Publication Date:
2021-05-19
Description:
Kenya's population has more than doubled in 30 years: from 16 million in the late 1970s it is set to reach 55 million by 2050. Finite fish populations cannot sustain this demographic pressure. In this context we looked at the effects of artisanal fishing gears used by local fishermen in Kenya to evaluate their impacts on coastal fishes and review management practices. There are 12 different gears used by artisanal fishermen, five of which are widespread and commonly used. We collated data from 20 published studies and our own to examine long term trends and ecological impacts of the five commonly used gears. CPUE has dropped dramatically since the 1980s from 28 kg fish /fisher/day to 3 kg/fisher/day. However, from the mid 1990s to 2006 CPUE has remained relatively stable and consistently so across the different gears, an indication of sustainable levels of fishing. Catch rates differed consistently by gear with spear gun catch rates always the highest and beach seines catch rates the lowest. These gears are both illegal. The differences are useful in enforcing or revising regulations. For example beach seine crews could be advised to use basket traps or handlines if they want more income. Young men tend to reject the traditional basket trap, but its catch rates were consistently higher than gillnets. An average juvenile retention rate of 50.1 % was reported across all gears with the highest recorded by the illegal beach seine (68%) and the lowest by spearguns (38%). We found few reasons to support the illegal status of spearguns: the lowest juvenile retention rates, no by-catch and one of the most affordable gears. Although CPUE has remained steady since 1999, diversity in catch composition has declined. We discuss the implications of these fishing effects on the future of Kenya's coastal fish populations.
Description:
Published
Keywords:
Artisanal fishing
;
Fishing gear
;
Catch rate
;
CORDIO East Africa
Repository Name:
AquaDocs
Type:
Conference Material
,
Not Known
Format:
15 slides
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