But the scheme got a mixed reception from Traffic, the wildlife trade monitoring network.

The international wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC, criticised the country's authorities for not doing enough to protect the abalone.

The wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC and conservation group WWF said they were "deeply disapointed" by Sunday's vote.

The scheme is run jointly by the WWF global conservation group, the wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).