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For years, talk about the ocean’s wealth has focused on big boats and huge harvests. But this misses a critical reality: for every fisher returning to shore, there is often a woman whose work determines whether that catch becomes a meal and an income, or just preventable waste.
At landing sites along the coast, small-scale fish traders, known as mama karanga, are the heart of this trade. Yet for a long time, their work has been a "constant race against time". Without a way to keep fish cold, they must sell or fry them immediately before the heat ruins the catch, which limits how much they can buy and how much they can earn.
If we want to truly improve lives on the coast, we must stop looking only at the deep sea and start looking at what happens when the fish reaches the shore.
In Majoreni, Kwale County, simple tools like cooler boxes are already changing lives. For Mboni Haji Hamisi, a mama karanga with three years of experience, business used to be dictated by fear of spoilage.
“I would buy fish, and they would go bad quickly,” she says.
Now, she can return home to finish her chores and wait for the right time to sell at the best price. Customers are also happier because the fish is cleaner and fresher.
The impact is real and measurable. In a local fish traders group in Majoreni village, some women have increased their daily stock from 5kg to 8kg; a 60% boost in business volume. This isn’t because there are more fish in the sea, but because they no longer fear losing what they buy to the heat.
For Mwanasiti Kassim, the change means she no longer depends entirely on her husband for money. Her daily profit has risen from KES 1,000 to KES 1,300. This extra income goes directly to her children’s school fees and in their fish traders group savings.
“Knowing I have savings gives me peace of mind,” she says.
These are not small wins; they represent a major shift in financial stability and power for women.Often, focus is more on catching more fish, but we are losing value because we don't preserve what is already caught.
Fixing this doesn't require expensive technology. It requires practical investments in storage and better handling at the shore. Investing here ensures that the wealth of the ocean doesn't just stay with those who have big boats but reaches the families who need it most.
A healthy ocean is vital, but so are the tools that allow families to benefit from it. The futureof our coastal economy will be shaped by what happens the moment that fish reaches the shore.
by
Coastal and Marine resource development (COMRED)
