Kenya Stakeholders Convene in Mombasa to Strengthen Gender, Climate, and Environmental Dimensions in Regional Octopus Fisheries Value Chains

Mombasa: From 3rd to 5th June 2025, stakeholders from across the South-West Indian Ocean (SWIO) region have convened for a regional consultative workshop to validate a study on strengthening gender dimensions, climate change, and environmental considerations in regional value chains for small-scale octopus fisheries. The workshop is organized by the African Union-InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), with the support of the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), under the project Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in the Africa Blue Economy. According to African Press Organization, the gathering brings together over 30 participants, including government representatives from Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Comoros, small-scale fishers and fish workers, women's groups, non-state actors, academic and research institutions, and regional policy experts. The objective is to validate findings from a regional study conducted by Prof. Bernard Fulanda of Pwani University, which assessed the current state of the octopus fisheries value chain and proposed mechanisms to enhance gender inclusion, climate resilience, and sustainability across the sector. The workshop aligns with two critical African Union policy frameworks: the African Blue Economy Strategy (ABES) and the Continental Strategy for Gender Mainstreaming in Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Management. These frameworks underpin the workshop agenda and ensure that its outcomes address cross-cutting priorities in gender equity, climate adaptation, and biodiversity conservation. The opening session featured welcome remarks delivered by Francisca Gonoh, on behalf of Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, reaffirming AU-IBAR's commitment to inclusive and sustainable octopus fisheries. Mr. Collins Ndoro Kambu, Deputy Director of Fisheries, Kenya Fisheries Service Coast and Marine Office, Mombasa, speaking on behalf of the Director of Fisheries, underscored Kenya's efforts to integrate octopus fisheries into the national Blue Economy Strategy. He noted that while the fishery remains largely small-scale, it has high-end market potential and must be better supported through policy and infrastructure improvements, aligning with Madaraka Day's theme, "Our Waters, Our Wealth." Participants received overviews of the Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity Project, the African Blue Economy Strategy, and the Continental Gender Strategy, providing essential context for the study's validation. Prof. Bernard Fulanda presented the draft study report, highlighting high female participation in the sector, systematic exclusion from co-management structures, environmental stressors, inadequate infrastructure, and promising conservation models. Over the course of the workshop, stakeholders are grouped by country to assess national contexts, validate the study findings, and co-develop recommendations. Sessions include fisherwomen sharing personal experiences and identifying practical solutions for gender-transform ative and environmentally sustainable practices. By the workshop's close, participants are expected to develop a draft proposal for a regional fisher network, adopt a communiqué, and contribute to a roadmap for integrating the study findings into policy processes. The validated study will directly inform AU-IBAR's efforts to advance gender-equitable governance in small-scale fisheries, promote climate-resilient value chains, strengthen coordination on aquatic biodiversity conservation, and support fisher-led initiatives. Including women, coastal communities, and marine ecosystems in Africa's blue economy transformation is a priority, and this workshop is a crucial step in that direction.