for livestock production, while private-sector investment in processing could potentially open up new markets for the small-scale fishery. Likewise, the prevalence of numerous candidate species highlights the opportunities in mariculture, which again could potentially create employment and subsequently shift labor away from more exploitive occupations. The government has also shown a commitment to oil exploration, which, if fruitful, also has the potential to create employment, particularly in the downstream sector. Overall, there are clearly many strengths and opportunities that can be utilized to spur sustainable growth and development in coastal region. Many of these opportunities also have the potential to Kenya’s generate alternative forms of employment, which, as alluded to above, could potentially lessen the strain being placed on coastal ecosystems. Creating alternative streams of income could, in turn, be conducive to sector spillovers, which could counter the cyclical relationship documented between poverty and natural resource exploitation. It is also positive to note that the Kenyan government has not only recognized the causal links between poverty and resources, but it has begun generating policies that intend to deal with the problem. The emphasis being placed on training, management, alternative employment and the sustainable use of resources all highlight the positive commitment the government is making in relation to the coastal region. Thus, while challenges still remain abundant, opportunities and a commitment to act are clearly present.
for livestock production, while private-sector investment in processing could potentially open up new markets for the small-scale fishery. Likewise, the prevalence of numerous candidate species highlights the opportunities in mariculture, which again could potentially create employment and subsequently shift labor away from more exploitive occupations. The government has also shown a commitment to oil exploration, which, if fruitful, also has the potential to create employment, particularly in the downstream sector. Overall, there are clearly many strengths and opportunities that can be utilized to spur sustainable growth and development in Kenya’s coastal region. Many of these opportunities also have the potential to generate alternative forms of employment, which, as alluded to above, could potentially lessen the strain being placed on coastal ecosystems. Creating alternative streams of income could, in turn, be conducive to sector spillovers, which could counter the cyclical relationship documented between poverty and natural resource exploitation. It is also positive to note that the Kenyan government has not only recognized the causal links between poverty and resources, but it has begun generating policies that intend to deal with the problem. The emphasis being placed on training, management, alternative employment and the sustainable use of resources all highlight the positive commitment the government is making in relation to the coastal region. Thus, while challenges still remain abundant, opportunities and a commitment to act are clearly present.