Marine and coastal habitats, such as mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reef, are vital for the abundance and diversity of fish juveniles, which play a critical role in supporting future fish stocks and sustaining fisheries and aquaculture. With a majority of the population relying on subsistence fishing, declining catches due to overfishing have prompted a shift to small-scale aquaculture. Yet, the consistency of seed supplies remains a challenge for its long-term viability. This study aimed to investigate fish juvenile recruitment patterns in the mangrove, seagrass and coral reefs habitats and explore solutions for enhancing coastal community welfare and marine resource sustainability. Monthly samplings of fish juvenile and physiochemical parameters were conducted in Kijiweni, Kwale County, from August 2021 to August 2022. A total of 244 fish species belonging to 54 families were recorded, with a dominance of species belonging to the family pomacentridae, Sphyraenidae, Apogonidae, Hemiramphidae and particularly Siganidae (rabbitfishes), a potential mariculture species for culture in the Kenyan coast. Recruitment showed monthly variations, peaking in August 2021 and Noevember 2021, while September 2021 and May 2022 had the lowest juvenile numbers. Notably, the distribution of Siganus sutor varied seasonally. Seagrass habitats emerged as the top recruitment zones for Siganus sp, followed by mangroves and coral reefs. Hydrographic parameters, including temperature and salinity, followed similar patterns to fish juvenile abundance, suggesting their potential influence on fish juvenile recruitment in coastal habitats. This study provides vital understanding of fish juvenile recruitment in the key coastal habitats, underling the need for conservation for the sustainability of fisheries, and importantly gives essential advice to small-scale farmers depending on wild seeds about the best timing for seed collection.
Keywords: Fish juveniles, Marine habitats, Recruitment patterns, Coastal community, Seed collection, Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture