Coral reefs, the house of fish [Miamba ya matumbawe, nyumba ya samaki]: Perceptions of coral reefs in Southern Kenya

In coastal Kenya, fishing and tourism mean that people rely heavily on coral reefs for food security and economic opportunities. Moreover, these ecosystems host the greatest biodiversity worldwide. Yet, Kenya’s reefs face threats from local stressors, such as overfishing and pollution, while ever-rising global sea temperatures due to climate change lead to massive coral die-offs. The reef's decline risks not only biodiversity loss and socio-economic setbacks, but also threatens to erase a cultural heritage of communities deeply connected to its existence, as reefs shape and are part of cultural identities and lifestyles. To combat the current loss of coral reefs in Kenya, the REEFolution Foundation initiated a reef restoration project in the Shimoni-Vanga seascape in Southeast Kenya. Typically, studies on coral reef restoration focus primarily on ecological aspects but often overlook the social dimension, though community support is essential for long-term success This thesis...Show moreIn coastal Kenya, fishing and tourism mean that people rely heavily on coral reefs for food security and economic opportunities. Moreover, these ecosystems host the greatest biodiversity worldwide. Yet, Kenya’s reefs face threats from local stressors, such as overfishing and pollution, while ever-rising global sea temperatures due to climate change lead to massive coral die-offs. The reef's decline risks not only biodiversity loss and socio-economic setbacks, but also threatens to erase a cultural heritage of communities deeply connected to its existence, as reefs shape and are part of cultural identities and lifestyles. To combat the current loss of coral reefs in Kenya, the REEFolution Foundation initiated a reef restoration project in the Shimoni-Vanga seascape in Southeast Kenya. Typically, studies on coral reef restoration focus primarily on ecological aspects but often overlook the social dimension, though community support is essential for long-term success This thesis specifically examines the social dimensions of reef restoration through a gender lens, focusing on women’s roles, perceptions, and connections to the reef in Shimoni, Kenya. Drawing from interdisciplinary approaches, including multispecies ethnography and African studies,—the research uses in-depth interviews to collect local narratives. These narratives reveal the significance of women’s relationships with the reef while providing insights into socioeconomic and environmental changes. As human-reef relations are a two way interaction, the study of coral reefs within the humanities requires a rethinking of traditional earth-bound ethnographic methods, as reefs cannot be understood from surface observations alone. Hence, this thesis offers an innovative perspective on the definition of “fieldwork,” by applying immersive participant observation— specifically, scuba diving—as an anthropological method, allowing the researcher to be physically present with and contribute to the data set of the coral reef. The concerning state of our reefs calls for increased ocean-focused ethnographic research. This transdisciplinary thesis engages both the coastal community and the coral reef, emphasizing their interconnectedness rather than viewing them as two isolated entities.Show less

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Coral reefs, the house of fish [Miamba ya matumbawe, nyumba ya samaki] Perceptions of coral reefs in Southern Kenya