Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi
Abstract
The general area of management of marine resources is one that
has gained worldwide prominence since the beginning of the negotiations
on the new Law of the Sea at the United Nations in 1968. The paper
takes the premise that part of the reason for that concern has been to
find a framework for general conservation and rational use of marine
resources as natural resources. However, the central reason is that
individual states want what they consider an access to equitable share
of the resources for use by their nationals. Kenyan delegates have been
particularly active at the international negotiations.
This paper takes the fisheries sector alone, and examines the
range of activities in which Kenya nationals and companies are involved.
A primary focus is on the amount of fishing done; where, along the coast,
the fishing activities are done; and the contribution of that sector to
employment especially to the coastal population. The role of relevant
government departments in promoting the activities is appraised and the
degree of intrusion of foreign long-distance fleets in Kenyan waters is
examined