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Coastal and Marine Ecosystem

A marine ecosystem known for coral reefs, dolphins, and diverse marine life.

35,614
km² Marine & Coastal Area
536
km Coastline
14
Protected Areas
1,000+
Fish Species

Kenya's Coastal and Marine Ecosystem

A biodiversity hotspot spanning 536 km of Indian Ocean coastline with pristine coral reefs and marine protected areas

Kenya's coastal and marine ecosystem spans 536 km of coastline with critical habitats including mangrove forests, seagrass beds, coral reefs, and sandy beaches. These environments show strong seasonal variations driven by monsoon winds and river discharge, supporting diverse biodiversity and serving as livelihood sources for coastal and inland populations.

Data Snapshot

35,614
km² ecosystem extent
6
counties covered
14
protected area records
4
national parks
5
national reserves
1,000+
fish species
Snapshot values summarize the current Marine ecosystem statistics record. See the tabbed sections below for detailed parks, reserves, conservancies, species, IUCN, threats, and research data.

Climate Profile

Annual rainfall
500-1200mm
Temperature range
22-32°C
Rainfall pattern
Bimodal monsoon driven
24-34°C
dry season temp.
300-900mm
wet season rainfall

Why It Matters

  • Kenya's coastline hosts coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds that anchor fisheries livelihoods for coastal communities.
  • Marine protected areas safeguard sea turtles, dugongs, and over 1,000 reef-fish species in the Western Indian Ocean network.
  • Climate change, coastal development, and unsustainable fishing pressure mean reef health and fisheries must be tracked together.

Coastal and Marine Ecosystem

Interactive map showcasing Kenya's Coastal and Marine ecosystem

Select Layers to Display:

Marine Ecosystem Statistics

0
Marine Area (km²)
0
Coastline (km)
0
Active Layers
0
Protected Areas