EU launches projects worth Ksh.185.9M to lift small-scale fishing at the Coast

EU launches projects worth Ksh.185.9M to lift small-scale fishing at the Coast

The European Union (EU) has unveiled two projects valued at Ksh.185.9 million (1.4 million Euro) to lift small-scale fisheries at the Kenyan Coast.

The pair of projects cover the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Conservation Area and are part of nine fisheries initiatives funded by the EU.

The project is jointly implemented by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Kenya), the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in partnership with local communities.

EU ambassador to Kenya Simon Mordue expects the projects to foster the realization of Kenya’s marine resources potential.

“It is clear that Kenya sees potential for the Blue Economy, and it can set an example for other African states. Currently Kenya’s blue economy is estimated at Ksh.195 billion ($1.78 billion) and it could grow four times that if correct policies in fisheries as well as in sustainable maritime industry are put in place,” he said.

Women and youth are expected to be the greatest beneficiaries of the projects which will see the rehabilitation of protected marine areas to include enhanced capacity for social-economic development.

“We need to take advantage of the globalized seafood trade and sustainable Blue Economy opportunities to bring about significant flow of benefits to our economy and improve living standards of communities who depend on marine resources for their livelihoods, stated WWF-Kenya CEO Mohamed Awer.

Both projects target small-scale marine fisheries communities with the aim of enabling them to effectively manage resources through innovation and collaboration.

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Ambassador Simon Mordue Blue economy

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