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Leadership and Governance
Beach Management Units (BMUs) are the lowest community-level fisheries management institutions in Kenya, co-managing with the government. COMRED has been working with BMU leaders to improve their governance capacity by building trust, accountability and transparency.
Currently we work with 13 BMUs in Kwale County (Shimoni, Mkwiro, Wasini, Kibuyuni, Majoreni, Jimbo, Vanga, Mwandamu, Munje, Mkunguni, Mwaembe, Funzi and Bodo) and 2 BMUs in Kilifi County (Roka and Wesa).
Our Milestones in governance
From assessment of our governance interventions, findings indicate marked improvement in compliance with fisheries regulations, with more fishers now submitting fish catch data, obtaining licenses, and actively participating in BMU activities.
Leadership capacity has increased by 7%, with improvements realized in financial management and record-keeping, and BMUs successfully endorsing annual workplans and budgets.
Our Expansion
We are working with 30 BMU champions who have shown commitment to sustainable fishing practices, have extensive knowledge, leadership experience, and strong community influence. The champions drive behavior change by sensitizing and raising awareness among their peers. So far a total of 451 fishers across 11 BMUs have been reached through their efforts.
We have trained and mentored 72 BMU patrol subcommittee members within 12 BMUs in Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS).
We have trained and mentored 31 youthful fishers on sustainable practices and marine conservation as a means of promoting sustainable practices among the youth.
The Impact
Our Impact
- 7% increase in leadership capacity with improvement in financial management and record keeping.
- The compliance of BMU members with fisheries regulations increased. The May 2024 compliance assessment for 10 BMUs showed that more fishers submitted fish catch data, obtained licenses, and participated actively in BMU activities.
- Trained and mentored 6 BMU patrol subcommittee members from 12 BMUs on Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) to curb illegalities.
- Champions raised awareness among 451 fishers across 11 BMUs on sustainable practices and conservation.
- 9 BMUs benefited in 2022-2023 from improved planning, such as endorsing of work plans and budgets
- Trained 35 BMU leaders and patrol subcommittee members from 2 BMUs in fisheries management.
- Reached over 70 community members during the Bahari Huru Festival organized with Jukwaa Arts to promote marine resource conservation.
- Developed and disseminated banners with information on sustainable fisheries practices to 15 BMUs, raising awareness among 451 fishers.
451
"The leadership and governance training have made me a better leader. I now have a better understanding of my roles, I have gotten better at financial bookkeeping and I have become very confident." - Hassan Bakari, Jimbo BMU Chairperson
"The leadership and governance training have made me a better leader. I now have a better understanding of my roles, I have gotten better at financial bookkeeping and I have become very confident." - Hassan Bakari, Jimbo BMU Chairperson
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