Regulatory Compliance and Factors that Influence Compliance with the Nile Perch Slot Size Regulation among Fish Traders in Nairobi County - Kenya

Purpose: Effective management of fisheries resources can be significantly undermined by non-compliance with regulations. This study sought to determine compliance with the Nile Perch slot size regulation among fish traders in Nairobi County, explore their perceptions on the regulation and determine factors that influence compliance.Method: The research adopted a combination of both quantitative and qualitative research methods. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to fish traders to determine compliance, obtain a general picture of their attitudes towards compliance and determine factors that influence compliance with the fisheries regulation on Nile Perch slot size requirements. A total of 148 fish traders were enumerated by simple random sampling. Only fish traders dealing with Nile Perch trade were included in the study, three fish traders declined to participate in the study leaving an average response rate of 98%. The questionnaire was followed up with more in-depth semi-structured key informant interviews with 14 stakeholders consisting of fisheries staff deployed to the fish markets and the County fisheries office as well as leaders in the fish market committees in order to obtain a thorough understanding of the factors leading to non-compliance. The average duration of interviews was half hour and were conducted at their places of work. Two focus group discussions (FGDs) were also conducted with fish traders from the two main fish markets in the city in order to provide a deeper understanding of the drivers of non-compliance among fish traders.  The FGDs comprised of 12 and 8 members from Gikomba and City markets respectively. Results: The results revealed 87% levels of non-compliance among fish traders. The study revealed that weak enforcement, poverty and lack of knowledge of the importance of the regulation as significant factors for non-compliance.Policy recommendation: It is recommended that capacity building programmes are necessary to increase voluntary compliance and an effective enforcement is recommended to help deter fish traders from engaging in illegal fish trade.