Kisite Island Key Biodiversity Area

The Kisite Island Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) is a coral island located 8 km offshore in the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park and Reserve in Kwale County on Kenya’s south coast. The park is renowned for its coral reefs and diverse marine life, making it a popular destination for snorkelling, diving, and dolphin watching. It is also Kenya’s largest marine protected area, under the Kenya Wildlife Service.?

The park’s ecosystem is ocean waters and unique habitats such as mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs that serve as a haven for a wide range of species of conservation concern. The park is home to resident and foraging populations of dolphins, considered flagship species that play a crucial role as indicators of the overall health of the ecosystem. It is a critical habitat for globally threatened species including dugongs, sea turtles, sperm whales and whale sharks.?

Kisite Island itself is small, flat-topped, and surrounded by corals. It is a remote breeding site for the beautiful Roseate Terns and sometimes other marine terns such as Sooty Terns.?

Despite being a valuable natural asset, cherished for its ecological significance and biodiversity, the marine park faces several threats. These include pollution from land-based sources, such as plastic debris, and infrastructure projects on the Wasini Channel which degrade the water quality, harm marine life and disrupt the migratory corridors of marine megafauna. Climate change also affects the coral and the species they support. Limited public awareness and understanding of marine conservation issues pose a danger to the park. There are limited resources, both financial and human, which constrain the ability to enforce regulations, conduct research, and implement conservation measures effectively.?

Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve received the prestigious gold-level Blue Park Award in 2021 for meeting the highest science-based standards in marine life protection and management. Blue Park Awards were created by the Marine Conservation Institute to promote the establishment of exceptional marine protected areas that effectively preserve marine wildlife, protect vital habitats, enhance resilience, and safeguard the breathtaking beauty of our oceans for future generations.