Busolo Bonface, Cosmas Munga, Joseph Rasowo, Esther Fondo

There is still limited understanding of the broader socio-economic impact of the small pelagic fishery in Kenya and the Western Indian Ocean region at large. Small pelagic fishes are characterized by small body size and exhibit shoaling behavior, and fishery is highly seasonal. This study therefore, evaluates the contribution of the small pelagic fishery to local community livelihoods and food security in selected fishing villages of Vanga, Jimbo, and Jasini in south coast Kenya. Survey data was collected by semi-structured interviews using questionnaires in the month of      December 2023. A total of 63 respondents comprised of fishers (n = 10), fish dealers (n = 5) and artisanal fish processors (n =48) were interviewed. Data was descriptively analyzed for contribution to community livelihoods, value addition and market structure. All the analyses were done using SPPS statistical software version 25. Results showed variation in household daily consumption of small pelagic fishes of between 0.25 – 1.0 kg. About 44.4% (n = 28) consumed 0.5 kg/day per household, 34.9% (n = 22) reported consumption of 0.25 kg/day per household, and the rest 20.7% (n = 13) consumed 1 kg/day per household. Household sizes ranged from 3 to 15 in Vanga an average of 8.55 ± 1.04 members,3 to 12 in Jimbo an average of 7.5 ± 0.45 members, and 5 to 11 in Jasini an average of 8.0625 ± 0.49 members. A single fishing craft targeting small pelagics made average daily returns of $ 819.74 ± 274.88 while the small-scale processors made average returns of $ 19.40 ± 2.07 per day. A substantial 31.94%, of respondents indicated that small pelagic fishery supports all the family needs, 28.47%, indicated support for education, 20.83%, on health, and 3.17% noted the role of small pelagic fish in enabling considerable luxury within the communities. Notably, 9.03%, affirmed the vital role of small pelagic fish in supporting infrastructural construction projects, 4.17%, of respondents indicated the utilization of small pelagic businesses to enhance family status, while 5.56%reported direct financial aid derived from small pelagic enterprises. These findings illuminate the diverse and integral role played by small pelagic fishery not only in meeting basic needs but also in fostering socio-economic development and community well-being.