Kwale: Kwale County government is harnessing the fisheries sector of the blue economy for sustainable livelihoods among the coastal communities. The coastal county in collaboration with the Kenya Marine Fisheries Socio-Economic Development (KEMFSED) project is advancing the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
According to Kenya News Agency, the KEMFSED project is implemented by the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries with support from the World Bank, with the project duration being 2020-2025 and funding worth Sh10 billion. The fishery infrastructure project is being implemented in the coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu to enable fisherfolk to increase catches and improve livelihood activities in coastal communities.
Governor Fatuma Achani explains that the project is making significant progress towards building a climate-resilient aquatic food system. She highlights that the partnership is gradually unlocking Kwale’s fisheries potential and upgrading fishery infrastructure to over
come challenges and boost growth. Achani reveals that the program has also invested in skills development, training 76 local fishermen, including four women, as certified coxswains to operate vessels and conduct deep-sea fishing expeditions.
Governor Achani emphasizes, “This initiative is not just about increasing the quantity of fish caught; it’s about improving the livelihoods of fishermen and their families,” noting that it is a step towards ensuring long-term prosperity for the fishing communities. She further mentions that the Kwale fisheries sector plays a vital role in food and nutrition security and economic growth, with the county government ensuring access to quality inputs, sufficient infrastructure, and adequate financial support.
The county government has distributed 60 modern fishing boats with outboard motor engines, fish finders, GPS gadgets, and advanced fish value addition equipment. Other distributed items include multifilament fishing nets, cooler boxes, flares, bond liners, life rafts,
and life jacket floats to small-scale fishermen to make fishing a profitable venture.
Governor Achani points out that the investment has significantly improved fish yields, increasing daily catches for local fisherfolk in Tsunza, Waa, Tiwi, Mwaepe, Msambweni, Mkwiro, and Vanga fishing villages from a mere 2 to 3 kilograms to over 1.5 tons. She adds, “Having access to outboard engines and improved fishing gear has allowed our local fishermen to increase the amount of fish catches,” highlighting that fisherfolk can now fish safely and sustainably.
The coastal county boss remarks that modern fishing equipment such as deep-sea vessels has allowed the fishermen to go to the exclusive economic zone. Kenya’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a 200 nautical mile (370 km) area extending outwards from its coastline, granting the country sovereign rights over its resources such as fisheries, oil and gas, and other seabed minerals within that zone. Achani notes that previously, the boats used by local fishermen were not
sustainable for fishing in exclusive economic zone waters.
Governor Achani states that limited access to modern fishing equipment, inadequate skills, and the growing impact of climate change have hampered their productivity and income over the years. She says in addition to equipment distribution, the KEMSFED project has facilitated the construction of nine fully equipped fish landing sites outfitted with cold storage and modern handling facilities in Shimoni, Vanga, Gasi, Chale, and Tsunza fishing villages.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture and Fisheries, Roman Shera, says the new facilities have allowed the fishermen to store their catch for longer periods, reducing waste and boosting profitability. Shera emphasizes that the cold storage facilities have enabled fishermen to supply fresh fish, which sells for a higher price than dried fish, to external marine fisheries markets.
The CECM for Agriculture and Fisheries states that developing modern fishing vessels, increasing cold stor
age capacity, and enhancing processing facilities are crucial steps to improving the quality and efficiency of fisheries production. “By implementing these measures, we can optimize our fisheries potential and support the welfare of the local fishermen,” he said.
Shera notes that the success of the KEMSFED project has brought renewed optimism to Kwale’s coastal communities, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to compete in today’s fast-evolving fishing industry. Halima Hamisi, one of the newly trained female coxswains, shares, “The training sessions have taught us more efficient fishing techniques, and we’re seeing better quality catches.”
For fishermen like Mohammed Mbogo from Tsunza, the impact has been life-changing. He notes that declining catch was creating distress among small-scale fishers, saying, “Before, we relied on outdated equipment and could barely get enough marine fisheries to feed our families. Now, with the new boats and gear, we can venture into deep-sea and catch more fish. It fe
els like a new beginning.”
Mbogo stresses that maintaining the quality of catches is crucial, yet many artisanal fishermen were struggling to preserve the quality of their catches due to inadequate storage facilities and processing methods.
