Don't Pick Shells at the Kenyan Coast: Hermit Crabs Need Them for Survival

This section was updated on February 17 2026

It’s illegal to pick shells at the Kenyan Coast. The Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act No. 24 of 2025), assented to in October 2025, and effective November 2025, bans/prohibits this.

The Act lists seashells in the ninth (9^th) schedule on wildlife categories in relation to offences and penalties in sport and recreational hunting.

This is the full list on the 9^th schedule:

·         Category A

o   Critically endangered mammals as set out in the Sixth Schedule

o   Black Rhinoceros

o   White Rhinoceros

o   African Elephant

·         Category B

o   All other endangered and vulnerable mammals as set out in the Sixth Schedule

o   All birds listed in fifth schedule

o   All reptiles listed in fifth schedule

·         Category C

o   All other mammals

o   All other birds

o   Sea Shells

If found and convicted, you may (Section 96):

·         Pay a fine of not less than twenty (20) million or be imprisoned for life.

·         Pay a fine of five (5) million shillings or be imprisoned for five (5) years. Or, both.

·         Pay a fine of one (1) million shillings or be imprisoned for two (2) years. Or, both.

To be clear, the Act defines sport hunting as authorized pursuit and killing of wildlife for recreation and trophy collection.

Additionally, part 10 of the eighth (8^th) schedule on consumptive wildlife utilization states that, ‘sport hunting is prohibited and any person engaging in sport hunting or any other recreational hunting will be committing an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment or to both such fine and imprisonment.’

Update ends here

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Strolling on the serene white sandy beaches and walking into the ocean at low tide is a popular tourist activity on the Kenyan coast. You're usually not alone. You're accompanied by marine plants and animals such as seaweeds, sea urchins, and brittle stars as you move into the ocean from the shoreline. The biodiversity increases as you walk further into the ocean.

Hermit crabs are noticeable from the rocky shores to about 250 meters into the ocean (part of the intertidal zone). You'll also see a lot of shells in this zone. Please DON'T pick them. The shells are vital for the survival of the hermit crab population. Hermit crabs have soft bodies that make them vulnerable to their surroundings. 

Hermit crabs live inside empty shells for protection, carrying them everywhere. They move to a bigger one once they outgrow their shell. Scientists have observed hermit crabs queuing to swap shells, as seen in the video below.

Hermit crabs play a critical role in the marine ecosystem, cleaning up by eating dead plants and animals. They are omnivore scavengers. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS),a state corporation tasked with conserving and managing conservation areas under its jurisdiction, addresses the issue of shell picking through the KWS wildlife marine code.

It reads," Do not remove shells, starfish, or any other sea – flora or fauna. Removal is illegal, seriously disrupts the ecosystem, and some marine life is dangerous. The areas outside the parks and reserves are threatened by excessive shell collection. Empty shells provide homes for hermit crabs and some fish.

Do not buy shells and other marine animal products as souvenirs as this encourages further plundering of the reefs and beaches".

Here's a little fellow we picked up about 200 meters into the ocean. KWS advises against picking items in the ocean as they may be dangerous. We've got a bit of experience in marine biology, so we carefully handled organisms in the intertidal zone. All of them were safely returned to the ocean.

Embrace sustainable tourism practices and tembea Kenya responsibly. Leave footprints only.

*Don’t be mean. Be green. *