Table 5. Summary of local ecological knowledge of different occupational groups in the target community, Kenya. Species refer to marine species of fish and shellfish targeted by categories of fishermen. For each species the functional groups to which it belongs, based on trophic level, is indicated in brackets; Pelagic/demersal predator, (P) Benthic predator, (BP) Herbivores, (H) Planktivores, (Pl) Omnivores (O). Occupational category Species Ecological links and processes Deep sea Caesio sp. (Pl) Carangidae (P) Hyporamphus sp. (O) Lethrinus sp. (BP) Scombridae (P) Selar sp. (P) Siganus sp. (H) Squid (P) - Notion of regional fish stock migrations at a local and regional scale - Seasonal monsoon related wind patterns and currents affect fish migrations along the regional coastline - Notion that changes in climate, timing of the monsoon rains, and El Niño phenomena have occurred recently resulting in an effect on the artisanal shrimp fishery as well as mangrove coverage - Recognition of links between the ecosystems mangroves, seagrasses, and reef Seine net Carangidae (P) Caranx sp. (P) Lethrinus sp. (BP) Lutjanus argentimaculatus (BP) Mugilidae (H) Pomadasys sp. (BP) Scombridae (P) Selar sp. (P) Sphyraena sp. (P) Squid (P) Strongylura sp. (P) - Notion of regional fish stock migrations at a local scale - Seasonal monsoon related wind patterns and currents affect fish migrations along the regional coastline - Notion that changes in climate, timing of the monsoon rains, and El Niño phenomena have occurred recently resulting in an effect on the artisanal shrimp fishery as well as mangrove coverage - Notion that sea urchin aggregations can affect the dynamics of seagrass meadows and associated fauna Gill net Chanos chanos(O) Gerres sp. (BP) Lethrinus harak (BP ) Mugilidae (H, P) Siganus sp. (H) Sphyraena sp. (P) Strongylura sp. (P) - Notion that changes in climate, timing of the monsoon rains, and El Niño phenomena have occurred recently resulting in an effect on the artisanal shrimp fishery as well as mangrove coverage - Seasonal monsoon related wind patterns and currents affect fish migrations along the regional coastline Middlemen - Notion of regional fish stock migrations - Seasonal monsoon related wind patterns and currents affect fish migrations along the regional coastline - Recognition of interlinkages between seascape components Farmers - Poor general knowledge of all ecological links and processes in the seascape Businessmen - Poor general knowledge of all ecological links and processes in the seascape