The overall goal of the project is to provide a sustainable management plan for one of the primary marine fishery resources in Lamu District in northern Kenya. The purpose of the project is to inject new and advanced fishery management approaches to the primary fisheries that coastal people depend on in Kiunga Marine National Reserve, a gobally significant area of marine biodiversity in northern Kenya. The project will trial innovative fishery management approaches that combine: a) recent scientific advances in fishery stock assessment and management; b) community based implementation mechanisms and c) government led fisheries operational management plans. The project will focus on the lobster fishery as one of the key livelihoods for coastal people in Kiunga. Lobster populations have declined dramatically in recent years and current fishing practices are now unsustainable.

The project will actively work with local fishing communities through the community based conservation Trust KIBODO who are established in the area. CORDIO will also work with government agencies such as the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Fisheries Development and Kenya Wildlife Service, and WWF, all of whom are active in Kiunga and with whom CORDIO has partnered with over 10 years.

The total cost of the project is US$ 51,710. This proposal request to UNDP Small Grants Programme is for US$ 42,710. These funds will be used to implement the following three activities:

1. Baseline status assessment of the lobster fishery in Kiunga National Reserve
2. Stakeholder consulations to discuss management options
3. Draft operational fishery management plan

Additional co-funding from partners and from the proposing organisation will be US$ 9,000 for the training, workshop and community input and facilitation.