Assessing the Efficacy of Fisheries Co-Management Amidst the Impacts of Climate Change: A Stakeholder Preparedness Evaluation in Lake Victoria, Kenya

Fisheries co-management has been widely adopted in African Great Lakes as a collaborative governance strategy aimed at sustainability and stakeholder empowerment. However, climate change presents significant and emerging challenges to this model. This study assessed the efficacy of Beach Management Units (BMUs) along the Kenyan shores of Lake Victoria in adapting to climate change and safeguarding local fisheries. Using a mixed-methods approach, data was collected from 99 respondents and 20 key informants across five riparian counties. Results show that while awareness of climate change was high (93.9%), only 34.4% acknowledged active integration of adaptation strategies in BMU operations. Perceptions of co-management effectiveness varied widely across roles, with low stakeholder confidence in climate-resilient planning. Limited education, weak collaboration structures, and insufficient resource allocation further weakened adaptive capacity. Findings underscore the urgency of embedding climate adaptation into co-management frameworks through capacity-building, financial support, and multi-level stakeholder coordination. This study provides evidence-based insights to inform policy and practice toward climate-resilient fisheries governance in Lake Victoria.