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Madagascar to Kenya

Peer-to-peer learning for sustainable fisheries

Por Blue Ventures

03 de June de 2025

Tucked away from other beach management units in Kenya’s Kwale County lies Mwamdudu beach, a fishing village amid mangrove channels and estuaries, where local fishers cast their nets for prawns and other shellfish. However, the community’s relationship with the ocean goes far beyond fishing; they actively conserve the surrounding mangrove forests, recognising them as vital nurseries for fish. Here, dense mangrove roots stretch between land and sea, forming a living barrier that offers food and protection to the community. The mangroves aren’t just scenery - they are a source of livelihood, and a legacy the community is determined to protect.

Madagascar to Kenya

Over 2,000 kilometres away, the Barren Isles off Madagascar’s west coast paint a strikingly different picture. They form a remote, reef-fringed archipelago where towering coral structures rise from turquoise waters and sandbanks shift with the tides. Here, coastal fishing communities rely almost entirely on the sea, travelling by sail in search of octopus, reef fish, and sea cucumbers.

A tidal island in the Barren Isles | Credits: Garth Cripps, 2015

Madagascar to Kenya

Madagascar to Kenya

While the ecosystems are worlds apart, mangroves, estuaries, coral reefs and open waters in Kenya and Madagascar are similar, and the conservation goals of the communities are the same: to protect the ecosystems they depend on and ensure there are enough fish for the future. That shared purpose brought fishers from the Barren Isles to Kenya to swap stories, struggles, and solutions.

Madagascar to Kenya

Madagascar to Kenya

Madagascar to Kenya

Madagascar to Kenya

Madagascar to Kenya

The learning exchange brought together coastal community leaders from the Barren Isles and Kwale County to share best practices in marine area management, governance, and protection. It also explored ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to fisheries management, a form of conservation that prioritises the restoration of habitats like mangroves and reefs to help coastal communities adapt to climate change.

The visit, facilitated by Blue Ventures Kenya and Madagascar with partners Reefolution, built on a previous exchange in which Kenyan and Tanzanian leaders of Locally Managed Marine areas visited Madagascar. Focusing on sharing practical experiences in co-management and climate change adaptation, topics covered spanned building local leadership to solving shared challenges like enforcing fishing rules or restoring damaged habitats.

The exchange brought together community leaders, marine protected area practitioners, and government representatives to learn from established co-management systems, such as the Joint Co-management Area (JCMA), an approach where communities directly benefit from marine ecosystems and take the lead in protecting critical ecosystems. For the Malagasy visitors, seeing Kenya’s BMUs in action offered a chance to reflect on how partnerships, trust, and shared responsibility shape day-to-day decisions on the coast.

Exchanges like this help to strengthen our skills and build capacity," said Tongasoa Lydia, Regional Director, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Melaky region.

In the southwest of the country, many small-scale fishers operate within Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) supported by the MIHARI Network, which connects nearly 300 fisher communities. In the region, fishing is more than a job - it’s survival. Fish are a primary source of food and income, so having healthy marine ecosystems is non-negotiable. That’s why local communities lead efforts to manage and protect their waters, forming associations and rules that reflect their needs.

One of the key lessons from this exchange is the importance of collaboration between government, LMMA communities, and NGOs. I’ve also seen that a strong sense of responsibility from all stakeholders is essential for effective management,” said Emoantra Hermany, National President of MIHARI.

Twelve Malagasy fisher community leaders and a government representative visited the Kwale County BMU Network and the Mwamdudu Beach Management Unit (BMU), where they shared stories on ecosystem-based adaptation and common challenges from their respective contexts.

Madagascar to Kenya

Madagascar to Kenya

Madagascar to Kenya

Madagascar to Kenya

Madagascar to Kenya

Supported by partner Reefolution, Mwamdudu BMU has made significant progress in fostering community ownership of fisheries resources. This includes mangrove restoration activities and promotes gender and youth inclusion in leadership structures.

Madagascar to Kenya

A key lesson that our peers from Madagascar should take from us at Mwamdudu is the importance of involving everyone in BMU leadership through gender balance. This has made our BMU successful, and we have taken extra steps to ensure every community member feels connected and participates in decision-making,” said Emmanuel Munga, Secretary, Mwamdudu BMU, Kwale County, Kenya.

Madagascar to Kenya

Madagascar to Kenya

Madagascar to Kenya

By the end of the exchange, Kenyan and Malagasy fishers expressed interest in adapting and trialling lessons from each other’s approaches. Though separated by sea and language, the fishers found common purpose, leaving with strengthened bonds, renewed resolve, and a shared commitment to protect the oceans they call home. The visit underscored the power of peer learning and collaboration in safeguarding these vital ecosystems.

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This initiative is funded by the Blue Action Fund and implemented by Blue Ventures in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), OSRDM, the MIHARI Network, and the Vezo Miray Nosy Barren Association. Together, we’re supporting Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA) in the Western Indian Ocean, helping safeguard biodiversity in Madagascar’s Barren Isles and build coastal communities’ resilience to climate change.

Footnotes

Story and Photos by Randall Mabwa | Blue Ventures unless otherwise credited.

FootNotes

Story and Photos by Randall Mabwa | Blue Ventures unless otherwise credited.

© 2026 Blue Ventures

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