In 2008, the YoD in Kenya will focus on community-based conservation action, aiming for sustainable approaches to the use of marine resources.

“The year 2008 isan opportunity and a time to exchange unsustainable livelihood practices forresponsible engagement in order to protect your means for sustenance. The focusis on the fishermen who have profound impact on marine life and the boatoperators’ practices which directly affect dolphins in our coastal waters”.This was a message given to the local communities of Shimoni, Wasini, Mkwiro,Kibuyuni, Majoreni, Ramisi and Vanga during a Baraza (public meeting) in February at the Kenya Wildlife Service HQ inShimoni, and in Majoreni and Vanga locations.

To build on lastyear’s achievements and establish a firm foundation for integrating thecommunity in dolphin protection, other coastal settlements, Majoreni, Kibuyuni,Vanga, Ramisi, Bodo and Gazi were identified as key partners in the effort tomobilize the costal community for the protection of dolphins. The meetings wereattended by the area Councilor, location Chiefs and village elders, fishermen,boat operators and community members and convened by YoD Kenya coordinators.The aim was to consult on the way forward in protecting the marine resourcesand limiting impacts from bycatch and the use of improper fishing gear.

Addressing thegathering were Philip Mwakio, Assistant Director, Kenya Wildlife Service CoastRegion, Yusuf Aden Senior Warden, Kisite Marine Park, Dan Schumacher, TUI KenyaResident Manager and Abdulaziz Abdalla from Pollmans Tours & Safaris. Theparticipants supported the YoD initiative and consented to undertakings thatinclude monitoring and assessment of dolphin watching practice by boatoperators and enforcement of dolphin watching ethics as well as exchange offishing nets presently in use with appropriate gears.

To reducedependency on marine resources for livelihood, the community should adoptorganic farming methods to enhance land productivity and farm diverse foodcrops. Other measures in limiting impacts on the sea would be communityparticipation in intensive tree planting for the recovery of mangrove forests(to be led by the Chiefs) and allocation of community land in plantingcasuarinas trees in substituting mangroves as a communal resource, forcommercial purposes and construction needs.

In March thisyear, a three days orientation on dolphins was conducted by the YoD resourceteam for Majoreni and Vanga Primary Schools where the students were introduced to the value of dolphins as keyspecies in maintaining the integrity of the marine ecosystem, dolphin socialand ecological behavior, species identification, threats and challenges and therole of the community in dolphin protection.

Last year’s participantsShimoni, Mkwiro and Wasini Primary Schools moved up the ladder as the leadschools in the dolphin awareness campaign in the YoD 2007. The three schools received a more intensive trainingprogramme on dolphin conservation and will take the role of peer education for Mzizima, Kichakamkwaju, Chwaka, Vanga,Majoreni, Perani and Matunda Primary Schools in preparation of the DolphinClub launch in April this year in order toinstitutionalize dolphin conservation as part of the school curriculum.