Oumar Cisse

Oceans Alive Trust

The founders of Oceans Alive Trust started our journey in marine conservation when we set up the Kuruwitu Conservation and Welfare Association (KCWA) in 2003. This was in response to the concerns witnessed and being expressed by local fishermen and women regarding the decline in fish stocks in the Kuruwitu region, in Kenya's Kilifi County. Oceans Alive was set up in 2016 as the next logical step in extending the influence of the Locally Managed Marine Areas movement in the region. Creating a network of similar community-based projects who could learn from Kuruwitu and collaborate with each other meant the Kuruwitu model could be leveraged to greater effect. Ecological recovery within the Kuruwitu marine protected area has been remarkable, and now serves as a globally important scientific reference of the benefits of local marine protection. It has inspired other communities to work with Oceans Alive Trust to establish LMMA's along the Kenyan coast. There are now 30 LMMA's in Kenya, influenced by the Kuruwitu model and approach. The Kuruwitu LMMA received the prestigious UNDP Equator Prize in 2017. Building on our work in marine area management, Oceans Alive has launched training programmes in all areas of marine governance and protected area management. Oceans Alive has also piloted alternative livelihood projects in eco tourism, organic farming, a coral reforestation programme, beekeeping, tailoring and crafts from driftwood. These activities are complemented by various community welfare and ecological restoration projects . Ocean's Alive is a Trust created to protect and enhance Kenya's oceans by strengthening coastal communities through conservation, education and entrepreneurship. Inspired by our impact on the Kuruwitu Conservation and Welfare Association, Ocean's Alive will continue to support the work of the KCWA whilst supporting existing LMMA's and inspiring others to implement our successful model in other regions.