Kilifi County, Kenya · Est. 2003
Building a Future Where Oceans and Communities
Thrive Together
Creating, catalyzing, and scaling pragmatic, community-led solutions for ocean conservation across Kenya and the Western Indian Ocean region. Empowering coastal communities as the primary stewards of their marine resources.
Coral Restoration
25,000+
Colonies Planted
400%
Fish Growth
Protected Ocean
12,000
Hectares Co-Managed
20-Year Journey of Impact
Two Decades of
Community-Led Conservation
From establishing Kenya's first community-driven LMMA in 2003, to 15 years of proven results (400% fish biomass increase, 30% coral recovery), to Kenya's first Co-Management Plan in 2022 - placing 12,000 hectares under community stewardship.
Years of Community-Led Impact
Hectares Under Co-Management
Coral Colonies Replanted Since 2019
Fish Biomass Increase in LMMA
Community Members Actively Engaged
LMMAs Inspired Across Kenya
Households Benefiting from Programs
Women in Income Programs
Our Work
Interlocking
Programs
Ocean Recovery
Coral restoration, fisheries & marine ecosystems
Social Health Environment
Women's empowerment & sustainable livelihoods
Learning & Leadership
Ocean education & capacity building
Governance & Fisheries
Community governance & sustainable fisheries
Research & Innovation
Monitoring & sustainable finance
Our Story
Reimagining Marine Conservation through community leadership on Kenya's Coast
In 2003, when coral bleaching devastated Kenya's reefs and fish stocks collapsed, Kuruwitu's fishing community took action - establishing Kenya's first community-driven marine protected area, a 30-hectare Tengefu.
Over 15 years of community management delivered unprecedented results: 400% fish biomass increase, 30% coral recovery, 17% seagrass restoration, and 135% household income improvement. The model worked.
In 2016, Oceans Alive Foundation was established to share this proven LMMA experience, offering technical support to scale across 17 neighbouring Beach Management Units. Today, we support 12,000 hectares of co-managed ocean and 7,000+ households across Kilifi County.
Community Action Begins
Kuruwitu community and founders took action to close an area from fishing, establishing Kenya's first community coastal conservation area (Tengefu) - a locally managed marine protected area that would become the model for national policy.
Model Proven with Data
15 years of data collection and community management deliver unprecedented results: 400% fish biomass increase within the Tengefu, 30% coral recovery, 17% seagrass restoration, and 135% household income improvement due to fish spillover effects.
Oceans Alive Foundation Established
Founders created an NGO to share the LMMA experience and tools, offering technical support to scale to 17 neighbouring fishing communities registered as Beach Management Units (BMUs) across Kilifi County.
UNDP Equator Prize
Kuruwitu CBO wins the 2017 IUCN Equator Award in recognition of community action to establish the LMMA. Community representatives traveled to New York to accept this prestigious global conservation award.
Coral Gardening Program Launched
Active coral restoration begins with community divers trained as reef gardeners. Since then, 15,000+ colonies have been transplanted onto 457 artificial reefs across 39 hectares of restored reef area.
Kenya's First Co-Management Plan
Establishment of the first officially endorsed Co-Managed Area (CMA) for Kuruwitu BMU under new BMU Regulations. Development of first 6-step toolkit and IUCN SAGE analysis - a policy landmark for Kenya.
IUCN Blue Champions Award
Kuruwitu CBO wins the 2022 IUCN Blue Champions Award, further cementing global recognition of the community-led conservation model pioneered on Kenya's north coast.
Royal Visit to Kuruwitu
His Majesty King Charles III visits Kuruwitu and places a coral restoration block into the water, bringing unprecedented international attention to community-led marine conservation in Kenya.
IUCN World Conservation Congress
Oceans Alive presents at IUCN 2025, showcasing the Kuruwitu model as a globally scalable blueprint. Featured in IUCN Panorama, Green Listing and Blue Wall - sharing lessons across the Western Indian Ocean region.
Women & Ocean
Women at the Heart of Conservation
Through Oceans Alive's Social, Health and Environment programme, women are helping shape the future of conservation across Kilifi County.
From coral restoration and community leadership to small businesses and recycling initiatives, women are creating practical solutions that benefit both people and the environment.
Today, more than 120 women collect, sort and sell over two tonnes of plastic each month, turning waste into income while helping protect the coast they call home.
Support Women's Programmes →
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Quarterly updates from the field - conservation progress, stories from Kilifi's coast, and real ways to support the work.
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