Protect our ocean & safeguard livelihoods in Kenya

Wondering how our local project partner Oceans Alive Trust, Kenya could build on the success of the visit of the King Charles III at the end of 2022? 

We are delighted to share news that during this past quarter our local project partner was featured internationally on a special BBC Earth programme - the Lagoon of Life.

Project spokesperson and long-term advocate Ledama Masidza presents the amazing progress of the Marine Protected Area (MPA), as well as the resilience of the community.  

No fish, no village

Kuruwitu, is Ledama's home and a place he loves, he reflects on past times when fish stocks in the local waters were low due to overfishing, leading to lack of community food security, household income and opportunities for future generations. 

To resolve the issue, the community came together to create the tengefu (Swahili word for Marine Protected Area). By agreeing to divide the local waters up into dedicated areas, the lagoon became a community protected area, where fishing is completely banned. Since the original creation of the MPA fish and local marine biodiversity in the lagoon has increased by a fantastic 400%.

Impact of climate change

Sadly, the impact of climate change warming ocean waters continues to have a significant negative impact on the local sea. In areas where fishing is allowed, fish stocks continue to greatly reduce, putting pressure on the fisherman who must either spend more time fishing, or bring home less fish to sell.  During certain times of the year, the local climate also means that there is no fishing taking place at all.

Food security

To combat low or no fish yields at times, our local partner, Oceans Alive are working with the female fishmongers (those who buy and sell the fish) to create local community vegetable gardens to ensure a ongoing supply of food all through the year.  By teaching the women, locally known as the Mama Karanga skills in growing and nurturing their vegetable gardens, they can not only have enough food to eat all year round, but also have surplus to sell to the wider community to maintain a livelihood when there is no fish.

Next steps

Believing that the community's needs can be balanced with the needs of the environment, Oceans Alive Kenya are experts at creating and connecting collaborative, community management initiatives.  With your kind donations, Pelorus Foundation are continuing to support the economic and environmental momentum of this vital work, including a new research project, 10 years on from the last research undertaken, to analyse the MPA biodiversity to see what changes may have taken place over the past decade of protecting the lagoon.

The success of the project so far is already having a significant impact on the local community, with a plan to ensure this has a ripple effect into other communities.

To view the BBC Earth programme, please go to the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMoal6N1okA

Links:

• BBC Earth - The Lagoon of Life

Oceans Alive Kenya (OAK) is a passionate team with many decades of combined experience in community based marine resource management.  We share knowledge and build capacity for sustainability. We believe the needs and rights of the community can be balanced with the needs and rights of our environment.

We were founded to build on the momentum of the region's first Community Conservation Area (tengefu) that we initiated in Kuruwitu in 2006.  The economic and environmental impact at Kuruwitu has  sparked a community led movement in the region. Our solution has influenced and catalysed policy, resulting in the 30-acre area being upscaled into approximately 600,000 hectares being put under Joint, Community-Led Co-Management.  

We have boosted local fish biomass by 400%, planted 20,000 coral colonies and made economic strides through tourism and permaculture.

Our education centre offers training, technical advise, toolkits, mentoring and learning exchanges to guide our students and partners through every step in the process of conservation management. We have educational programmes starting at primary school level and including gap year students, under and post graduates and interns.Education is another important way in which we scale our model. We have plans to develop our centre into the first and only marine education centre and marine museum in Kenya.

Recognised on a Global Stage

King Charles III recently visited us at Oceans Alive Kenya and toured our award-winning community-led marine conservation project. Following the King’s visit we have put together this project so that everyone gets a chance to sponsor a coral restoration structure; a unique and special festive gift with lasting positive impact on marine life for years to come.

One of the highlights of His Majesty’s visit to Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary was the dedication of a coral restoration structure in which the King’s cypher was embedded. The King helped plant live coral fragments on the structure and oversaw its launch into the sea. His Majesty expressed genuine enthusiasm and interest in marine conservation and coral restoration. Within days of the King’s visit, we’ve already seen multitudes of inquisitive fish checking out the King's coral structure.

The King's Coral Reefs initiative embodies the values of remembrance, sustainability, and community and leaves a positive environmental impact for generations to come. It's an innovative and meaningful way to contribute to coral restoration and marine conservation. Regular progress reports give a tangible connection between your support and the flourishing of new life through coral restoration; fostering a sense of continuity and shared purpose in the importance of conservation of marine ecosystems

• Oceans Alive Kenya impact report (PDF)