Our Purpose
“We believe the ocean's future depends on the communities whose livelihoods depend on it.”
Our Mission
To create, connect and catalyze co-management initiatives by providing support to BMU and Coastal Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLC), sharing relevant knowledge and building capacity.
The Challenge We Are Addressing
For generations, Kenya's coastal people have relied on the ocean for food and work. Today, this way of life is under threat. Coral reefs are struggling because of climate change, pollution, and overfishing. When the reef suffers, families face hard times, with fewer fish to catch and less money to support their homes.
Due to population growth, more people are now fishing than ever before, and this has caused fish numbers to drop. To catch what they need, some fishers use nets that are illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU). These methods destroy coral and seagrass and catch fish that are too small before they have reproduced, and because there is little help from local authorities to stop these harmful practices, the ocean continues to suffer.
What Actually Works
Conservation thrives when communities are well-organised and work in strong, long-term partnerships. For over 10 years, Oceans Alive has walked alongside coastal communities to provide the technical, institutional, and financial support needed to turn their vision for a healthy ocean into a reality.
Our Vision
Marine conservation of Kenya's coastline and its coastal Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLC) resource use in balance with nature to support well-being and sustainable livelihoods.
Aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
What We Stand For
Our Core Values
Community-Led
The people closest to the ocean are best placed to care for it. We work alongside communities to develop solutions that reflect local knowledge, priorities and experience.
Long-Term Thinking
We focus on lasting outcomes rather than short-term projects, helping communities build the skills, partnerships and financial resilience needed to sustain change.
Learning & Education
Knowledge creates opportunity. We support learning at every level, from school programmes and community training to citizen science and leadership development.
Conservation in Action
We protect and restore marine ecosystems through practical, evidence-based conservation that benefits both nature and people.
Partnership
Meaningful change happens when communities, government, researchers and responsible businesses work together toward shared goals.
How We Work
Four Core Principles
Community Ownership
We believe true conservation is an exercise in local leadership. Our programs are co-designed with fishers, Beach Management Units (BMUs), and local leaders. By placing governance in the hands of those who live by the sea, we ensure the solutions we build together last for generations.
Integrated Resilience
A reef cannot thrive if its community is trapped in economic vulnerability. We take an integrated approach, connecting ocean health to land-based prosperity. By pairing reef restoration with homestead gardening and circular economy projects, we ensure that a healthy ocean creates a healthy, stable community.
Evidence-Led Action
The tengefu is a living classroom where local wisdom is documented as key data. Our research, conducted by local reef monitors, underpins everything we do. This ensures our work is scientifically rigorous, locally relevant, and capable of informing national policy.
Inclusion at the Core
Conservation succeeds when everyone has a seat at the table. Women and youth are central to our work, driving the initiatives that define our impact. Through Trash4Cash, permaculture and alternative income generation programs, we foster economic independence alongside stewardship to build a future that is inclusive and secure for all.
Continue reading: See the global recognition our community-led model has earned.
Recognition & Awards →