Across East Africa's coastline, communities are forging new paths to economic survival by adapting to the shifting realities of their marine environment. As climate change, overfishing, and declining ocean health threaten traditional fishing livelihoods, fisherfolk, particularly women, are increasingly turning to tourism, ecosystem restoration, and conservation-based businesses.
In Malindi, Kenya, Nuru Mohammed, a 54-year-old fisherwoman, is part of an initiative to open a beachside restaurant. This venture, utilizing fishing nets as decor, offers an alternative income stream for families who have historically depended on the sea. "For us women, this is hope," Mohammed said. "It will help support many families that have depended on the ocean for decades."
Mohammed, who has faced challenges including boat theft and competition from industrial trawlers, acknowledges the changing landscape. "I can’t compete with that kind of power or scale," she stated, referring to facilities like a nearby Chinese-owned fish processing plant. "It has been tough. I fought to remain a fisherwoman. But I think it’s a fight I can no longer win."
New Avenues for Income
Similar adaptations are emerging across the region. In Kenya, women are generating income from restored mangrove forests through beekeeping and ecotourism. In Tanzania's Zanzibar archipelago, fishing communities are actively protecting coral reefs through managed closures. Mozambique is seeing job creation and habitat revival through seagrass restoration.
Beatrice Mwanyiro, overseeing a mangrove nursery and restaurant supported by a Canadian-funded conservation program called ReSea, highlighted the necessity of adaptation. "We have to adapt to the changing times," Mwanyiro said. "The number of fish coming into the shallow waters are falling every year. Without another source of income, we won’t be able to feed our families."
Mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and nearshore fisheries are vital ecosystems that provide food, protect coastlines from storms, and sequester carbon. However, these environments are imperiled by rising ocean temperatures, pollution, habitat destruction, and unsustainable fishing practices.
Pressures on Traditional Fishing
Fishermen in Lamu, Kenya, report significant declines in catch sizes. Mohamed Somo, a local fishermen's leader, noted that boats that once brought in up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of fish now often return with less than 30 kilograms (66 pounds). While Kenyan law restricts industrial trawlers to waters at least 5 nautical miles offshore, fishers claim some vessels frequently operate closer to shore. This issue is not unique to Kenya; illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing contributes an estimated $23 billion annually to the global economy while jeopardizing marine biodiversity and the food security of billions, according to the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization.
"The trawlers fish offshore during the day, but at night they move into the shallow waters where artisanal fishers work," Somo explained. "By morning, there’s very little left for us."
Conservation and Policy
The increasing pressure on coastal communities has elevated ocean conservation on the political agenda. Conservation groups advocate for robust support for sustainable livelihoods, viewing them as crucial for both community resilience and marine protection. "Communities that depend on the ocean are also its best stewards," said Andreane Martel, project director for ReSea. "When local people, especially women, lead conservation, they protect biodiversity while creating more resilient and inclusive livelihoods."
At the recent Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, conservation organizations urged African governments to ratify the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, also known as the "High Seas" treaty. This U.N. pact, which entered into force in January, aims to establish marine protected areas in international waters and ensure the equitable sharing of marine resources. As of April, 145 countries had signed and 81 had ratified the agreement.
Greenpeace Africa's oceans campaign lead, Aliou Ba, stated that the BBNJ Agreement presents a significant opportunity for African governments to protect the high seas and secure the future of fisheries. "But protecting the ocean also means confronting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing that is stripping African waters of marine life and robbing coastal communities of food and income," Ba said. "Governments cannot afford to delay."