From Fear to Fish IDs
A conversation with Purity Mtunga, written by Waithira Kunene
“I used to fear fish they looked dead but somehow still alive. Now? I can identify over 50 species and tell you what season they thrive in.” – Purity, Data Collector, Shimoni
In the quiet mornings of Shimoni, where the ocean’s soft tides hit the shores and boats rock gently on the water, you’ll likely find Purity with her mobile phone and tape measure in hand chatting with fishers, recording species, and noting sizes like a pro.
But this calm confidence wasn’t always part of her story.
Born outside the coast and unfamiliar with ocean life, Purity moved to Shimoni and began as a fish weigher at a landing site.
“It wasn’t love at first sight,” she laughs. “I feared fish they were dead, but looked alive with their creepy movements.”
Then came an opportunity: training as a data collector through a local nonprofit. Purity dove in - fears, doubts, and all.
Not From the Coast? No Problem.
Being an outsider made things tough. Some fishers were sceptical: “What can she possibly know about the ocean?”
But Purity didn’t just learn to identify fish she learned how to listen.
Through training, mentorship, and hours spent at the landing sites with BMU members, she built trust, rapport, and eventually, respect.
“I had to earn their confidence before they’d freely share data. And I did one conversation at a time.”
Today, when organizations like COMRED need skilled data collectors, Purity is among the first names that come up.
The Ocean Is Her Classroom
Before becoming a data collector, Purity saw the ocean as just a fishing ground.
“I had no idea how vast it was the life, the changes, the signs.”
Now, she can read tides, predict when fishers will return, and spot shifts in fish populations just by observing a catch.
“Data made me see the ocean differently. It’s not just water it’s science, seasons, and survival.”
Her dream? To become a marine researcher and fish ID trainer. With over 50 species under her belt, she’s already halfway there.
To the Next Woman Wondering: Just Start
Purity’s message to women eyeing ocean science or community data work is clear:
“Go for knowledge. Learn skills. Use them to empower yourself and your community”.
Yes, the work is sometimes unpaid or voluntary but for Purity, the reward is deeper.
“It keeps me connected to the ocean, the people, and the purpose.”
In a world where community knowledge often goes undocumented, Purity is not just collecting data, she’s rewriting what the coastline looks like.
Purity Mtunga – Kenya, Data Collector, Shimoni BMU
Purity is a community data collector based in Shimoni, Kwale. Originally from inland Kenya, she now identifies over 50 fish species and supports BMU efforts to improve marine decision-making at the grassroots. She hopes to become a fish ID trainer and marine researcher.
Waithira Kunene is a data storytelling and communications professional passionate about transforming local insights into impactful narratives. She holds a background in computer science and brings hands-on experience in community engagement and sustainable livelihoods programming.