Back to projects Eastern Africa Medium Grant/

Institutional strengthening of the legal framework of Kilifi County fishers network for the sustainable management and governance of a 1600 km 2 joint co-management area

Marine Protected Area Marine Managed Areas Transboundary Areas

Governance Management Effectiveness Livelihoods

Local Communities Farmers/ Fishermen Subnational Government

Legal framework/Regulation Co-management Capacity building

Small Technical Grant|46,962£ ; Eastern Africa 01.01.2023 – 31-12-2023

Protected and conserved area(s) concerned

Community Conservation Areas (Co-Management Areas) under Kilifi County Beach Management Unit (BMU) Network

The BIOPAMA AC Objectives addressed

Enhance the management and governance of priority protected areas by addressing existing limitations
Enforce the legal framework required to achieve effective biodiversity conservation in PAs

Priority need addressed

The current review of the Kenya 2020 Beach Management Unit (BMU) Regulations lays down the devolution of responsibility from State to County Level. In so doing, it establishes the process of the registration and operation of County BMU NWs. A recent assessment by
Oceans Alive, established that the guidelines for implementing the legal framework of BMUs are still in draft. Consequently, apart from Kuruwitu-BMU, all 16 members of the Kilifi BMU-Network ( KBMU-NW) have: 1) An uncertain legal status, 2) Lack official property rights to the CMA and Fish Landing Sites, 3) Actors have unclear roles . 4) Lack representation and participation in county decision making, 5) Have no formal legal backing in enforcement, 6) Do not draw equitable benefits from the County budgets

The change the project implementation will bring for the protected area(s)

Through the implementation of the project the fledgling KBMU-NW will be registered with County Authorities, to be legally constituted as per the BMU Regulations, and recognised as a legal entity, representative of its 17 BMU Members.

With the KBMU-NW constitution officially registered democratically representing 17 BMU members. This will create an advocacy platform to protect the user rights and tenure of its fishers, and associated value chains.
With the KBMU-NW MSP plan supported, it will guide decisions during preparations on establishing critical ecological zones that are in need of protection, highlighting additional scope for no-take zones.
With statistical information from county records and local research organisations made available to KBMU-NW for decision making, this will strengthen their MSP and support the development of their JCMA plan.
With KBMU-NW and DoF supported to incorporate the MSP, Resource Assessment, by-laws and other requirements needed in development of the JCMA. This will strengthen the effectiveness and focus of the JCMA plan developed.
With the KBMU-NW legal bylaws included in the Constitutional by laws this will form a basis for KBMU-NW to establish their MCS to ensure protection of their resources.

Download the project infofiche.

Photo Credits: Remmy Shoka

Download