Small-scale artisanal coastal fisheries are characterized as being multi-gear, multi-species and landed at multiple landing sites (Kaunda-Arara et al., 2003, McClanahan and Mangi, 2004). Due to their multifaceted nature, small-scale fisheries are complex to understand and manage, thus they are poorly quantified, and their contribution to national income and livelihoods is poorly acknowledged (Obura 2001; Ochiewo, 2004; Cinner et al., 2009). Furthermore, their contributions to global commitments to sustainability such as the SDGs often go unrecognized or under-valued.
Studies have shown that many of the artisanal or small-scale coastal fishing communities are dependent on fisheries resources for food security and their livelihood (Omukoto et al., 2018; Wabnitz et al., 2018). Small-scale fisheries play an important role in food security, income and economies of many developing countries, and thus are pivotal in contributing towards the SDGs.
In this study, we applied a rapid appraisal framework to measure the contributions of selected SSFs to multiple SDGs. Variability in the contributions of SSF towards the different SDGs was evident, and this may be attributed to, and a reflection of the complex nature of these fisheries.
Overall small pelagic, prawn, basket trap and lobster fishery performed better than all the other fisheries, having higher contributions for a higher number of SDGs. Conversely, handline, octopus and catfish fishery contribution towards most of the SDGs was lower. Small pelagic fishery which had a higher contribution in six of the SDGs (1, 2, 5, 10, 11 and 16) performed well in eradicating poverty and providing food security. These two goals are closely linked. Small pelagic fishery also contributed to SDGs 5 and 10, on gender equality and reduced inequalities is reflected by the involvement of women in the fishery, particularly in the post-harvest activities. From this study, it was revealed that Women form about 80% of the value chain in post-harvest activities (boiling, drying and selling). Further, the contribution of small pelagic fishery to these SDGs has had positive effects that support contribution to SDG 11 and 16, sustainable communities and peace. Prawn fishery performed well at SDG 3, having the highest contribution to this goal among all the studied fisheries. The high contribution to good health and well-being of prawn fishery is also reflected in SDG 1, on eradicating poverty which was also high. The fishery also performed well on SDG 12 on responsible production and consumption which may be linked to wellbeing and no poverty. On the other hand, handline fisheries did not perform well and this may be partly attributed to lack of information. Indeed, there was no data or information for SDG 17 in this fishery. The highest contribution for this fishery was for SDG 16 on peace and strong institutions which scored at medium high level.
In the prawn fishery stakeholders indicated that the stock is rapidly declining partly attributed to increased fishing activities due to increased populations. In prawn fisheries, women play a key role in the market where they buy prawns from the fishers, process them, and then sell them locally or regionally. However, fishing activities are dominated by men who are assumed to have the technical know-how and muscles to handle boats and fishing nets. The fishery capitalizes on the local and regional markets as accessing the international market has not been harnessed due high market standards, low catch and low technology. Prawn catches are purely for commercial purposes; prawns are consumed by the local community during peak season when there is more than enough for market supply.
Basket trap fishery dominates the Kenyan coastal fishery. Fishers have experienced a decline in catches over the years which they attribute to the degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems and overfishing (Thoya et al., 2022). The small-scale coastal fishing communities are characterized by low mean annual income and low levels of education (Dzoga et al., 2019). Apart from small-scale trading, women's involvement in basket trap fishery is in the collection of bait (some use cabbage/seaweed) and gathering the weaving materials for the traps, owning the basket traps and fishing vessels.
Small-scale fisheries are most often associated with SDG 14.b. In this study we show that SSFs directly contribute to multiple social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability and other SDGs. The SDGs assessed can be grouped into three clusters following the traditional sustainability pillars: ‘Economy’ (SDGs 8, 9, 10, 12 and 17), ‘Society’ (SDGs 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, and 16), and ‘Biosphere’ (SDG 14). Small pelagic fishery showed a good balance across these pillars, with more substantial contributions to societal SDGs. The overall contribution of the assessed SSF to SDG 14 was at medium level, which was linked to changes in market demand, declining catch rates, and an increasing fishing effort for fishers to sustain their income, leading to resource depletion and aggravating food insecurity concerns for coastal populations.
The Results highlighted some of the complex challenges faced by these SSFs, identified areas where they performed well or lagged, and highlighted some causal mechanisms between SDGs. Several studies have noted several challenges faced by small-scale fishers which include poor transport and market infrastructure, unfair and fluctuating market demand and prices, fishing vessels, gears and equipment incapacitation and limited access to capital (Wamukota 2015; Kimani et al., 2020).
It is very rare to find waste in small-scale fisheries and all catch including bycatch is either marketed or consumed (Mangi et al, 2007). Overall, the Fishers’ income was beyond minimum wage both for the national and international market; living above the poverty line in many cases. This is an indication of gradual economic growth along the Kenyan coast and also translates to national benefits. The majority of the fishers live in inadequate housing, semi-permanent houses in some areas while others live in low levels of housing; but most have access to health services.
Several factors like weak monitoring and enforcement capacity, few alternative livelihood sources, limited scientific data and lack of good political will limit effective management and governance of small-scale fisheries (Okemwa et al., 2017). The men on the other hand have always dominated in the fishery where they act as fishers, weavers of the basket traps, boat owners and fish dealers. The fishers in the surveyed sites complained about over-exploitation by the gear and vessel owners (tajiri’s) where the tajiri’s manipulated the fish prices and the time taken to give payments to the fishers. Previous studies have recommended that the fishers be financially capacitated to own their gears and vessels and this will help in reducing the over exploitation (Fulanda et al., 2009).
In Kenya, increased fishing efforts driven by a growing population, unemployment and limited alternative or complementary livelihoods, coupled with open access to fisheries and the use of destructive fishing gear (e.g., beach seines), have caused the degradation of critical marine habitats and affect the country’s fish stocks. Weak governance has affected coastal fisheries and has contributed to the over exploitation and degradation. Several NGOs are also important stakeholders. They advocate for the sustainability of the fisheries of the region.
There were some limitations in the study that may have influenced the findings. The framework provided a partial image of the SSF-SDG dynamics as only directly influenced targets were selected. The technical terms used in the surveys may have been difficult to explain to stakeholders or for them to understand, hence affecting the scoring. Other variables, especially those concerning household welfare (i.e., housing conditions, the health of household members, the prevalence of some diseases in the fishing communities, and education level), are sensitive and remain challenging to acquire in some contexts. In addition, the assessment was focused on the global standards set in the goals and targets, which may be biased or exclude certain local situations that could be assessed as contributions towards the SDGs e.g. it is assumed that small-scale fisheries actors are employed, yet in our local situation many actors particularly women are self-employed. There is a need to refine the assessment tool further to use in future studies.
Existing small-scale fisheries assessment tools like stock assessments provide a limiting picture and the tool used in this study could help other actors recognize the valuable contribution SSFs provide, as well as opportunities to improve SSF sustainability and acknowledge trade-offs. This study was the first attempt to assess the contribution of SSFs towards the SDGs. Only a small fraction of the fisheries was captured and the findings may be biased. More case studies should be conducted to give a comprehensive account of Kenya’s SSFs towards the SDGs.
The contribution of SSFs towards the SDGs is not accounted for due to their multiple dimensions that make their assessment complex. In this study, SSFs were assessed using a simple tool that involved the SSF actors. The contribution of Kenya’s SSF towards the SDGs is at a medium level. The tool served as a diagnostic tool for identifying strengths and gaps in the contribution of SSFs to achieving the SDGs. With only a few years to the 2030 deadline for SDGs achievement, many of the SSFs actors are not aware of them and a lot of capacity building will be required to bring SDG awareness to this group. More such case studies will be required to give a comprehensive account of SSFs contribution towards the SDGs.