Supporting Sustainability in Kenya’s Fisheries through Social Protection and Labor Market Interventions

Among key challenges confronting Kenya’s over-exploited fisheries sector, fishing and aquaculture workers are very vulnerable: they work longer hours, earn less money, and have less access to social protection than workers in other sectors. Furthermore, climate change threatens to make fisheries workers and their livelihoods even more vulnerable. To address these challenges, the report proposes four key policy channels: (i) strengthen social protection systems to mitigate short and medium-term harm resulting from necessary management and regulation improvements for fishing activities; (ii) encourage private-sector investment in fisheries; (iii) incentivize sustainable fishing practices, including certifications and registration initiatives; and (iv) diversify the economy, assess skill levels, and promote alternative livelihoods for fisheries workers.