Engagement with Small scale fishers on Bottom Trawling
In Ungwana Bay, we brought together small-scale fishers and coastal communities from the Malindi–Magarini (Kilifi County) and Tana Delta (Tana River County) Joint Co-Management Areas (JCMAs) to deepen understanding of bottom trawling fisheries and their impacts.
The session unpacked key aspects of trawl fisheries, including prawn trawling, why bottom trawling gear is used, and its ecological and socio-economic implications. Participants explored critical questions around the sustainability of bottom trawling its effects on the seabed, how impacts can be minimized, protection of sensitive habitats, safeguarding the ecosystem, and reducing by-catch.
A key highlight was a dynamic brainstorming discussion on the ecological and socio-economic concerns linked to bottom trawling, as well as the emerging conflicts between small-scale fishers and industrial trawler operations in Ungwana Bay.
The dialogue also focused on practical solutions, emphasizing the use of administrative remedies such as improved enforcement of fisheries regulations, zoning and spatial planning, strengthened co-management structures, and enhanced stakeholder engagement to address conflicts and promote sustainable fisheries governance.
