Social and economic implications of small-scale mud crab (Scylla serrata) aquaculture: the case of organised community groups

Small-scale mud crab aquaculture was introduced in East Africa in late 1990s as a mangrove friendly aquaculture to improve the livelihood of coastal communities through organised community groups (OCGs). The OCGs approach was a strategy aimed at ensuring benefits to the village and regulating access to the open access resource (land in mangrove forests). A social and economic assessment was conducted at Majaoni, Makongeni, Ihaleni and Dabaso along the Kenyan coast. The paper looks at the social and economic characteristics of the groups, their management systems, contribution of mud crab aquaculture to the livelihoods of local communities and policy issues related to the interventions. There is wider involvement of the mijikenda community in mud crab farming; however, the level of women participation is low. A strong market link exists between the groups and the different market outlets, where hotels and exporters offer the highest prices. Regional price variations existed and may need networking between the groups. The paper concludes that national policies may need to be redirected to support small-scale aquaculture development and ensuring capacity building for women, operation and management of groups, provision of extension services, data management and provision of user rights for communities working in the mangrove environment.