Senior Research Scientist Marine & Coastal Fisheries Fisheries Assessment & Sustainable Management Juvenile Reef Fish • Endangered Species • Policy Development Email: gokemwa@kmfri.co.ke Email: gladysokemwa@gmail.com Academic Qualifications PhD – Fisheries & Aquatic Resource Management, University of Eldoret MSc – Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand BSc – Zoology, University of Eastern Africa, Baraton Research Location & Specialization KMFRI Mombasa Department: Fisheries Specialization: Marine and Coastal Fisheries and Conservation Coordinator – Fisheries Catch Assessment Programme Experience Over 25 years at KMFRI including coordinating the fisheries catch assessment programme | Leadership Focus: Advancing sustainable marine fisheries management through scientific assessment, policy development, regional collaboration, and conservation of endangered species for Kenya's blue economy. Dr. Gladys Okemwa is a Senior Research Scientist at KMFRI with over 25 years of experience, including coordinating the fisheries catch assessment programme. Her extensive career has focused on the assessment and sustainable management of marine fisheries along the Kenyan coast. Dr. Okemwa has served as a member of various regional and national working groups and taskforces, including the Regional Taskforce on African Ornamental Fisheries, the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) Regional Minimum Terms & Conditions (MTC) Taskforce, the SWIOFC Working Party on Collaboration and Cooperation in Tuna Fisheries, SWIOFC Working Party on Demersal Fisheries, SWIOFC Working Party on Data and Statistics, and the Kenya National Sea Turtle Taskforce, as well as various fisheries management plans among others. Her research interests broadly focus on the assessment and sustainable management of marine fisheries. In relation to this, she also undertakes ecological research to understand recruitment dynamics of juvenile reef fish. She works closely with resource managers at the National and County government in developing sustainable fisheries management plans and strategies. She also has a passion for the conservation of endangered and threatened species especially sea turtles and working with community stakeholders and mentoring upcoming scientists. Regional & National Leadership Roles SWIOFC Regional MTC Taskforce SWIOFC – Tuna Fisheries Working Party SWIOFC – Demersal Fisheries Working Party SWIOFC – Data & Statistics Working Party African Ornamental Fisheries Taskforce Kenya National Sea Turtle Taskforce Fisheries Management Plans – National & County Research Specializations & Interests
Key Research Contributions & Publications Juvenile Reef Fish Recruitment – Lead author on patterns of juvenile reef fish recruitment in Kenya's shallow fringing lagoon reefs (African Journal of Marine Science 2019), providing critical insights for reef fisheries management. Marine Ornamental Fisheries – Pioneering research on catch composition and sustainability of the marine ornamental fishery in Kenya (Fisheries Research 2016) and gear-based species selectivity interactions between artisanal and aquarium fisheries. Sea Turtle Conservation – Co-authored research on the value of long-term, community-based monitoring of marine turtle nesting in the Lamu archipelago (Oryx 2017) and population structure enhancing regional management of Western Indian Ocean Green Turtles (Conservation Genetics 2015). Coastal Pelagic Fisheries – Lead author on managing coastal pelagic fisheries – a case study of the small-scale purse seine fishery in Kenya (Ocean and Coastal Management 2017). Fisheries Status Reports – Co-editor of The Status of Kenya Fisheries: Towards the sustainable use of renewable aquatic resources for economic development (KMFRI 2018) and lead author on multiple chapters including small-scale nearshore finfish fisheries and pelagic fisheries status. Dr. Gladys Okemwa's leadership as Senior Research Scientist at KMFRI brings exceptional expertise in fisheries assessment, regional fisheries governance, and endangered species conservation – strengthening the Institute's capacity to provide scientific advice for sustainable fisheries management, develop national and regional policies, and mentor the next generation of marine scientists in Kenya and the Western Indian Ocean region. |