From Farming to Fishing: Marine Resource Conservation and a New Generation of Fishermen

Abstract

Abstract-This paper examines the arrival of a new group of fishermen on the Kenyan coast and what this has meant for the state of fishery resources. It reviews four subject areas: access and the number of fishermen; the fishermen's identity; the choice of fishing gear; and the fishing grounds selected. Data were collected from a small number of fishing households in the villages of Uyombo and Takaungu in Kilifi District, using mainly qualitative research methods. Local households on the Kenyan coast face increasing pressure on land as well as on marine resources. The declining economic situation and greater pressure on land have made people turn to fishing as an income-generating activity. This group of fishermen is referred to as the 'new' generation of fishermen as they have been involved in fishing for only one or two generations (including the current one) in contrast to the 'old' generation from families who have been fishing or in fishingrelated activities for much longer. The old generation of fishermen and their households have also diversified their incomes, with many fishing households turning to farming, for example, with women and grown-up children involved in various activities. The new generation of fishermen, mainly of the Mijikenda population group, has often been blamed for the loss of traditional access regulations and for using harmful fishing gear. This paper discusses the new generation of fishermen and their identity as they perceive it and relates this to employment generation as a policy measure for marine conservation.

Morphometric and developmental characteristics of fish landed by artisanal bait fishers at the Mida Creek, Kenya

“…The immediate impact of excessive harvesting of immature may be collapse of the fishery, due to failure to recruit new cohorts. Increasing fishing effort among jobless local communities will compound the current situation as reported by Verleysen and Hoorweg (2008), since bait fishing in nearshore areas is the cheapest and easiest fishing livelihood strategy (Cinner et al, 2008). In addition, future deep water fish stocks may be depleted due to limited recruitment of immature back to the open sea, and hence affect both the open sea ecosystem and commercial fishery potentials therein.…”

“…Anecdotal evidence from the fishers indicates that, fishes at the creek were previously larger and more abundant, than the current situation. Verleysen and Hoorweg (2008) suggest the massive increase in fishers at Mida, was precipitated by conversion of the largely agricultural Mijikenda into fishers, due to lack of suitable alternative livelihoods. In addition, a significant proportion of artisanal fishers is partime fishers, that also takes up farming, business or employment in the tourism industry (Mr. Anyembe-Watamu -Turtle Watch, Personal Communication).…”

The Local Wisdom In Marine Resource Conservation In Indonesia: A Case Study Of Newcomers In Pariaman West Sumatra

“…Artisanal fishermen are contributing to the degradation of marine resources because intensive fishing in certain areas can affect the ecological balance and result in a loss of fish stock (Zamzami, 2014). Many coastal inhabitants depend on marine resources for their livelihoods, with coral reefs playing a particularly important role (Versleijen and Hoorweg, 2008).…”

“…Income diversification is a survival strategy in rural households across Indonesia (Adhuri, 2015;Versleijen and Hoorweg, 2008 ) and is also a favored strategy for reducing risk. Diversification is expected to improve a household's income, resulting in higher income and/or a better income spread.…”

Valuation of fishery among artisanal bait fishers use non-commercialized bait at the Mida Creek, Kenya

“…Net income from fishery was computed as in Aheto et al, (2012) Where; Cost of fishing gears = Purchase price of fishing gears was taken as 2.5 $ for the hook and line, while the boat was estimated at 50 $, with a useful life of 5 years (Versleijen & Hoorweg, 2008 (2012) Computed income, profitability, earning and expenses data were compared among the bait types and sites using ANOVA.…”