Catch Assessment Survey of Marine and Coastal Fisheries in Kenya: Standard Operating Procedures - 2013/2016.

Abstract

Numerous frame and catch assessment surveys (FS and CAS) have been undertaken on the marine and coastal fisheries in Kenya since the early 1970’s to date. However, the early surveys have been sporadic and often institution based, often characterized by lack of stakeholders driven design, sporadic and incomplete coverage of specific fisheries, augmented by a general paucity of both human and financial resources to support comprehensive and specific CAS designs. The implementation of the ongoing Kenya Coastal Development Program (KCDP 2011-2016) has revitalized the need for comprehensive CAS of the small scale fisheries to generate the much needed data and information required for development and evaluation of resource-use policies, management plans and the development of full potential of the coastal and marine fisheries resources of Kenya. The Fisheries Department - Kenya currently conducts routine fisheries data collection based on total enumeration, whereby all fishing trips are expected to be recorded at all landing sites. The proposal to improve the performance of its sampling programme was funded under KCDP Fisheries Component 1; Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Sub-component. Catch Assessment Survey (CAS) is an activity aimed at facilitating and assisting in the generation of important fisheries indicators useful for developing, evaluating policies and fishery management plans for the small scale fisheries. A 3- day workshop to develop a CAS sampling design and identify key landing sites for data collection, a key-stakeholder meeting was convened from 19th - 21st March, 2013 at the Coast Development Authority Conference facilities in Kilifi. The aim of the CAS planning meeting was to prepare data and information collection protocols for the development of Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) for Small Scale Fisheries Catch Assessment Survey (SSF-CAS).