Guardians of the Blue Heritage: The Role of Pwani University Library, AI, and Traditional Knowledge Custodians in Equitable Knowledge Transfer for Aquatic Environments and Resources (2020–2026)

Moses Isutsa

doi:10.58763/rc2026617

Autores/as

Moses Isutsa Pwani University. Kilifi, Kenia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3791-0687

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58763/rc2026617

Palabras clave:

Artificial Intelligence, Indigenous knowledge, Know-how transfer, Oral tradition, Records management

Resumen

Introduction: The sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems and food systems depends on effective knowledge transfer among scientists, policymakers, fishers, and local communities. However, barriers such as fragmented publishing models, limited access to Indigenous knowledge, and underutilised institutional repositories hinder progress. This paper investigates the role of Pwani University Library, AI technologies, and information managers in facilitating equitable knowledge transfer, with special attention to traditional knowledge custodians as co-equal knowledge producers. Methodology: Using a mixed-methods design anchored in Knowledge Management Theory, the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance, Epistemic Justice Framework, and Actor-Network Theory, the study analysed 2025 completion data for 48 master's and 12 PhD students in aquatic-related programs, reviewed 15 MoUs with fisheries and conservation bodies, and assessed Pwani Institutional Repository (PIR) usage. Results: Findings show that only 33.3% of these were deposited in PIR within six months of graduation. AI-assisted metadata tagging and large language models improved discoverability by 41% in a pilot intervention. Librarians acted as critical intermediaries in digitizing Indigenous fishing knowledge, documenting 120 traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) units from Giriama, Digo, and Swahili custodians. Conclusions: The paper concludes with the Pwani Model for Inclusive Knowledge Transfer (PMIKT), a framework for AI-librarian-custodian collaboration to capture past lessons for future aquatic resilience.

Citas

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