Safety comes first: Expertise France trains 288 Kenyan fishers

Fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world

“In the past when we capsized at sea, everyone swam to his own safety. But now I have learned that it is very important to save yourself and the life of others,” says Emmanuel Musuko, a fisherman from the Kilifi Beach Management Unit. “We did not have the skills to help others out at sea but this training has helped us a lot. Most of us used to wear our life jackets incorrectly which made it hard to use while in the water. Today we were shown how to use it well while in the water,” he continues.

In August 2021, Expertise France conducted a field survey of 18 Beach Management Units (BMUs) on the Kenya coast revealing that too many accidents concerning the fisher community result in fatalities. BMUs are civic bodies under the Fisheries Act that bring fishermen, boat owners, fish traders, and others together to oversee fish landing stations and management of marine resources. The survey brought out the need for a Safety Training for Fishers, to teach them basic survival techniques and safe working conditions that can significantly reduce accidents at sea.

“In the past, I never used a life jacket. Even up till today, I did not use one. Most of us did not have the proper knowledge to deal with drowning, nor did we know about throwing life rings. We also did not know how to save a person drowning at sea,” says Feswal Lali, a fisherman belonging to the Watamu Beach Management Unit. “But from now on, this gift of a life jacket that we have received, I vow that I will wear it until my last breath. I will never leave it at home while I go out fishing at sea. This is my lifesaver from today.”

Safety training for fishers: gaining new skills while raising awareness on the maritime domain

“In partnership with the Kenyan Coast Guard, we are conducting these trainings dedicated to the fisher communities to address their concerns in terms of safety,” explains Mikael Delrue, Team Leader for the Go Blue maritime security component. “Beyond the trainings, we aim at implementing a community watch programme whereby the fisher community when they go out to sea can help prevent matters in terms of pollution, illegal fishing activities and search and rescue events,” he adds.

This partnership is a win-win approach for all stakeholders engaged. The fisher communities benefit from the trainings to improve their safety and in return they share information while out at sea. The ultimate aim is to set up a maritime domain awareness data collection project in support of the Kenyan Coast Guard.

“The Kenyan Coast Guard aims at strengthening and enhancing enforcement of laws and regulations which applies to the Kenyan territorial waters,” tells Deborah Karimi Muchai, a sergeant working for the Kenya Coast Guard Service. “By engaging with the Beach Management Units, we make the fishermen understand that the interest of the Kenyan Coast Guard is to make sure that they conduct their fishing activities in a secure and safe manner,” she continues.

Moving forward: roll-out of fisher safety training course across the Kenyan coast

“As the Beach Management Unit for Kilifi, we are very privileged to have received such training,” says Henry Mzungu, the Chairman of Kilifi Beach Management Unit. “Although, only a small group of 16 members were trained, we can sensitize and empower our fellow fishermen with the knowledge and skills gained. When we hold our meetings, we will tell the fishermen that when you go out to sea, now you know how to wear a life jacket properly and have all the appropriate fishing gear,” he concludes.

Kenya’s coastal counties have a total of 98 Beach Management Units, and they are seen as the backbone of fisheries co-management in the country. Over the next months to come, Expertise France and the Kenyan Coast Guard Service will be rolling out the safety training course to other BMUs spread across Kenya’s coastal counties, with the aim of benefiting around 1,600 to 2,000 fishers.

Find out more about the Go Blue project

Photos: TransLieu/Nyaberi