The contributions of coastal small-scale fisheries toward the sustainable development goals: a Kenyan Case Study

Abstract Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) contribute significantly to the economies of coastal developing nations, offering employment and food, and supporting sustainable development goals (SDGs). Despite increasing focus on SSFs, data, and knowledge gaps persist in SSFs research and their contribution...

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Main Authors: E. N. Fondo, R. E. Bitoun, E. N. Kimani, C. N. Munga, N. Wambiji, N. Ishmael, D. Mwandikwa, B. Busolo, M. Okeri, S. Abas, G. W. Maina, R. Devillers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:npj Ocean Sustainability
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00117-6
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author E. N. Fondo
R. E. Bitoun
E. N. Kimani
C. N. Munga
N. Wambiji
N. Ishmael
D. Mwandikwa
B. Busolo
M. Okeri
S. Abas
G. W. Maina
R. Devillers
author_facet E. N. Fondo
R. E. Bitoun
E. N. Kimani
C. N. Munga
N. Wambiji
N. Ishmael
D. Mwandikwa
B. Busolo
M. Okeri
S. Abas
G. W. Maina
R. Devillers
author_sort E. N. Fondo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) contribute significantly to the economies of coastal developing nations, offering employment and food, and supporting sustainable development goals (SDGs). Despite increasing focus on SSFs, data, and knowledge gaps persist in SSFs research and their contribution to SDGs. Ten fisheries were assessed in Kenya for their contributions to 12 SDGs, highlighting different levels of contributions. Small pelagic and shrimp fisheries display higher overall contributions to SDGs, appearing to perform strongly in more SDGs, while handline and octopus fisheries display lower contributions to SDGs. Specific contributions can vary depending on the characteristics of individual fisheries, such as their structures and markets. This study provides valuable insights from an under-represented part of the world on the under-researched topic of SSFs and SDGs. It also contributes significantly to research on sustainable development in developing coastal nations and highlights gaps and areas for improvement in achieving the SDGs within the context of SSFs.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
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series npj Ocean Sustainability
spelling doaj-art-fe734835b81d48dfb3928c0d15367c1b2025-08-20T03:14:07ZengNature Portfolionpj Ocean Sustainability2731-426X2025-04-014111110.1038/s44183-025-00117-6The contributions of coastal small-scale fisheries toward the sustainable development goals: a Kenyan Case StudyE. N. Fondo0R. E. Bitoun1E. N. Kimani2C. N. Munga3N. Wambiji4N. Ishmael5D. Mwandikwa6B. Busolo7M. Okeri8S. Abas9G. W. Maina10R. Devillers11Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research InstituteEspace-Dev (IRD, Univ. Montpellier)Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research InstituteTechnical University of MombasaMpala Research CentreCoastal Ocean Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO) East AfricaKenya Marine and Fisheries Research InstituteTechnical University of MombasaKenya Marine and Fisheries Research InstituteTechnical University of MombasaThe Nature Conservancy, Africa Regional OfficeEspace-Dev (IRD, Univ. Montpellier)Abstract Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) contribute significantly to the economies of coastal developing nations, offering employment and food, and supporting sustainable development goals (SDGs). Despite increasing focus on SSFs, data, and knowledge gaps persist in SSFs research and their contribution to SDGs. Ten fisheries were assessed in Kenya for their contributions to 12 SDGs, highlighting different levels of contributions. Small pelagic and shrimp fisheries display higher overall contributions to SDGs, appearing to perform strongly in more SDGs, while handline and octopus fisheries display lower contributions to SDGs. Specific contributions can vary depending on the characteristics of individual fisheries, such as their structures and markets. This study provides valuable insights from an under-represented part of the world on the under-researched topic of SSFs and SDGs. It also contributes significantly to research on sustainable development in developing coastal nations and highlights gaps and areas for improvement in achieving the SDGs within the context of SSFs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00117-6
spellingShingle E. N. Fondo
R. E. Bitoun
E. N. Kimani
C. N. Munga
N. Wambiji
N. Ishmael
D. Mwandikwa
B. Busolo
M. Okeri
S. Abas
G. W. Maina
R. Devillers
The contributions of coastal small-scale fisheries toward the sustainable development goals: a Kenyan Case Study
npj Ocean Sustainability
title The contributions of coastal small-scale fisheries toward the sustainable development goals: a Kenyan Case Study
title_full The contributions of coastal small-scale fisheries toward the sustainable development goals: a Kenyan Case Study
title_fullStr The contributions of coastal small-scale fisheries toward the sustainable development goals: a Kenyan Case Study
title_full_unstemmed The contributions of coastal small-scale fisheries toward the sustainable development goals: a Kenyan Case Study
title_short The contributions of coastal small-scale fisheries toward the sustainable development goals: a Kenyan Case Study
title_sort contributions of coastal small scale fisheries toward the sustainable development goals a kenyan case study
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00117-6
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