Along the Pate-Kiunga area in Lamu County, a small archipelago north of Mombasa in Kenya, Coral reefs have degraded over the years. in Pate Island, the largest island in the Lamu Archipelago, lies between the towns of Lamu and Kiunga, More than 3, 000 people in 600 households along the Pate-Kiunga area directly or indirectly depend on coral reefs through artisanal fisheries and tourism.

However, fishery productivity depends on healthy corals. But over the years, the use of destructive fishing gear, like seine nets, the 1998 El Niño and infrastructure development have degraded these corals impacting the fisheries of which these communities depend on .

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The community via the Pate Marine Community Conservancy (PMCC) together with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT Coast), the Nature Conservancy (TNC) , Kenya Wildlife services, Kenya Forest Services and the Lamu County fisheries department launched the Artificial Coral Reef Restoration Project.

The goal was to restore at least 0.5 hectares of coral reef area called a fish replenishment zone within the Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA), enhance fisheries, and safeguard the marine habitats. Later in 2021 they build artificial blocks that mimic the natural coral environment and started transplanting corals on them. What impacts is these restoration effort having on the Pate-Kiunga ecosystem and its communities?

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Coral reefs are home, feeding, breeding and nursery grounds for millions of species. Hidden beneath the ocean waters, fish, lobsters, seahorses, sea turtles are among thousands of creatures that rely on reefs for their survival.

They provide crevices, branching overhangs, and ledges for fish to hide from predators. While algae provide habitat and food, and certain animals will attach their eggs to the corals reefs.