The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Kenya Marine Program has been working in Kenya since 1991 using science-based approaches in conservation and management of marine ecosystems. We collaborate with marine conservation stakeholders, resource managers, and local communities to deepen understanding of marine conservation and associated species protection while supporting government and community-led conservation initiatives.
WCS Kenya Marine Program brings together experts in marine science, community development, fisheries management and conservation finance to protect Kenya’s marine ecosystems while supporting coastal communities. Through cutting-edge research and innovative conservation solutions, we aim to safeguard marine spaces and wildlife while inspiring people to value nature.
Our work supports food security and income for coastal communities by promoting sustainable fisheries management and enhancing biodiversity. Our focus areas include small-scale fisheries, coral reefs, ocean giants, sharks and rays, area-based conservation, and conservation finance. We also strengthen management effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) to conserve critical habitats and marine wildlife.
WCS Kenya collaborates with key stakeholders, including County Governments, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), and Kenya Fisheries Services (KeFS), along with local communities and other NGOs, to implement effective conservation and management strategies. These partnerships enable us to conduct scientific research, manage resources, and advocate for policies that promote sustainable marine practices.
Conservation Challenges
The challenges that WCS Kenya Marine Program seeks to address in achieving its goals include:
- Overfishing
- Loss of critical species
- Habitat degradation
- Poor implementation of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs)
- Inadequate awareness on sustainable fisheries
- Inadequate conservation finance
Conservation Approach
The approaches that WCS Kenya Marine Program employs to achieve its objectives include:
- Evidence-based practice
- Community engagement and inclusion
- Collaboration with government to strengthen policy and management frameworks.
- Supporting innovative nature positive financing models
Goals
The goals of the WCS Kenya Marine Program are:
- Safeguard corals
- Reverse the decline of sharks and rays
- Steward the recovery of marine mammals
- Rebuild local fisheries
- Expand areas implementing sustainable fishing practices
Accomplishments
- Strengthened community knowledge and management of Small-Scale Fisheries (advocated for legislation to remove beach seines).
- Contributed to national policy on MPAs, Blue economy, co-management and species protections
- Identified climate refugia and advocated for their protection at the Kenya-Tanzania Trans-Boundary Conservation Area (TBCA) and regional level (Nairobi Convention Science to policy forum and brief). Supported Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) proposed for the TBCA
- Contributed to national co-management through management effectiveness training and establishment of community closures.
- Generated a large data set of coral reef ecology and social (more than 400 benthic transects, 120 bleaching, 301 fish biomass).
- Produced 300+ scientific publications on coral reefs in Kenya and across the WIO
- Organized more than 20 Fishers forums - the only coastal Fisher event in Kenya
- Trained numerous local and international students and managers on coral reef research and monitoring (BSc, MSc, PhD)
- Developed strong and enduring partnerships with government, NGOs, CBOs, the Nairobi Convention