Ecological and socio-economic assessment of Kenyan coastal fisheries: The case of Malindi-Ungwana Bay artisanal fisheries versus semi-industrial bottom trawling UGent Promoter: Cosmas Nzaka MUNGA Prof. Dr. Ann Vanreusel September 2013 Kenyan Promoter: Dr. Edward Kimani Ecological and socio-economic assessment of Kenyan coastal fisheries: The case of Malindi-Ungwana Bay artisanal fisheries versus semi-industrial bottom trawling Cosmas Nzaka Munga Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute Marine Fisheries and Ecology Programme P.O. Box 81651 – 80100, Mombasa, Kenya UGent Promoter Prof. Dr. Ann Vanreusel Gent University Marine Biology Research Group Krijgslaan 281-S8, 9000 Gent, Belgium Kenyan Promoter Dr. Edward Ndirui Kimani Coordinator, Marine Fisheries and Ecology Programme Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute P.O. Box 81651 – 80100, Mombasa, Kenya Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor in Science: Marine Sciences Members of the Reading Committee: Prof. Dr. Magda Vincx - Gent University, Belgium Dr. Hans Polet - ILVO, Belgium Prof. Dr. Steven Degraer - RBINS & Gent University, Belgium Members of the Examination Committee: Prof. Dr. Dominique Adriaens - Gent University, Belgium Prof. Dr. Magda Vincx - Gent University, Belgium Dr. Hans Polet - ILVO, Belgium Prof. Dr. Steven Degraer - RBINS & Gent University, Belgium Prof. Dr. Nico Koedam - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium Dr. Marijn Rabaut - North Sea Advisor Belgian Minister of North Sea & Gent University, Belgium Dr. Edward Kimani - KMFRI, Kenya Prof. Dr. Ann Vanreusel - Gent University, Belgium Prof. Dr. Jan Mees - VLIZ & Gent University, Belgium Dr. Marleen De Troch - Gent University, Belgium Gent University Faculty of Science Marine Biology Research Group Campus Sterre – S8 Krijgslaan 281 B-9000, Gent Belgium Email: [email protected]/[email protected] Publically defended on 23rd September 2013. Chairman of the defence: Prof. Dr. Dominique Adriaens, Gent University, Belgium. For citation of published work reprinted in this thesis, please refer to the original publications. Munga, C.N. , 2013. Ecological and socio-economic assessment of Kenyan coastal fisheries: The case of Malindi-Ungwana Bay artisanal fisheries versus semi-industrial bottom trawling. Gent University, Belgium 210 pp. Dedication Two individuals who wanted the best out of me: To my late father, Munga Nzaka Dingwanga who valued education despite having not been to school. To my late brother-in-law, Shaban Zuma Ngome for his academic encouragement even up to the time of his death. “Knowledge is like a garden if it’s not cultivated, it cannot be harvested” (Kenyan Proverb) “Wealth that is free for all is valued by none … the fish in the sea are valueless to the fisherman, because there is no assurance that they will be there for him tomorrow if they are left behind today” (Gordon, 1954) i Acknowledgements Every long journey begins with a single step. This marks the end of my Ph.D. programme after four years of hard work. This successful ending would not have been possible without the support in many ways from a number of institutions and individuals. First: my heartfelt and sincere gratitude go to the Flemish Inter-University Council for awarding me financial support through the VLIR ICP Ph.D. scholarship. programme. Second: to my UGent Promoter, Prof. Dr. Ann Vanreusel who started mentoring me tirelessly way back since my master program in Ecological Marine Management (ECOMAMA), currently Oceans and Lakes, while at the Free University of Brussels, from my nascency in marine science until this advanced stage. Thank you so much for your professional guidance and encouragement even at times when things were difficult, you treated me with much care and concern like one of your sons. Third: to my Kenyan Promoter and my colleague at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Mombasa, for having been more than just a workmate, many thanks for having shared your great and long term experience in the field of fisheries research whole-heartedly without any reservations. You have been my greatest inspiration, and I am still looking forward to continue working with you. My Ph.D. programme would not have been complete without the sea time provided to me to participate in scientific ship cruises under the just ended South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Project (SWIOFP) in Kenya. My participation in the cruises was positively and readily accepted by Dr. Renison Ruwa (KMFRI Deputy Director, Coastal and Marine Division), who was the project National Focal Point for Kenya, Prof. Johan Groeneveld, who was the project Regional Component 2 Coordinator, and Ms. Teresa Athyde who was in- charge of cruise logistics and planning. The Kenya Navy kindly provided us with the needed sea security during the sea time. I thank you all for having given me the golden field work opportunity and indeed a great exposure. ii I would wish to extend my thanks to the Director of KMFRI, Dr. Johnson Kazungu. He is the one who hinted me about the importance of Malindi-Ungwana Bay fisheries as a national interest. He challenged me right in his office during one of my courtesy calls to come up with a scientific research proposal to contribute information for the sustainable utilisation of the bay’s fisheries resources. This is the very insight, which culminated in this Ph.D. study. I would also extend my thanks to the entire KMFRI management for various support given to me while undertaking my study. This is especially the office transport (field vehicles) that was readily availed to me upon request. My colleagues in KMFRI Fisheries Research Programme: James Gonda, Boaz Orembo, Rashid Anam and Dickson Odongo, thank you very much for sharing your experience and knowledge in fish identification while working with you in the various fish landing sites. Not forgeting my other colleagues in KMFRI Socio-economic Programme: Jacob Ochiewo, Edward Waiyaki, Fridah Munyi and Faith Kimanga. Many thanks for sharing your socio-economic experience with me and the great fieldwork we had together. My colleagues in the Marine Biology Research Group at Gent University: Lilian Nduku, Rasha Sabeel and Eva, many thanks for your encouragement during the tough times we underwent together. Not forgeting my Land Lady, Barbara who always reserved for me a room for my accomodation while in session at Gent, many thanks for your generosity. To my Belgian friends: Arne and Gijs, and not forgeting all Kenyan student fraternity at Gent, many thanks for making me comfortable while at Gent. Last but not least, to my dear family for their patience and prayers while I was away from home for many years, you have made me proud of you. My mum, Regina Munga for seeing me through all my education from difficult beginings especially after being widowed, you never gave up, but you made sure I had the best in education. This was possible with great support from my brother and sister Emmanuel Ndegwa and Priscar Mbetsa. Not forgetting my nephews and nieces: Eunice Luvuno, Francis Ngome, Loice Kwekwe and iii Sammy Chimvatsi. To my dear one, loving wife Gladys Njoki, the strongest of all in my family, for having endured lonely times while taking care of our son Ivan Munga and daughter Tanya Waruguru, thank you so much for your great support. Your strong prayers and continuous encouragement have finally borne fruits, there we are, Dr. and Mrs. Munga Cosmas Nzaka! iv Summary This Ph.D. study assessed the ecological and socio-economic aspects of the artisanal fishery and semi-industrial bottom trawling in the Malindi-Ungwana Bay, Kenya before and after the trawl ban. Bottom trawling targets shrimps but also produce bycatch. For several decades, these two fishery types were practiced in the bay. Later on, conflicts emerged ostensibly due to excess trawl bycatches otherwise targeted by artisanal fishers, perceived environmantal degradation, and damage of artisanal fishing gear by the trawlers. Retained trawler bycatches also flooded the local fish markets with cheap fish that competed unfairly with fish sold by the artisanal fishers. These problems persisted for sometime until a ban on bottom trawling was imposed in September 2006 to pave the way for the formulation of the existing shrimp fishery management plan, six years after the ban. This Ph.D. study therefore, drew its motivation to investigate the status of the Malindi-Ungwana Bay fisheries before and after the trawling ban and fulfilled the following specific objectives: i. the study determined the trends of the Malindi-Ungwana Bay artisanal fisheries and the semi-industrial bottom trawl landings before and after the trawl ban; ii. the study characterised the artisanal fisheries in terms of vessel-gear categories and catch composition, and proposed several management recommendations; iii. the study determined the spatio-temporal distribution patterns and composition of stocks (shrimps and bycatch of finfish species) before lifting of the trawling ban; iv. the study determined artisanal fishers’ perceptions on shrimp trawling activity and identified to what extent fishing activity contributed to the livelihoods of the artisanal fishers. While the broader framework and key features of this Ph.D. study are explained and introduced in Chapter 1, the general discussion and conclusions generated in this entire study, and recommendations for sustainability of the Malindi-Ungwana Bay fisheries, like v other fisheries in the tropics are provided in Chapter 7. Therefore, the above fulfilled specific objectives involved: a retrospective analysis of the existing artisanal and trawl data before and after the ban, shore-based artisanal catch assessments after the trawl ban, experimental bottom trawl surveys to determine the status of shrimp stocks and finfish bycatches after the ban, and a socio-economic assessment of artisanal fishers’ alternative livelihoods and their perceptions of shrimp trawling in the bay after the trawl ban was lifted in July 2011. Results in Chapter 2 are therefore based on aggregated catch data from the Kenya Fisheries Department.