Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P.O. Box 1881 Kisumu, Kenya. E-mail cgichuki@yahoo.com

Co-management in the Lake Victoria fishery: Realities, constraints and opportunities in Kenya

In Kenya, the management of fisheries resources is based on a centralised top-down approach inherited from the colonial era. This approach is characterised by over reliance on biological parameters as the basis for policy formulation, legislation and resource management guidelines. In this "command and control" management style, fisheries resources are regarded as state owned, ensuring that considerable resources are needed to manage it. Furthermore, there are little or no consultations with other stakeholders concerning management decisions.

This paper argues that the style of management is outdated, problematic, expensive and unsustainable in the developing world, and presents co-management as a viable alternative. The paper discusses the potentials for co-management in Lake Victoria fisheries in general, and on Kenya's prospects, in particular. It identifies relevant community-based organisations and institutions, and their potential roles in the co-management framework.

Data and information for this paper was drawn from studies undertaken by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Research Project (LVFRP) between 1999 and 2001. They included quantitative studies using questionnaires to interview (450) fishermen and 7 District Fisheries Officers. Qualitative data was generated in a case study carried out on Obenge Beach in Kenya using PRA tools to monitor the existing community based organisations and how they functioned. Further information came from stakeholder workshops.

Results indicated that pre-existing community based organisations have the potential for managing their respective fishery resource. These organisations have the ability to formulate and be governed by by-laws, monitor changes in their fishery, patrol parts of their fishing area and solve internal conflicts. However, these organisations are constrained by their lack of legitimacy, undefined property-rights and capital resources. Recommendations are made to strengthen the capacities of community-based organisations to partake in co-management.