Canadian University Projects in International Development Database (CUPID)

Africa

Kenya

• Community-based management of aquatic resources for food and income

Community-based management of aquatic resources for food and income

Project purpose:
The project contributes to improving food security and income in Kenya by generating and disseminating information to help enhance and sustain local aquatic resources. It particularly concentrates on issues related to artisanal freshwater fisheries and small-scale sustainable pond and cage aquaculture.

Key results to date:
Two Kenyan students completed an M.Phil Fisheries degree at MU. One (female) researched coastal fish stocks in Tudor Creek, one of the largest mangrove creeks in Kenya, and the other (male) determined age parameters of the lungfish population in Lake Baringo. A multi-stakeholder workshop reported on issues facing the fisheries and residents of the Lake Baringo watershed and proposed remedial work. As a result, one faculty member is researching for her PhD MU the breeding migrations and behaviour of lungfish to determine the potential for aquaculture, and an MPhil student (female) is determining and analysing local attitudes to conservation regimes in the Lake Baringo watershed. A field survey identified three lakes and communities for introducing the cage-culture of tilapia. Three cages were built and placed in the lakes and juvenile fish are being acquired. Two MPhil students (male) are working on related aspects, one on the opinions of residents related to aquaculture versus artisanal fishing, the other on possible environmental changes following the introduction of cage culture. Two workshops were implemented to consider future directions to increase gender equality. As a result, community women became more aware of the important roles they play in capture fisheries and cage management (feeding and marketing).The MU School of Natural Resources Extension Unit was established through the provision of a digital media production suite and the training of three technicians in video shooting and editing. Two DVDs on aspects of aquaculture were produced as training exercises. The expertise is now available for the production of video to support internal curricula and proposed distance education initiatives aimed at upgrading government fisheries officers and community groups. Three selected communities and corresponding lakes were also involved in the project and farmers were provided with aquaculture training and introduced to tilapia cage culture. They were also provided with information on the commercial and nutrient value of growing fish. Floating rafts with structures anchored offshore were built, stocked with fingerlings and put into the lakes. Each cage has a life-span of five years and can easily be replicated locally. Also, a low cost and low technology automatic feeder was constructed for each set of cages and a pelletizer machine was provided so that cage management committees, composed of community members, could be shown how to make fish food from natural ingredients. Three fish ponds were dug at the Starehe Girl¿s Centre and stocked with tilapia. An extra-curricular aquaculture club has been formed to manage the ponds and sell the catch to local companies to buy further juveniles and food. Computers and books, microscopes and water quality determination equipment were provided to support general education activities both at the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences and the school.