Contribution of Artisanal Fishers in Promotion of Sustainable Fisheries in Kwale County, Kenya

Abstract

Artisanal fisheries underpin the ecological and socio-economic security of coastal communities across the Western Indian Ocean, yet the mechanisms linking fisher behaviour to perceived sustainability remain poorly quantified. We present the first large-scale, multivariate assessment of how fishing practices and support for mitigation measures jointly shape sustainability outcomes among artisanal fishers in Kwale County, Kenya. Using a mixed-methods design integrating a stratified survey of 319 fishers (87.4% response rate, 67 landing sites) with focus group discussions, we show that fishing practices (β = 0.2548, p = 0.002) and - more strongly - support for mitigation measures (β = 0.7139, p = 0.008) are significant, independent predictors of perceived fisheries sustainability. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate regression in SPSS, while qualitative data were analysed thematically, allowing behavioural patterns and lived experience to be triangulated within a single analytical framework. Handline gear dominated, and most fishers held valid licenses and Beach Management Unit registration, indicating a governance-ready fisher base receptive to reform. Fishers expressed strong support for marine protected areas, gear restrictions, education, and monitoring technologies, positioning local buy-in as a lever for conservation policy rather than a barrier to it. These findings reframe sustainable small-scale fisheries management as a co-produced outcome of behaviour and institutional support, and provide evidence base for targeted subsidy and education programmes on selective, low-impact gear at national and county levels.