Fishing Gears and IUU Fishing in Kenya

Kenya’s fisheries sector significantly contributes to food security, employment, and income generation for coastal and inland communities. Different fishing gears are used depending on target species and fishing environments. Common legal gears include gillnets, longlines, handlines, traps, and purse seines. Gillnets are widely used because they are affordable and efficient, though improper mesh sizes may lead to the capture of juvenile and non-target species. Longlines and handlines are more selective and environmentally friendly but require more labor and produce smaller catches. Traps reduce habitat destruction and bycatch; however, abandoned traps may continue catching fish through ghost fishing. Purse seines support large-scale commercial fishing but may contribute to overfishing when poorly managed.

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing remains a serious threat to Kenya’s marine and inland fisheries. Illegal gears such as undersized nets, monofilament nets, beach seines, mosquito nets, explosives, poisons, and electric fishing devices damage aquatic habitats and deplete fish stocks by capturing immature fish and non-target species. These practices reduce biodiversity, threaten ecosystem sustainability, and negatively affect livelihoods that depend on fisheries resources.

To address these challenges, the Kenyan government and fisheries institutions have strengthened regulations, monitoring, and surveillance programs. Community participation through Beach Management Units (BMUs) has also enhanced awareness and co-management of fisheries resources. Sustainable fisheries management, effective law enforcement, and public education are essential for conserving fish populations and reducing the impacts of IUU fishing in Kenyan waters.