Dalmas Oyugi

Promoting Conservation by Strengthening Livelihood of Kilifi Creek Community through Sustainable Utilization of Fisheries Resource, Kilifi Kenya

Dalmas Oyugi determining the population and distributions of green crab (Carcinius Maenus - Lin, 1758) at Mimereaux, Northern France 1998.

Phase I of this project which ended in March 2003 isolated fisheries initiatives as the primary livelihood of the local communities around Kilifi Creek, alongside peasant agriculture and quarrying. The current Phase II which commenced in April 2006 aims at strengthening livelihood of the Creek’s Community by end of 2007 through, collaborative capacity building on sustainable utilization of fisheries resource.

Specific Objectives:

By April, 2006, ten less destructive fishing gears for each of the 3 organised fishing groups in Kilifi shall have been acquired to strengthen sustainable fishing capacity,

By June, 2006, a small cold room (10 x 10 ft), for use by each of the 3 organised fishing groups shall have been established to support effective post harvest handling and marketing of natural fish products,

By the end of 2007 we shall have trained at least 1 local school leaver at Diploma level on Fisheries and Aquaculture Management. to build his/her capacity to sustainably manage the Creek’s fisheries activities.

By the end of 2007, we shall have undertaken at least 2 periodic surveys on fish stock assessment and ichthyodiversity hasten streamlining of fisheries statistics for effective management.

If successful, this second phase will set a base for other development and conservation activities. Deliberate and pragmatic efforts will be invested in simplistic and locally available techniques and resources to establish sustainable fisheries initiatives in Kilifi District.

Three major activities accomplished during the short Phase I included: 1. rapid rural appraisal to establish the status of livelihood of the Kilifi Coastal Community; 2. multi-sectoral workshop to establish government establishments and their role on sustainable utilization of the coastal and marine resources; 3. established fisheries and ichthyodiversity of the Creek.

This project is executed collaboratively between Mr. Dalmas O. Oyugi (as the project manager) and Mr. Nemwel Onchong’a - District Fisheries Officer, Kilifi District. Other important stakeholders include National Museums of Kenya and Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute.

To read about Dalmas' first RSG grant and Phase I of this project http://www.ruffordsmallgrants.org/rsg/Projects/DalmasOyugi or for further information contact doyugi2001@yahoo.co.uk