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.