Marine fishery dependence, poverty and inequality nexus along the coastal lowlands of Kenya

Mohamed Idris Somoebwana; Oscar Ingasia Ayuya; John Momanyi Mironga; Mohamed Idris Somoebwana; Oscar Ingasia Ayuya; John Momanyi Mironga

doi:10.3934/NAR.2021008

National Accounting Review

2021, Volume 3, Issue 2: 152-178. doi: 10.3934/NAR.2021008

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Research article

Marine fishery dependence, poverty and inequality nexus along the coastal lowlands of Kenya

1.
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya
2.
Department of Geography, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya

Received: 28 January 2021 Accepted: 02 April 2021 Published: 12 April 2021
JEL Codes: Q5, Q50, Q56

This paper examines the nexus between marine fishery dependence, poverty and inequality among households in coastal lowlands of Kenya, specifically, Kilifi County. Data for the study were collected from 384 randomly selected households through structured pretested questionnaires. The study used the multidimensional poverty methodology and multivalued treatment effect model to determine the marine fishery dependence of households, poverty, and inequality nexus. Findings from the study show that increasing ocean fishery dependence is associated with increased poverty and inequality among the dependent households. However, it is worth mentioning that other factors may as well affect poverty. Results also revealed that fishing was not a choice, but rather a necessity with approximately 71.3% of the dependent households reporting a lack of alternative livelihood options. More so, the dependent households that pursued diversification livelihood strategies had a lower deprivation score at 0.29 compared to 0.47 that engaged solely in fishing. Welfare policies such as the establishment of Beach Management Units (BMU), No Take Zones (NTZs), locally managed marine areas (LMMAs), and information networks have been put in place to promote the livelihoods of the fishing communities. However, their implementation has been ineffective leading to social exclusion and hence poverty traps among the poorest dependent households. The study, therefore, recommends strengthening existing governance options while putting a special focus on gear regulations.
- marine fishery dependence,
- multidimensional poverty,
- inequality,
- multivalued treatment effect model,
- heterogeneous treatment effect,
- dose response function,
- Kenya
Citation: Mohamed Idris Somoebwana, Oscar Ingasia Ayuya, John Momanyi Mironga. Marine fishery dependence, poverty and inequality nexus along the coastal lowlands of Kenya[J]. National Accounting Review, 2021, 3(2): 152-178. doi: 10.3934/NAR.2021008

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Abstract

This paper examines the nexus between marine fishery dependence, poverty and inequality among households in coastal lowlands of Kenya, specifically, Kilifi County. Data for the study were collected from 384 randomly selected households through structured pretested questionnaires. The study used the multidimensional poverty methodology and multivalued treatment effect model to determine the marine fishery dependence of households, poverty, and inequality nexus. Findings from the study show that increasing ocean fishery dependence is associated with increased poverty and inequality among the dependent households. However, it is worth mentioning that other factors may as well affect poverty. Results also revealed that fishing was not a choice, but rather a necessity with approximately 71.3% of the dependent households reporting a lack of alternative livelihood options. More so, the dependent households that pursued diversification livelihood strategies had a lower deprivation score at 0.29 compared to 0.47 that engaged solely in fishing. Welfare policies such as the establishment of Beach Management Units (BMU), No Take Zones (NTZs), locally managed marine areas (LMMAs), and information networks have been put in place to promote the livelihoods of the fishing communities. However, their implementation has been ineffective leading to social exclusion and hence poverty traps among the poorest dependent households. The study, therefore, recommends strengthening existing governance options while putting a special focus on gear regulations.

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