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.”