Species composition, abundance and fishing methods of small-scale fisheries in the seagrass meadows of Gazi Bay, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Fisheries are important sources of livelihoods to coastal communities. In the tropics fishing is conducted from mangroves, seagrass meadows to coral reefs. Studies on fisheries in the tropics have focused on coral reef fisheries, with little attention to seagrass meadows and mangroves. Using creel survey and in-depth interviews, this study assessed species composition, abundance and exploitation methods of fisheries from the seagrass meadows of Gazi Bay, Kenya. Eighty-five species were recorded with 8 species accounting for 75.7% of the total catch dominated by Leptoscarus vaigiensis, accounting for 30.9% of the total catch. Five dominant gears were observed: basket traps, hook and stick, handlines, nets and spear-guns. Basket traps were the most dominant accounting for 75.1% of the total catch by volume. These results underscore the value of the seagrass meadows to supporting fisheries. Gear management measures should be implemented for sustainability of the seagrass habitat and associated fisheries.

KEYWORDS:

• Blue carbon
• Seagrass meadows
• Small-scale fisheries
• Indian Ocean
• food security
• Kenya

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Gazi Beach Management Unit (BMU), particularly, the Chairman, Mr. Juma Mkuu; for the participation in data collection and mobilizing fishers. Field work was made possible through PUNGUZA project funded Additional support for the study was through Pwani University to which we are very grateful. We also thank James Mbugua and Fredrick Mungai for their assistance map production.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Peter Musembi is a student at Pwani University in Kenya pursuing Masters in Fisheries Management and affiliated to Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. His research interests are coral reef ecology, small-scale fisheries and ecology of sharks and rays.

Bernerd Fulanda is Senior Lecturer in Marine Sciences, Fisheries & Oceanography, and the Current Chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences, Pwani University. His current focus is Fish Population dynamics /Fish Stock Assessment; Resource Sustainability; Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Biodiversity/Conservation and Training.

James Kairo is a Pew Fellow (2019) and a Chief Scientist with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (Mombasa) where he lead a small team of scientists dedicated to blue carbon ecosystem. Kairo was the coordination lead author (CLO) of IPCC's Special Report on Oceans and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate.

Michael Githaiga is a lecturer at the University of Embu, Department of Biological Sciences. He earned his PhD in Marine Ecology from Edinburgh Napier University, UK. Previously he worked with Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. He has a wide experience in the management of coastal ecosystems particularly mangroves and seagrasses. His research interests are in conservation ecology with strong focus on carbon accounting.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by British Council Newton Fund [grant number 275670159].