A digitised version of ICSF library, with more than 2000 original documents and 12,000+ curated links, collected over the last 33 years The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) is an international non-governmental organization that works towards the establishment of equitable, gender-just,self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector.
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Human dignity is on the line: Small-scale fisheries, blue growth, and human rights in Lamu, Kenya

Galligan, Bryan P. and Saldivar, Fernando C. and Maina, George W. (2024) Human dignity is on the line: Small-scale fisheries, blue growth, and human rights in Lamu, Kenya. MARE Publication Series, vol 28 . Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-031-56716-2

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Official URL: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-03...

Abstract

In Lamu, Kenya, small-scale fisheries are an integral part of culture, livelihoods, and the local economy. Unfortunately, this vibrant region on Kenya’s north coast is under threat from a large-scale development project that affects local communities and the natural ecosystems on which they rely. The implementation of the SSF Guidelines, and particularly the guidelines’ emphasis on protecting small-scale fishers’ human rights, could provide local communities with a measure of protection from these threats. In recent years, the community in Lamu has worked in precisely that direction, fighting and winning a lawsuit against several government agencies that ruled to protect fishers’ constitutional rights to life, culture, a clean and healthy environment, and property. To document this struggle and draw lessons from it, we conducted a literature review and legal analysis, also drawing on our personal experience with the community in question. The court’s novel interpretation of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution makes clear the integral connection between basic human rights and the protection of small-scale fisheries, providing a model for other communities whose rights are threatened by large development projects. At the same time, there is a risk of the 2018 judgment being only a victory on paper as the case continues to wind its way through appeals. There is a wide gap between the court’s ruling and the concrete reality on the ground in Lamu where, despite the ruling, part of the port project has become operational while the remainder is under construction, resulting in environmental damage and the displacement of fishers from their traditional fishing grounds. Despite the continuing failure of the Kenyan government to protect fishers in Lamu, these events nonetheless demonstrate that the SSF Guidelines can be progressively implemented when fishers and civil society make rights-based legal demands.

Item Type: Books
Keywords: Human Rights, Lamu, Kenya, Small-scale Fisheries, Livelihoods, Local Communities, Fishing Grounds
Subjects: Right to Resources
Depositing User: Kokila ICSF Krish
Date Deposited: 04 Jun 2025 06:49
Last Modified: 04 Jun 2025 06:49
URI: http://icsfarchives.net/id/eprint/22145

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