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Figure 3.1 Overview of LM development framework
Figure 3.1 outlines the development framework that integrates the Vision and objectives (section 3.2) with the key economic sector plans that are core to the Blue Economy development for Lamu (sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6) which include the soft initiatives, the priority VCs and the infrastructure development interventions. This will enable climate resilient and socially inclusive economic growth across Lamu Municipality.
Figure 3.1 Overview of LM development framework
Short to medium term (before 10 years time) Long term (above 10 years-time)
Vision Lamu Municipality UEP Vision and Objectives
Economic Sector Plans, & VC Projects
Climate Resilient Infrastructure Projects
Source: Atkins Agriculture, Livestock and Processing Fisheries and Marine Tourism and Heritage
Maritime Trade & Transport and Future Industries (emerging)
Sector Action Plan Priority VC
Land-based aggregation model Sector Action Plan Priority VC
Sea-based aggregation model Sustainable Tourism Action Plan
Anchor project: Community-led waste processing
• All-weather roads • Solar refrigeration • Upgrade jetties and landing sites • Mangrove restoration • Marine Spatial Plan • Innovation and training centre • Streetlighting • Solar power water abstraction • Drainage and wastewater • Desludging business and sludge handling facility
Cross-sectoral infrastructure projects: ferry services, solar desalination, drainage masterplan, landfills, solar-powered generation Policies and Guidelines
Fully operational Port and SEZ
3.1 UEP Vision
The UEP sets out a Vision to guide the economic and urban development of the Municipality. A visioning exercise was undertaken at the TBP workshop. PSG members, MB members and wider stakeholders were asked to consider the key elements of the UEP vision, whereby proposed vision statements were submitted by 50 stakeholders. The team have analysed the responses to identify common objectives. The following key elements were mentioned and articulated for LM:
> A clean, organised, community driven Municipality, > Sustain the coral reef and health of the environment, > A tourist hub, > A hub of industry and jobs, LAPSSET to create jobs for the local community and improve livelihoods, > Community and private sector involvement, > A role model in offering high quality of life to its citizens, > Protect the culture, > Economically vibrant Municipality with a balance growth (development) and cultural heritage (conservation), > Well-connected towns with hinterland, > Improvement of infrastructure, and > Safe and peaceful Municipality.
The Vision statement that best represents the MB, PSG and wider stakeholder’s aspirations is therefore stated below and adopted by the UEP:
3.2 Blue Economy potential
What is the Blue Economy?
“The Blue Economy concept seeks to promote economic growth, social inclusion, and the preservation or improvement of livelihoods while at the same time ensuring environmental sustainability of the oceans and coastal areas.” (World Bank).
According to the Government of Kenya, Blue Economy refers to “the sustainable use and economic development of both aquatic and marine spaces including oceans, seas, coasts, lakes, rivers, wetlands, and underground water. It encompasses a range of productive sectors, including fishing, aquaculture, tourism, transport, shipbuilding, energy, bio-prospecting and underwater mining and related activities. Kenya is endowed with rich coastal and maritime resources, which have huge potential for development of the Blue Economy that has not been developed to full capacity”
The rationale to develop the Blue Economy in Lamu is twofold. Firstly, Kenya and Lamu in particular is rich in marine and coastal resources with the potential for utilization that can support economic growth, jobs, livelihoods, food and energy security. The national government has developed a Blue Economy Sector Plan (2018–2022) as part of the Vision 2030 and the ‘Big Four Agenda’ supporting the development of programmes and projects including the construction of fish ports and fish markets in Lamu, the Aquaculture Business Development Programme and the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development (KEMFSED) Programme. The CIDP and the CSP also recognise the Blue Economy potential. Secondly, if the utilization of these natural resources is done sustainably, their value can be maximised and sustained, not only for future generations but also the development of further activities in the future.
Lamu is one of the key locations in Kenya that could support the development of the Blue Economy because: > LC hosts the most extensive and species-rich area of mangroves in Kenya, which besides their importance for biodiversity, also provide climate protection through carbon sequestration from the atmosphere (also called ‘blue carbon’ when taken and stored in marine environments), and support nature-based tourism and coastal protection.
Mangrove ecosystem services also include habitat functions such as breeding, spawning and nursery grounds for commercial fisheries; regulation of floods, storms and erosion; water purification and prevention of saltwater intrusion. However, mangrove coverage in Lamu is declining, mainly due to coastal deforestation and pollution from urbanisation and industrialisation. While clearance of mangroves for salt extraction and mariculture (particularly for prawn cultivation) is common in Ngomeni, in LC the main threat to mangroves is from dredging and construction. > The coastal areas in LC benefit from enhanced oceanic nutrient circulations that increase primary and secondary productivity supporting rich marine life which includes fish, crustaceans, sea turtles, molluscs, marine mammals, seabirds, as well as several key supporting marine and coastal habitats. This in turn supports the fisheries, aquaculture, mariculture and tourism sectors. > Coral reefs support both the artisanal and commercial fisheries and form the backbone of the coastal communities’ economies. However, they also support the tourism industry, which employs numerous people throughout the supply chain, including boat operators, tour companies, tour guides and hoteliers in the hospitality sector. They also play an important role in the provision of coastal protection and can be a source of potential marine biotechnological resources to support cutting edge medical research.
> Seagrass, beaches, and an indented coastline with various islands within LC are also key resources to support the development of the Blue Economy.
Carbon capture/blue carbon: marine ecosystems around
Lamu, such as mangroves and seagrass beds, contribute to climate stability by removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it as organic carbon (blue carbon). Mangroves have a high CO₂ sequestration rate of approximately 603 tCO₂e/km²/year, and a substantial carbon stock, estimated at 104,710 tCO₂e/km² 9,10, Seagrass carbon sequestration rates are between 42 and 136 tCO₂e/km²/year. The carbon storage capacity of seagrass beds depends on the species, sediment type and water quality, but it is estimated that average stocks range from 36,264 to 51,889tCO₂e/km² 11, 12 .
This carbon sequestration and storage potential can be used to attract private investment to fund mangrove or seagrass conservation initiatives through voluntary carbon markets where businesses fund the conservation projects that lead to carbon sequestration and in that way offset their own emissions. This is similar to the ecosystem service payment that national governments currently employ with other nations in order to protect areas of the rainforest in other parts of the world and offset their own GHG emissions. The IPCC has published guidelines for inclusion of seagrass and mangroves in national
GHG inventories.
Unfortunately, the marine ecosystems and coastal resources in LC are under threat from unregulated development, pollution, soil erosion, overfishing, poor agricultural practices and ocean acidification. While the growth of tourism is encouraged to contribute to economic growth, rapid coastal development driven by a rebounding tourism market, particularly in the Manda and Lamu Islands, could result in the loss of these vital areas and increase levels of pollution, including wastewater and litter. About 80% of marine litter is from land-based sources13, and there is a need to emphasize the need and importance of targeting land-based waste sources. The impact from discharging untreated wastewater into the sea, and the use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture can also be damaging to coastal habitats, that are critical for tourism and fisheries. An unregulated increase in boats and visitors to the coral reefs and mangroves could also result in long lasting damage to these valuable ecosystems.
Developing the fisheries sector by building a fish processing plant, could generate increased value to the existing catch, as well as much needed revenue and skilled jobs. However, if not planned and managed properly, for example against a sustainable fisheries management plan, the new processing plant could lead to increased pressure on fish stocks and an impact on non-target species from by-catch, as well as damage to the marine habitats from unsustainable practices and polluting discharges. By adopting a Blue Economy approach, good practices including management plans are critical to ensuring long term sustainability.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a cause for concern for the fisheries sector, mainly through larger vessels operating offshore, Kenya loses circa US$ 100 million a year on IUU14. A market study for the fish processing plant is essential to determine what species, what product, what price, what volume, etc., is needed for it to be profitable, maximise value and to be sustainable. Similarly, the parallel development of aquaculture could generate income and material for the processing plant, but this also needs to be appropriately managed and developed against a market study. Fast offtake caused by high prices of aquaculture products could lead to rapid uncontrolled pollution. If aquaculture takes the form of excavated pond farming for example, this can rapidly lead to the destruction of key coastal habitats. Because of these threats, it is necessary that economic growth in Lamu follows a Blue Economy approach. The Blue Economy seeks to promote economic growth and improve people’s livelihoods while safeguarding a healthy marine environment and building resilience, so that it can sustain economic and social activities in the long term. The development of the Blue Economy shall consider employment opportunities for all, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion, or abilities. For instance, women’s groups are currently involved in mangrove restoration providing opportunities for social inclusion and economic empowerment, but it also highlights the importance of women as key agents in environment protection and climate change mitigation.
Further details on the Blue Economy development for LM are described in section 3.5.3, focusing on the key economic sector action plans which include soft initiatives and interventions, priority VCs and inclusive resilient infrastructure proposals.
9 Atwood, T et al. (2017). Country-level mangrove soil carbon stocks and losses. PANGAEA - Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science 10 Breithaupt, J., Smoak, J., Smith, T., Sanders, C. and Hoare, A. (2012), Organic carbon burial rates in mangrove sediments: Strengthening the global budget. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 26(3). 11 Oreska, M., McGlathery, K., Aoki, L., Berger, A., Berg, P. and Mullins, L. (2020). The greenhouse gas offset potential from seagrass restoration. Scientific Reports, 10(1). 12 Greiner, J., McGlathery, K., Gunnell, J. and McKee, B. (2013). Seagrass Restoration Enhances “Blue Carbon” Sequestration in Coastal Waters. PLoS ONE, 8(8), p.e72469. 13 UN Habitat, Background Paper Blue Economy and Cities (2018), Available online at: https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2020/04/un-habitat-background-paper-on-blue-economy-and-cities.pdf (Accessed: 06/11/2021) 14 Marete (2018) in Benkenstein, A. (2018). Prospects for the Kenyan Blue Economy. South African Institute of International Affairs.
