Analysing the Challenges Faced By Beach Management Units in Managing Fisheries Stock in Mombasa County, Kenya
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Date
2020
Authors
Menza, Sebastian Juma
Mange, Daniel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Academic Journals
Abstract
Fisheries Management approaches continued
being managed by centralized government as
intervention for some time after
independence in countries in Africa. Later the
approach proved inadequate to deal with the
emerging issues in the management of
fisheries stock. Partnerships known as comanagement, now practiced in East Africa
including Kenya, involve Beach
Management Units (BMUs) in fisheries
management. In Kenya co-management of
fisheries with BMUs began in 2007 with
hope that they will help the Department of
Fisheries better manage fisheries stock.
However, fisheries management still remains
a challenge to the central government. This
study aimed to determine the challenges
faced by beach management units in
managing fisheries stock in Mombasa
County. The study was guided by the
following specific objectives: to determine
the roles performed by BMUs in managing
fisheries stocks, to examine the challenges
facing BMUs in managing fisheries stocks
and to explore measures to improve the
BMUs performance in managing fisheries
stocks. The study adopted descriptive
research design with target population
consisting of 14 BMUs with 2800 members
and 7 institutions working with fisher
community. Three hundred (300)
respondents who were BMU members were
sampled through simple random sampling.
Data was collected by use of questionnaires
which were pre-tested to ascertain their
validity and consistency before they were
used. The study found that all the BMUs exist
as legal entities, having been registered by
the Fisheries Department with majority
having democratically elected officials with
Executive Committee composed of required
stakeholders’ representation. Lack of
commitment among the BMU assembly in
playing their stipulated roles as well as lack
of co-operation among the executive
committee members was reported to be major
reasons for dismal performance of BMUs in
co-management. Majority of BMUs source
funds from international and local donors as
a strategy to enable them play their comanagement roles such as patrolling the
shores to nab illegal fishing gears. The study
concludes that although majority of BMUs in
Mombasa County are compliant with BMU
regulations with regard to management
functions and playing their intended roles
effectively, this is not reflected in the
recovery of fish stocks as intended and
recommends institutions to channel more
resources towards enhancing the capacities of
BMUs to sustainably utilize fisheries stocks.
Description
A research article published in International Academic Journal of Social Sciences and Education
Keywords
beach management units, fisheries stock, Mombasa County, Kenya
Citation
Menza, S. J. & Mange, D. (2020). Analysing the challenges faced by beach management units in managing fisheries stock in Mombasa County, Kenya. International Academic Journal of Social Sciences and Education, 2(2), 137-165