TOWARDS THE FORMULATION OF KENYA’S INTEGRATED OCEAN MANAGEMENT POLICY INCLUDING INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK Robert Kibiwot United Nations - The Nippon Foundation Fellowship programme - 2007/2008 Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations New York, USA DISCLAIMER The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The United Nations, The Nippon Foundation of Japan, The Institute of Maritime Law of the University of Southampton or that of the Republic of Kenya. The maps contained in this report are for illustrative purposes only. The author does not take responsibility for any errors or omissions in them. ii Executive summary Kenya is in the process of formulating her integrated ocean management policy including an institutional framework to guide the use and management of ocean space and resources within it. The policy is intended to identify critical ocean related issues and activities and subsequently provide a sound legal and institutional approach within which they can be addressed in a holistic manner. It is apparent that the key opportunities and threats related to the coastal and ocean regimes are not only multidimensional but also closely interlinked, thus the need for coordinated management approach if sustainable use of the associated resources is to be achieved for the present and future generations. This strategy can only be realised through the harmonisation of activities and programmes related to the coastal and marine areas and having in place an effective legal and institutional mechanism. This report therefore outlines proposals related to the vision, objectives, values and principles among other iterations meant to provide a logical approach towards an integrated ocean management policy process. It postulates that the ocean policy framework should be realistic, responsive and flexible enough to accommodate the various management strategies dealing with the competing marine uses and the various interest groups while taking into account the health of the associated ecosystems as a matter of priority. It also stresses the significance of other supporting elements such as adequate funding; monitoring, evaluation and adjustments; maritime security; maritime education and research; quality ocean data and the involvement of all stakeholders in the whole process under the guidance of a relevant and able government organ in the achievement of the overall vision and objectives of the policy. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENT This research paper would not have been possible without the support of many individuals and institutions. I wish to thank the staff of the Institute of Maritime Law (IML) of the University of Southampton for their consistent support, either directly or indirectly towards this effort. More specifically, I acknowledge the invaluable contribution of my supervisor, Mr. Andrew Serdy for his guidance, reading the script and making important corrections and suggestions; Prof. Nicholas Gaskell (the former head of the School of Law) for giving me the opportunity to conduct the research in the School; Aloma Hack, Rosemary Holloway and Teresa Worwood for their steady logistical support. I further acknowledge the generous support and guidance of Prof. Charles Debattista and Dr. Remigius Nwabueze in this effort. I would also like to most sincerely thank Dr. François Bailet, the programme advisor for doing a sterling job from the initial stages, when all seemed impossible till the completion of the programme. There are many other individuals at the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of Sea including all my co-fellows, who in so many ways made their important contribution towards this endeavour. You all deserve a big thank you. To the Nippon Foundation and United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) who this research work was carried out under their aegis, I am so thankful. The fellowship programme is such a noble idea as it provides an unparalleled opportunity for pragmatic advanced knowledge on the key aspects in the field of oceans affairs and the law of the sea. Finally, I most profoundly thank my family, the Task Force on Kenya’s outer continental shelf and National Oil Corporation of Kenya for their outstanding support in various ways before and in the course of the research. I lack enough words to express my gratitude. iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ASFA Aquatic Science and Fisheries Abstract BPA Barbados Plan of Action CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CBO Community-Based Organization CDA Coast Development Authority COFI Committee on Fisheries DOALOS Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea EAME East African Marine Ecoregion EAWS East Africa Wildlife Society EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FD Fisheries Department GA General Assembly GDP Gross Domestic Product GEF Global Environment Facility GPA Global Programme of Action ICM Integrated Coastal Management IMO International Maritime Organisation IOC Inter-governmental Oceanographic Commission IODE International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange IOMAC Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Commission IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature IUU Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated KAHC Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers KeNODC Kenya National Oceanographic Data Centre KMFRI Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute KPA Kenya Ports Authority KWS Kenya Wildlife Services M Nautical Mile (1.852 km) MEA Multilateral Environmental Agreement MPA Marine Protected Area NGO Non-Governmental Organization R&D Research and Development TF Task Force v TOR Terms of Reference UN United Nations UNCED United Nations Conference on Environment and Development UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNTS United Nations Treaty Series USA United States of America USD United States Dollar WIOMSA Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association WMO World Meteorological Organisation WSSD World Summit on Sustainable Development WWF World Wildlife Fund vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DISCLAIMER...............................................................................................................................................II EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.......................................................................................................................... III ACKNOWLEDGMENT ............................................................................................................................. IV LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS........................................................................................................................V TABLE OF CONTENTS ...........................................................................................................................VII LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................................................X CHAPTER ONE: OVERVIEW OF OCEAN MANAGEMENT ............................................................1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................1 1.2 OCEAN GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK: LEGAL, INSTITUTIONAL AND LEVELS OF IMPLEMENTATION ........4 1.2.1 Legal component .......................................................................................................................5 1.2.2 Institutional consideration .........................................................................................................6 1.2.3 Levels of implementation ...........................................................................................................8 1.3 INTEGRATED OCEAN POLICY FRAMEWORK .....................................................................................27 1.3.1 Stages in the development of a national ocean policy................................................................28 1.3.2 Lessons from other experts and case studies in the formulation of a national ocean policy........28 1.4 FROM MPA AND ICZM TO NATIONAL OCEAN POLICY FOR KENYA..................................................30 1.5 SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................30 CHAPTER TWO: OCEAN POLICY FORMULATION PROCESS IN KENYA................................32 2.1 LEGAL ISSUES...............................................................................................................................33 2.2 POLICY ISSUES ..............................................................................................................................33 2.3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES ..............................................................................................................34 2.4 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON KENYA .......................................................................................35 2.4.1 Kenya’s coastal environment, geology and climate...................................................................36 2.4.2 Kenya’s marine jurisdiction.....................................................................................................37 2.4.3 Status of utilization of coastal and marine resources and other related opportunities................40 2.5 THE TASK OF OCEAN