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 is an opportunity and a time to exchange unsustainable livelihood practices for responsible engagement in order to protect your means for sustenance. The focus is on the fishermen who have profound impact on marine life and the boat operators’ 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 in Shimoni, and in Majoreni and Vanga locations.

To build on last year’s achievements and establish a firm foundation for integrating the community in dolphin protection, other coastal settlements, Majoreni, Kibuyuni, Vanga, Ramisi, Bodo and Gazi were identified as key partners in the effort to mobilize the costal community for the protection of dolphins. The meetings were attended 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 resources and limiting impacts from bycatch and the use of improper fishing gear.

Addressing the gathering were Philip Mwakio, Assistant Director, Kenya Wildlife Service Coast Region, Yusuf Aden Senior Warden, Kisite Marine Park, Dan Schumacher, TUI Kenya Resident Manager and Abdulaziz Abdalla from Pollmans Tours & Safaris. The participants supported the YoD initiative and consented to undertakings that include monitoring and assessment of dolphin watching practice by boat operators and enforcement of dolphin watching ethics as well as exchange of fishing nets presently in use with appropriate gears.

To reduce dependency on marine resources for livelihood, the community should adopt organic farming methods to enhance land productivity and farm diverse food crops. Other measures in limiting impacts on the sea would be community participation in intensive tree planting for the recovery of mangrove forests (to be led by the Chiefs) and allocation of community land in planting casuarinas trees in substituting mangroves as a communal resource, for commercial purposes and construction needs.

In March this year, a three days orientation on dolphins was conducted by the YoD resource team for Majoreni and Vanga Primary Schools where the students were introduced to the value of dolphins as key species in maintaining the integrity of the marine ecosystem, dolphin social and ecological behavior, species identification, threats and challenges and the role of the community in dolphin protection.

Last year’s participants Shimoni, Mkwiro and Wasini Primary Schools moved up the ladder as the lead schools in the dolphin awareness campaign in the YoD 2007. The three schools received a more intensive training programme 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 Dolphin Club launch in April this year in order to institutionalize dolphin conservation as part of the school curriculum.