The Fish-to-Market program (FTM), supported by Fauna & Flora (with funding from Darwin Initiative) in a collaboration with Kumbatia Seafood, the Northern Rangelands Trust and The Nature Conservancy, addressed the entangled challenges of overfishing and decreasing income faced by small-scale fishers in Lamu county (Kenya). Traditional conservation approaches offered only short-term relief, prompting a need for sustainable, market-based and community-driven solutions. FTM introduced a new model linking marine conservation with economic incentives from Kumbatia Seafood, a company committed to sustainable and high-quality seafood sourcing.
Through collaboration with local organizations, the program trained fishers in sustainable practices and provided essential equipment like cold storage and engines. Crucially, it facilitated their access to premium markets and prices, encouraging responsible fishing. By the end of the project (March 2025), 319 fishers across eight Beach Management Units had earned over KES 24.77 million (>$190,000), with many reporting doubled incomes as well as reduced fishing effort.
Beyond revenue gains, the initiative fostered a shift in mindset, proving that conservation and small-scale fishing can coexist. It led to reducing illegal fishing and improving marine habitat health. The FTM stands as a blueprint for future marine conservation, demonstrating how private-sector partnerships can empower communities while protecting ecosystems.
By Jeniffer Adero, Fauna & Flora and Joshua Oginda, Northern Rangelands Trust