Impacts of Extreme Events on Community Livelihoods: El Niño Effects and Management of Seaweed Farms in the South Coast of Kenya
This study examines the impacts of the November–December 2023 El Niño on seaweed farming along Kenya’s south coast. Using farmer interviews, it shows how extreme rainfall caused major production declines, labour shortages, and uneven recovery across villages, disrupting value chains and increasing vulnerability in coastal communities. Findings highlight adaptation needs such as early warning systems, improved spatial planning, stronger farmer organizations, and policy support to buffer future El Niño shocks.
Subject Tags
- Climate adaptation
- Aquaculture
- Coastal
Abstract
Seaweed farming is a vital economic activity for coastal communities in the Western Indian Ocean, with growing potential in food, bio-stimulants, pharmaceuticals and environmental management. Some farmed species, such asEucheuma denticulatum and Kappaphycus alvarezii, are known to be sensitive to extreme weather events such as El Niño rains, with direct implications for production and livelihoods. This study assessed the impacts of the November–December 2023 El Niño event on seaweed farms in three villages (Kibuyuni, Tumbe and Bati-Mwazaro) along the south coast of Kenya. The assessment focused on changes in production, labour requirements and farm management practices. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 99 seaweed farmers and analysed using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Production was found to have increased steadily from September to November 2023 but declined sharply in December 2023 and January 2024, during and immediately after the El Niño. Farmers in Kibuyuni demonstrated faster recovery and maintained more active ropes in the water, resulting in higher post-El Niño harvests, whereas Bati-Mwazaro and Tumbe reported lower yields. Additionally, farm labour shortages were a major constraint across all villages (reported by 98% of respondents in Kibuyuni, 94% in Bati-Mwazaro and 87% in Tumbe). Kibuyuni farmers had a greater proportion of ropes deployed at sea, whereas Bati-Mwazaro and Tumbe farmers retained most of their ropes at home, indicating reduced active farm area and slower recovery. These findings show how a single extreme rainfall event can disrupt seaweed value chains, delay recovery over multiple cropping cycles and exacerbate vulnerability in already marginalized coastal villages. The study highlights priority adaptation and management options, including integrated early warning and farming calendars, spatial planning to reduce exposure to flood plumes, strengthened farmer organizations and input supply systems and development of policy instruments for insurance and emergency support to buffer future El Niño shocks.
Citation
Mirera, D. O., Holeh, G. M., Kendi, J., Maina, G. W., Kawaka, J., Mondesto, I., ... & Considine, E. M. (2026). Impacts of Extreme Events on Community Livelihoods: El Niño Effects and Management of Seaweed Farms in the South Coast of Kenya. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries, 6(2).
TNC Authors
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Megan Considine
Aquaculture Program Coordinator. Provide Food and Water
The Nature Conservancy
Email: megan.considine@tnc.org -
George Maina
Africa Fisheries Strategy Mgr. Africa
The Nature Conservancy
Email: gwmaina@tnc.org -
David Ouma
Marine Fisheries Officer, Kenya. Africa
The Nature Conservancy
Email: david.ouma@tnc.org