1. Coastal and marine ecosystems are endowed with unique habitats with a rich biodiversity and abundance of species. Information on the habitat preference for different species is important especially in regards to fisheries and associated livelihoods. However, it can be a challenge to assess habitat preference for a species based on the spatial and temporal distribution and abundance of the species. The Spinefoot Rabbitfish Siganus sutor is a good food fish important in both artisanal and commercial fisheries and information about its habitat preference has not been well studied living huge gaps especially with regards to ecosystem conservation and protection. Objectives Include: To determine the catch composition of Siganus sutor from the fishing grounds. To determine the gear types in Likoni Area. And to investigate the habitat composition in relation to abundance of Siganus sutor Justification:The Likoni Area supports a lot of fishing activity and also a major navigation route for the port of Mombasa at Kilindini, and hence habitat disturbance due to the maritime activities and human interaction is inevitable Acknowledgement Results  The fishing success was depended on gear type and basket trap ‘lema’ was the most common gear.  Siganus sutor was the most abundant fish species in Likoni Area with 42% of the total catch composition, while N. nobulosus had 7% and C. ferdau had 4%. The remaining fish species (Others) had 35% of the total catch composition in Likoni Area.  The total number of S.sutor recorded, showed a high abundance of S.sutor in Kibuyuni with a total count of 1,368 and Buoy No.10 with 1,266 counts while Ferry ya zamani had the lowest S.sutor count of 190, while Mweza and Peleleza had no Siganus sutor catch.  The length frequency distribution for Rabbitfish Siganus sutor in Likoni Area showed that there was a high peak of 23.5 cm to 26.5 cm sized fish with quite a narrow distribution. Conclusion  The total catch of fish species caught from Likoni Area fishing grounds represented the population of fish species in Likoni Area, whereby, catch composition of Siganus sutor showed it is the most abundant species in Likoni Area and therefore, provides a huge market to artisanal fisheries in Likoni and Mombasa.  The basket trap was the most important gear used by fishermen because of high abundance of plant material cover, high efficiency and also cheap to use by the fishing communities.  The study indicated that Siganus sutor has a strong relationship with corals and seagrass habitats whereby, distribution appeared to connect to the diversity of corals and seagrass habitats while, abundance was identified mainly by coral and seagrass cover in the habitats (Brooker et al. 2013).  Timbwani and Kibuyuni, the presence of S.sutor was associated with seagrass species richness and abundance was greatest at the coral substrates with seagrass cover. Kibuyuni and Buoy No.10 have an abundance of coral reefs.  Habitat preference of Siganus sutor is determined primarily by coral reef and seagrass abundance and the benthic and substrate characteristics of corals and seagrass habitats. This contributes highly to its distribution and abundance in Likoni Area. Methodology The field components of this study were conducted at the Likoni ferry landing site, South of Mombasa city. Data was collected in one sampling period, during the South East Monsoon (SEM), in the months of June and July 2015. Fish catches landed by fishermen from each fishing vessel were sampled. Total enumeration was done on the total catch landed for all fish species, whereby, total count of species and total weight were obtained from the individual group of species. The total catch of Siganus sutor was used to estimate the abundance of Siganus sutor. While, the total number of Siganus sutor obtained from each fishing area was used to determine its distribution. A preliminary pictorial representation of different marine habitats in Likoni Area was given to the fishermen, especially the spear fishermen, to identify habitats present at the fishing area. Similarly, the National Intertidal/Subtidal Benthic (NISB) Classification Scheme was used to estimate the benthic composition structure and habitat cover, in terms of the dominant habitat type Recommendation  Further studies should be conducted to quantify the characteristics of coral, seagrass beds and macroalgae habitats and emphasis to monitor coral reefs and seagrass beds in Likoni Area and identify their response to disturbances arising from the constant use of the Area by cargo ships and fishery activities.  Conservation managers should advocate for continued usage of traditional gears like the basket trap and also advice for a detailed environmental assessment before carrying out dredging activities within the Channel and at the creek. Similarly, assess impacts of shipping activities on critical habitats should be consistent to protect and conserve critical habitats that support fish food sources to the Likoni and Mombasa population. REFERENCES Anam, R and Mostarda, E. (2012). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Production: Field Identification Guide to the Living Marine Resources of Kenya, KMFRI & Rome, Italy Brooker, R. M., Munday, P. L., Mcleod, I. M., & Jones, G. P. (2013). Habitat Preferences of a Corallivorous Reef fish: Predation Risk versus Food Quality. Coral reefs, 32(3), 613-622. Heidelberge, Berlin. Ines Gomes. (2012). Artisanal Fishery, Analysis within the Mpunguti Marine Reserve (Southern Kenya): Gear based management toward sustainable strategies. Algarve University Esther. N. Fondo. (2004). Assessment of the Kenyan Marine Fisheries from Selected Fishing area. Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya. HABITAT PREFERENCE OF SPINEFOOT RABBITFISH Siganus sutor (Valenciennes, 1835) IN LIKONI FISHING GROUNDS, SOUTH-COAST KENYA 1 IRUNGU, Kelvin W., 2 FULANDA Bernerd M. and NDEGWA Stephen 1 Kenyatta University - Department of Zoological Sciences, P.O Box 16778-80100, Mombasa, Kenya Email: kelvinwash01@gmail.comkelvinwash01@gmail.com 2. Pwani University – School of Pure and Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 195-80108, Kilifi, Kenya Email: b.fulanda@pu.ac.keb.fulanda@pu.ac.ke 3. State Department of Fisheries – Coast and Marine, P.O. BOX 90423, Mombasa, Kenya Email: ndegwafish@gmail.comndegwafish@gmail.com The relationship of Siganus sutor distribution and abundance and habitat composition Fishing grounds where Siganus sutor was obtained were divided by proportional abundance of habitats. The highest abundance of habitats identified accounted for over 50% of the substrate and benthic cover. The pie charts below shows the results respectively.  Ferry ya zamani is dominated by unconsolidated substrate of gravel with an estimated abundance of 52% of macroalgae and filter feeder cover.  Kibuyuni is dominated by consolidated rock substrate and has a high abundance of coral reef and seagrass cover, estimated as 67%.  Buoy No.10 is dominated by both consolidated substrate with 56% abundance of coral reef structure and seagrass cover.  Timbwani has an abundance of 72% of sand substrates and seagrass cover, and was dominated by unconsolidated substrate of sand and cobble structures.