphins, and endangered sea turtles. David Mulwa, a former casual worker on an industrial fishing fleet, notes that the trawlers often target high-value species like lobster, which can sell for hundreds of dollars per kilogram. This has led to calls for more sustainable fishing practices and better enforcement of regulations.
Efforts are being made to address these issues, including the adoption of the Mombasa Declaration at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Kenya, which pledges to combat illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing. The declaration commits nations to modernize vessel registries, publish fishing authorizations, and share data to track global vessel ownership and activities. Maisie Pigeon, the Director for Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, notes that sustainable fisheries are profitable fisheries, and that inclusive decision-making is essential to ensure that all stakeholders have a voice in fisheries management.
Key points
- 37% of assessed marine fish stocks are overfished, with more than half of key commercial species in the Western Indian Ocean already fully exploited.
- Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing costs Kenya up to Ksh. 45 billion in lost revenue.
- The effects of El Niño will add increasing pressure on an already stressed system, with urgent action needed to address climate change and human activities impacting fish stocks.
