Title: Assessing the efficacy of fisheries co-management amidst climate change impacts: A stakeholder preparedness evaluation in Lake Victoria, Kenya.

There is a common agreement that the establishment of co-management could benefit the fisher community and other stakeholders across the African Great Lakes. This study examined the efficacy of community-level fishery co-management organisations called Beach Management Units (BMUs) along the Kenyan shores of Lake Victoria in the wake of climate change impacts. Data were collected from five BMUs along the Kenyan shores of Lake Victoria. A total of 99 respondents and 20 key informant interviews were conducted in all five riparian counties of Lake Victoria. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using Excel and R-4.4.0.tar.gz. Data were collected through site observations and questionnaire-led interviews involving key informants and Beach Management Unit members. The study revealed that the main causes of climate change are deforestation (82%), industrialisation (43%), rainfall (23%), and GHGs (21%), while the main consequences are food insecurity (64%), drought (60%), rainfall (57%), fish stock change (56%), and poor human health (52%).The survey results indicate that 93.9% (Figure 5) of the respondents were aware of climate change. Despite the majority of the respondents being aware of climate change, only 34.4% agreed on evidenced climate change impact adaptation strategies within the co-management framework. Furthermore, climate change considerations appeared to be insufficiently integrated into co-management structures. A substantial proportion of BMU committee members (38%) and leaders (50%) reported no integration, while 58% of fish traders were uncertain. Perceptions of community education on climate change and co-management were moderate to low across stakeholder groups, with ratings of 50% (BMU committee members and leaders), 35% (fish traders), 28% (fishermen), and 42% (other stakeholders). The low rating of such measurable attributes advocates the lack of effectiveness of co-management in Lake Victoria, Kenya. This was attributed mainly to the lack of continuous awareness creation amid the changing lake environmental conditions and dynamics in the specific species fishery. There is a need to sustain the achievements attained so far in promoting co-management and ecosystem sustainability, as enforcement of laws and regulations can be a challenging undertaking without government support. Governments should ensure financial and material provision to expand the capacity of co-management units to promote community livelihoods and fishery sustainability.