WIO Mariculture Forum

As for the first time the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region establish and run its own Mariculture Network, with the aim of sharing experiences, challenges and strengths of mariculture activities within and outside the region for sustainable development of the industry. We are alarmed by the recent food riots in Haiti, Mexico, Uzbekistan, Venezuela to Senegal. Here is a challenge to consider: tonight - for just one night - go to bed without dinner; go to bed hungry. Continue Reading »

Community mariculture looks to be picking up well in Kenya in the last four years as a mangrove conservation strategy?  So what needs to given priority in terms of promoting it as a livelihood option and as a mangrove conservation strategy?

(a). Approach

(b). Scale of development

(c). Financial support

(d). Culture organisms to be included to the present ones (milkfish, mullets, mud crab, red snapper)

Mirera Oersted David: dimirera@yahoo.com

In trying to understand the state, approach and bottlenecks of community mariculture in Kenya and Tanzania’s Tanga region, a workshop was held at Kwetu training centre on 30th Nov. 2004. The report discusses the limitations of community mariculture in detail which formed a good background for kwetu’s community initiatives. In the same meeting Kwetu was proposed to house and run the Kenya Mariculture secretariete based on its approach to mariculture and the mangrove environment.

recent-experiences-in-community-mariculture-workshop-report-kenya-2004

Wondering if community mariculture (silvofisheries) has anything to do with mangrove management? The mangrove day was celebrated on 26th July 2005 with an aim of discussing how communities are empowered through mariculture to conserve mangroves. Updates and issues were presented by each participating community or organisation as detailed in the report.

mangrove-day-celebration-report-in-recoginition-of-silvofisheries-kenya-2005

Conservation of mangrove wetlands is vital for improvement of fishermen livelihoods along the East African coastline. This forms the basis under which the community mariculture (silvofisheries) initiatives have been spearheaded in the Kenyan coastline to boost the livelihood of coastal communities while empowering the local people to co-manage well the mangrove ecosystem. In the last three years community mariculture innovations in Kenya were funded by Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO) and implemented by Kwetu Training Centre.

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