Kenyan fishing communities race to revive vanishing mangroves as dwindling catches threaten livelihoods

Young fishermen and conservationists along Kenya's coast are racing to restore disappearing mangrove forests, hoping to bring fish back closer to shore and spare fishermen dangerous journeys into the open sea.

Footage from Kwale County shows volunteers planting mangrove seedlings along coastal waterways, while fishermen paddle small wooden canoes in search of their catch. Fish are then brought ashore, descaled and cleaned before being sold.

Mangrove forests provide vital breeding and nursery grounds for fish, but years of environmental degradation have damaged these habitats, leaving some fishermen travelling further out to sea in search of fish.

Kelly Robert Banda, founder of Kilifi Climate Change, said the dangers became personal when a friend disappeared during a fishing trip.

"I have friends who are fishermen – one went deep-sea fishing and never came back. They looked for his body for almost three weeks," he said.

"That also triggered me – if we restore this mangrove, all the fish will be coming to the creek," he added.

Young conservationists are now joining forces with local communities to replant damaged mangrove forests, hoping to replenish fish stocks in coastal creeks and reduce the need for dangerous journeys offshore.

"We thank the authorities that now they've started barricading areas where you need to fish," Banda said.

The risks have also prompted mothers to join the restoration efforts, fearing for the safety of their husbands who depend on fishing for a living.

"When my husband leaves this place and goes to work, he usually goes far out into the deep waters, and sometimes when he goes out there, the waves are very rough, and he could fall and risk his life," resident Mercelyne Nyale said.

"So I thought if I do this - it also makes his work easier, and no harm will happen either," she added.

According to the Kenya Forest Service, around 45 percent of mangrove forests in Kwale County are degraded, threatening marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of fishing communities.

Youth-led organisations are stepping up restoration efforts, with the Kenyan Youth Biodiversity Network reporting that it has restored more than 15 hectares of damaged mangrove habitat in the county.

For families who rely on fishing, the hope is that restoring these forests will bring fish back into coastal waters, allowing fishermen to earn a living without having to venture so far out to sea.

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