Lamu’s Dhow Navigation App Helps Fishers Avoid Illegal Trawlers

Lamu’s Dhow Navigator App (News #259, #289) now includes a real-time *Illegal Trawler Alert* feature, launched on November 12, 2025—using satellite AIS data and community reporting to warn artisanal fishers of industrial boats in no-trawl zones. In its first week, 47 alerts were issued; illegal incursions dropped 63%. The app doesn’t just guide—it protects, said skipper Salim Ali. KWS and AMREF co-developed the feature. The EU awarded Lamu County €500,000 to scale it to the entire Kenyan coast. UNESCO called it digital sovereignty for small-scale fishers.