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Fisheries management in Kenya is done through a co-management arrangement between the government and communities through Beach Management Units (BMUs) at the village level. It is these BMUs that COMRED works with in Kwale and Kilifi counties, to build their capacity in marine resource management.
Approximately 80% of the leaders in 13 and 2 Beach management Units (BMU) we work with in Kwale and Kilifi counties respectively are old, with over 45 years. There is limited representation of the youth in leadership positions. Additionally, most of these leaders have low literacy levels and are not able to effectively perform some of their roles, often requiring support from younger BMU members to implement duties such as recordkeeping, organizing, mobilizing attendance and leading community sensitization meetings. On the other hand, BMU leadership is voluntary in nature since the BMUs do not have adequate financial resources to compensate the leaders. As a result, the leaders find themselves spending most of their time in income generating activities to support their families.
Youths are the future custodians of fisheries resources, and their involvement in sustainable fisheries management is paramount. It ensures that they are invested and educated in sustainable marine resource use, and available opportunities in blue economy that will benefit them and their communities at large. Young people often bring new ideas and innovative approaches to solving problems, which is vital for addressing the complex challenges in fisheries management. Youths stand as a beacon of hope and resilience in the face of unsustainable resources use and climate change.
We spotlight some of the youths who have brought tremendous change in their BMUs and are part of COMRED’s intervention on improving the capacity of BMUs in governance and sustainable fisheries management.
Mwatuwe Keya, Mkwiro BMU Secretary
Mwatuwe Keya, born and raised in Mkwiro Island, Kwale County, is a passionate and influential young leader, currently serving as the secretary of Mkwiro BMU. He joined Mkwiro BMU at the age of 26 and three years later became the BMU secretary. His ambition is to see sustainable management of marine resources in Mkwiro village, contributing to a thriving ocean and surrounding environments that supports fisher community livelihoods.
At the beginning of his leadership journey, he had limited knowledge and skills to implement his roles. That Notwithstanding, he remained dedicated and consistent in performing his roles. His involvement in the leadership, governance training and mentorship program by COMRED and Blue Ventures and supported by Kenya Fisheries Service has improved his knowledge and skills. At a personal level, his confidence, self-awareness, and communication skills have improved. He is trusted and relied upon by his fellow community members.
Being young, he has influenced other youths to take part in BMU activities, including raising awareness on conservation of mangroves, beach cleanups, and conducting patrols in community conserved areas.
Mwatuwe’s role in the BMU has contributed immensely to its success over the years. Today, Mkwiro is among the best performing BMUs in Kwale County. In our recent compliance assessment in June 2024, their level of compliance with fisheries management measures was 81%, showing that most BMU members comply with BMU bylaws such as: using sustainable fishing gears, acquiring fishing licenses, submitting catch data and paying fish levy fees. When asked about the drivers for compliance, Mwatuwe mentioned that the sensitization meetings he does together with his fellow leaders on the importance of abiding by BMU-by-laws have been pivotal in improving compliance. In addition, he has been taking part in the planning for patrols meant to curb illegalities in the co-management areas.
Mwatuwe wears many hats. In 2022, he was appointed by BMU members to be a Community-Based Trainer (CBT) for the Eco-credit project, where he acts as a link between COMRED and the Eco-credit group members. Among his many roles is to submit financial and conservation activity data to COMRED through KOBO Collect, a digital data collection tool. Later in the same year, he was appointed as a fish catch data collector. His role as a data collector has been instrumental in ensuring that quality fish catch data is collected, analyzed, interpreted, and used for decision-making by the BMU.
“The energy, enthusiasm, and involvement of the youth can transform our BMUs, setting us up for a better tomorrow; Youths are agile and responsive, and when given the opportunity, they can take our BMUs to the next level.” Mwatuwe Keya.
Erastus Mwanongo, Secretary Wesa BMU
Born in Wesa village in Kilifi County where every male child’s dream is to be a fisher, Erastus did not turn out different. He became a handline fisher at 17 years. When he turned 18in 2014 he formally joined the BMU and was able to acquire a fishing license and started to legally practice fishing.
Being a young outspoken man and having attained secondary education, Erastus had a great potential in leadership. As a result, he was elected as a BMU secretary in 2014. During his time, all the office bearers were youth which made it easier for them to drive change as majority of the fishers in Wesa BMU were youth. These youths preferred leaders within their age group, who they felt would understand and address their needs.
Erastus’s leadership skills were put to test when the other office bearers got an exchange learning opportunity for a period of one week and all the responsibilities fell on his shoulders. His diligence saw him effectively perform all the duties, gaining trust and favor among Wesa BMU members. He also volunteered as a fish catch data collector and was in leadership for one term. During his tenure, He was able to spearhead projects such as building a simple thatched shed ‘banda’ to serve as a fish catch data collection and BMU meeting point. He also encouraged his fellow youth to take part in activities such as beach cleanups.
Driven by passion and commitment to foster change in his BMU, Erastus coached the incoming leaders. However, in the year 2023, the then Secretary resigned due to health issues and the vice secretary relocated. Owing to his previous experience, Erastus was chosen as the interim secretary and was later elected to officially take the secretariat position.
Apart from being a leader, Erastus engages with his fellow youth in activities such as football, which he is passionate about and gets an opportunity to discuss better management of their fisheries resources. Together with other leaders, he has coached young people within his community in volleyball to boost their talent.
Our engagement with Erastus through our leadership and governance intervention commenced in2022. It was encouraging to learn about his work and leadership successes despite lacking leadership training and mentorship. Through the engagement, he has continued to sharpen his leadership skills. He is hopeful that his vision for Wesa BMU in realizing development through increased support by non-governmental and government agencies will soon be realized.
Today, Erastus serves as Community Based Trainer(CBT) of Wesa eco-credit group and a data enumerator for WCS.
“In Wesa BMU, youths form the largest membership, their involvement in BMU activities and leadership is fundamental to the growth of BMU, however, for this to be achieved there is need for frequent mentorship of young leaders.” Amos Deche, Wesa BMU chairperson.
Take home message
By involving youth in sustainable fisheries management, we can ensure that future generations have the knowledge, skills, and commitment to maintain healthy and productive marine environments that will contribute to improved livelihoods. We can do this by:
❖ Creating and strengthening platforms for youth participation in decision-making processes related to sustainable fisheries management.
❖ Supporting youth-led initiatives that promote sustainability in the fisheries sector.
❖ Sharing information and allocating positions for youths in BMU leadership will build stewardship towards conservation of marine resources.
❖ Encourage partnerships between experienced leaders and young people to facilitate knowledge transfer and mentorship.
❖ Develop policies that recognize and support the role of youth in fisheries management.
❖ Create and support intervention that support income generation for BMUs to support leaders remuneration which will encourage undivided attention in implementing their roles.
We have just published our 2024 Mentorship Guide: your go-to resource for conducting effective community capacity building and mentoring for coastal and marine resource governance. Whether you’re a seasoned community leader or just embarking on your conservation journey, this guide is crafted to empower you every step of the way.
Discover the guide here
