For years, fishing along the Kenyan coast has been an activity undertaken by men.

The deep waters were the domain of the tried and true, who braved the waters, returned with the day’s catch and passed the baton to the women, who prepared, fried and sold for modest profits.

The women, known locally as “Mama Karanga,” lined up along the shore, waiting for the catch to land. Women then bought whatever they could to support their small businesses.

This has since changed. In the Jomvu area of ​​Mombasa, a group of adventurous women took a bold step.

Through their determination and innovation, these women are improving their livelihoods and promoting sustainable development within their coastal community.

Going beyond traditional roles, Jomvu’s fishing women have ventured into the lucrative but difficult sector of mud crab fattening. The community organizing journey began in 2021, as the world grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Led by women who previously plied their trade under the name Mama Karangas, the group has 28 members who have united to harness the waters for crab aquaculture.

Charity Baya, the president and one of the founding members, remembers their humble beginnings. “We started as an all-female group, but as the work grew, we brought in three men to help with day-to-day activities,” she said.

Men play a supporting role in the most physically demanding tasks. The group has set up crab cages in the Jomvu Mission Creek, part of the Indian Ocean, where they grow crabs to marketable sizes.

A single cage, capable of housing up to 100 crabs, can generate significant income, with shellfish fetching between Sh900 and Sh1,400 per kilogram.

With two cages currently in operation, the women have a stable source of income. “Most of our members are mothers and they can all attest to the positive impact this business has had on their livelihoods,” Baya said.

Beyond crab fattening, the group has ambitious projects to boost ecotourism.

They build a boardwalk through the creek’s lush mangrove forests. Once completed, the walk will offer guided nature tours, creating an additional revenue stream.

“We train our members to become tour guides, lifeguards and learn other tourism-related skills,” Baya explained.

“Most women used to earn about 200 shillings a day from fish frying. We hope that with the boardwalk and crabbing projects, we can generate over a million shillings per year.

David Nyamu, one of the men in the group and its secretary, highlighted the role of collaboration and knowledge sharing in their success.

“Initially, our group consisted only of women who were involved in frying fish. But through the exchange of ideas, we realized that we could do more to improve our lives,” he said.

Kibibi Abdalla, CEC of Mombasa Blue Economy, and Faiz Fankupi, Director of Fisheries of Lamu, with a catch from the Jomvu Women in Fisheries group /CHARLES MGHENYI

The group’s innovative approach attracted the attention of the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development project, which funded mud crab fattening and boardwalk initiatives.

KEMFSED awarded the group a grant of Sh2.7 million for the projects. “Our aim is to harvest and sell about 200 crabs every month, which could generate over Sh200,000,” Nyamu said.

“The mud crab project takesbetween three weeks and a month to reach the desired weight for sale, which created a stable income for our members.

In addition to their aquaculture efforts, Jomvu Women in Fisheries are committed to environmental conservation.

They plant and maintain mangrove plants, which not only serve as a breeding ground for fish and crabs, but also act as a natural barrier against coastal erosion. More than 700,000 plants have already been cultivated.

“We have taken it upon ourselves to preserve the environment, both for the sake of our livelihoods and for future generations,” Nyamu said.

The group’s projects have created direct employment opportunities for its members and the Jomvu community at large.

By involving local fishermen and training young people, they ensure the sustainability of their initiatives. “We want to pass on our knowledge to the next generation. It’s not just a business; it’s a legacy we want to leave behind,” Nyamu said.

This is a powerful example of how community initiatives can transform lives. KEMFSED environmental safeguards manager for Mombasa, Samuel Okech, said he supported local initiatives aimed at empowering communities.

“Many communities along Kenya’s coastal strip have not had equal economic opportunities due to various challenges, including limited access to sustainable development resources,” he said.

“Our goal is to address this problem by funding initiatives that promote energy sustainability, which not only boosts the economy but also aligns with Kenya’s commitment to combating climate change and environmental degradation “, he said.

Kibibi Abdalla, Mombasa’s blue economy, agriculture and livestock manager, said he had supported the group and several others in the region.

“The Mombasa County Government has supported over 40 groups under the umbrella of Beach Management Units, connecting them with investors and financial institutions to gain financial literacy and benefit from financial incentives,” said Abdullah.

Apart from financial assistance, the county also helped the women of Jomvu acquire necessary permits, such as the Kenya Forest Service permit.

The groups were grouped into cooperatives. There are 16 cooperatives formed under the umbrella of beach management units.

The CEC says it trains group members on issues related to the Fisheries Act, fish handling and food safety, sustainable mariculture practices and entrepreneurship.