Data Management tool to Assess the Status of Artisanal Reef Fisheries: the Case of Diani-Chale and Gazi, Kenya.

Abstract

Data management of artisanal fisheries is gaining momentum in the tropical reef fisheries as research activities intensify, and more data are being generated. Effective data management tools well adapted to the complexity of the artisanal reef fisheries data are required, not only to meet the data overload eventuality but also to assess the status of the fishery. Recent studies revealed a decline in productivity and overfishing of the Diani-Chale and Gazi fishery without paying too much attention to the gears involved. The purpose of this study was to construct a fish catch database in Access program suited for the artisanal fisheries that is also useful in assessing and describing the status of the fishery. Long term data gathered by the Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean, East Africa (CORDIO-EA) was used to realize these goals. The importance of this data to fisheries management, in line with CORDIO-EA's participatory fish catch and length monitoring objectives was re-examined. The database contained 41 841 records in the main table, corresponding with seven-year fishing visits in seven selected landing stations in South coast of Kenya. Among the landing stations, Chale had the highest number of visits. Overall, 52% visits occurred in the north east monsoon period and 48% in the south east monsoon period. The fishery was found to be complex, employing a variety of gears and means of transport, and landing many different species. Long term trends in catch per fisherman (equivalent of Catch per Unit Effort, CPUE) varied by gear and season, showing both diminishing and progressive trends. Catches made by speargun were most outstanding. The majority of the gears caught fish of size class 15 to 20 cm. Spatial differences in catch per fisherman and fish families were detected. Despite successful creation of the database, the data used was found to generate important information useful in fisheries management and in resolving conflicts between stakeholders and managers. However, a link between artisanal fisheries data management in Kenya and fisheries management was lacking.