Marine and Coastal Division - Socio-economics Programme
This programme focuses on establishing cost-effective methods for sustainable exploitation of the aquatic resources (and the environment) through participatory approaches with stakeholders including local communities. The program undertakes studies on fish markets and supply channels for both processed and unprocessed products, thus evaluating the economic viability of
fisheries. Working with and among stakeholder communities, the program taps from indigenous knowledge and integrates the knowledge into management strategies for aquatic resources. The program is the front-runner for both research and management activities aimed at specific fishery resources to gauge the reactions from the stakeholders (riparian communities) and possible socio-economic impacts the activities may have on the management and the policies on food security policy with respect to fisheries. Under this program, indigenous uses of the flora and fauna, and the critical aquatic habitats are documented. (kmfri website article)
The programme also looks at the relationship between economic activity and social life. The field is often considered multidisciplinary providing the tools needed by policy makers and other actors to support the implementation of relevant strategies, policies and legislation. Supported through the development of adaptive approaches supportive to a whole ecosystem approach for the harvesting of marine resources.
Activities of KMFRI Socio-Economics department
Data Collection- The department is involved in data collection and analysis to address its 
strategic objective: To carry out research on methods to improve the livelihoods of fisheries-dependant communities. Data collection is carried out primarily through fieldwork activities (i.e. Interviews, Focus Group discussions, Participant observation and Consultations with Key Informants). Data Analysis is carried out within the institute using the extensive Data and Information services available.
In achieving its strategic objective, the department’s activities focus on:
- Studying the demographic and cultural characteristics of fisher- families, in order to understand the relationship between the aquatic resources and the rising induced pressures.
- Studying the causes of the high poverty levels in fisher communities.
- Conducting fish-marketing studies (domestic and export) to assess the benefits accruing to various participants in the marketing channel, including fishers, traders, processors and exporters.
- Conducting studies to determine the economic viability of various adaptive fish farming systems, which can be recommended for adoption by farmers.
- Studying alternative fisheries management systems-focusing on the participation of communities on sustainable management of aquatic resources.
- Contributing to the reduction of the impacts of HIV/AIDS. Malnutrition and water-bone diseases in inland and coastal fisher communities.
Collaborative Research- The department engages in collaborative research with fellow Research and Academic institutions, as well as independent organizations that are involved in related areas of interest. Examples of such organizations include CORDIO (Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean) and the KWS (Kenya Wildlife Research).
Consultancy services-With the approval of the Institute’s Director, the department can be contracted to carry out specific consultancy work. Recent consultancy work (on Social Impact Assessment) has been done for the Kenya Ports Authority.
Donor-Funded projects- The department is actively involved in donor-sponsored projects that seek to address issues in which the institute is mandated to carry out research on - these included the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Associations MARG(Marine Research Grants) and MASMA(Marine Science for Management) grants.
Research Work
Sea cucumbers are a poorly understood coastal resource, despite their long history of consumption by oriental populations. The most important sea cucumber product is the dried body wall that is marketed as beche-de-mer (trepang or hai-som). Although the high demand for sea cucumbers has resulted in overexploitation in the main producing nations, there remains a high demand for this product worldwide, leading to expansion into new fishing grounds. Renewed interest for this fishery has risen recently because the fishery has features including the sedentary behavior of sea cucumbers, the high value of the product, the low cost of processing and the huge international market that enables the development of community based fisheries
Fisheries of Malindi-Ungwana bay which is broadly categorized into two levels namely the artisanal fisheries and the industrial fisheries. The artisanal fishery includes capture of finfish, lobster, octopus and estuarine prawn fisheries. Traditionally it depended on simple less-efficient fishing technology to supply sea food mainly to the domestic market. Development has however revolutionized the artisanal fishery. The artisanal fishing of Malindi-Ungwana bay is a labour-intensive activity providing employment to over 2000 fishers who are directly engaged in fishing. The industrial fisheries on the other hand involves the prawn trawling and deep sea fishing for tuna and other pelagic fish by the large fishing companies mainly for export. It involves the use more efficient fishing technology and targets the export market.
Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that usually grow in the intertidal zone throughout the tropics and sub-tropics. They are most often located along sheltered shores and can penetrate deep into the estuaries of rivers. Mangroves trees have a very plastic form; the same species can grow as a short stunted bush in unfavorable conditions or as a full sized tree reaching heights of 40 meters, forming dense forests several kilometers thick under favorable conditions. The animals living in mangroves are diverse and include crabs, bivalves, birds, snails, insects, reptiles and many others.
Yet mangroves are continuously being degraded. The programme evaluate both quantitatively and qualitatively the degradation of vegetation structure and dynamics of mangrove communities. Therefore understanding vegetation dynamics is important for conservation, restoration and sustainable exploitation in various ecological settings.