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<span>Dr. Mary Opiyo</span>
Scientist

Dr. Mary Opiyo

Aquaculture Scientist

Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
 
Principal Research Scientist
African Food Fellow 2023
 
Fish Nutrition & Sustainable Aquaculture
Alternative Protein Sources • Probiotics • Seed Quality • Climate-Smart Aquaculture
 

Email: mopiyo@kmfri.go.ke Email: marybede@gmail.com

 
Current Role & Experience
Principal Research Scientist – KMFRI Kisumu Centre
16 years of experience in aquaculture research
National Coordinator – Seed quality assessment for private & public fish hatcheries
Academic Qualifications
PhD, Fisheries Science – Kenyatta University, Kenya (2014–2020)
MSc, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (Aquaculture) – Moi University, Kenya (2007–2010)
BSc, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences – Moi University, Kenya (2003–2007)
Professional Memberships
World Aquaculture Society (WAS) • Aquacultural Association of Kenya (AAK) • Aquaculture Network for Africa (ANAF) • African Women in Science and Engineering (AWSE) • Research Network for Sustainable Marine Aquaculture in Africa (AfriMAQUA) • MTAWA • SARNISSA • AWFBEK
Leadership Focus: Advancing sustainable aquaculture through innovative research on alternative protein sources, probiotics, seed quality improvement, and climate-smart technologies for food and nutrition security.
 

Dr. Mary Opiyo is a Principal Research Scientist in Aquaculture at KMFRI and a African Food Fellow 2023. Currently, she is involved in research on alternative protein sources for sustainable production of fish feeds, the application of probiotics in aquaculture, and improvement of the quality of African Catfish and Nile tilapia seed through hybridization of different strains and selective breeding.

Dr. Opiyo has 16 years of experience in aquaculture research and has published 16 books and book chapters, 66 peer-reviewed papers in SCI-indexed journals, and 35 conference proceedings. She has collaborated with various institutions in aquaculture research managed by international and regional organizations such as NORAD, LIDC, ICIPE, VLIR-UOS, BBSRC, STFC, KCSAP, WIOMSA, ASARECA, VicRes-IUCEA, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), EU-Horizon and KAPAP with funding from DANIDA, DfID, European Union (EU), SIDA, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and World Bank.

She has been the National Coordinator of the Seed quality assessment in the country for both private and public fish hatcheries, where her responsibilities include monitoring and evaluating the performance of the hatcheries, coordinating the development of Tilapia and Catfish seed standards, and authentication of new hatcheries — which has led to the supply of seed to meet the demand across the country.

 
Research Interests
Fish Nutrition Climate Smart Aquaculture Technologies Cage Aquaculture Quality & Cost Effective Fish Feeds Probiotics in Aquaculture Antibiotic Resistance in Farmed Fish Omega 3 Fatty Acids in Fish Fish Health Management Production of All Male Tilapia Genetic Improvement for Quality Seed Production
 
Key National & Regional Advisory Roles
  • Member – National technical team responsible for the development of the Manual of Standard Operating Procedure for Fish Inspection and Quality Assurance for Fish Business Operators in Kenya
  • Member – East Africa Community (EAC) technical committee for fish seed standards and certification guidelines
  • Member – LVFO taskforce in Aquaculture Research
  • Member – African Union-International Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) Taskforce on African ornamental fisheries
  • National Coordinator – Seed quality assessment for private and public fish hatcheries
 
Selected Research Projects (Principal Investigator or Co-PI)
  • EU HORIZON INNOECOFOOD (2024–2026) – Eco-Innovative Technologies for Improved Nutrition, Sustainable Production and Marketing of Agro-ecological Food Products in Africa (€444,000) – Co-PI/Task Leader
  • MASMA-WIOMSA (2021–2022) – Optimizing Artemia Production Technology for Sustainable Aquaculture Development (USD 298,294) – Co-PI
  • KCSAP-World Bank (2020–2021) – Use of Locally Available Aquatic Macrophytes as Sustainable Ingredients for Fish Feeds for Rural Aquaculture (KES 4,406,500) – Principal Investigator
  • GCRF-UKRI (2020–2021) – Addressing Livestock-derived Antimicrobial pollution in the Nairobi River (GBP 19,210) – Co-PI
  • BIOINNOVATE AFRICA (2019–2021) – Using Black Soldier Fly Larvae as an environmentally sustainable source of affordable protein for Chicken and Fish Feed (USD 666,656) – Co-PI
  • VLIR-UOS (2017–2021) – Building a Strategic Framework for Aquaculture Education in Kenya (€299,874) – Co-PI/Project Coordinator
  • Newton Fund GRP (2017–2019) – IMAQulate: Evaluating Costs and Benefits of Prophylactic Health Products (GBP 100,000) – Co-PI
  • Newton Fund GRP (2017–2019) – SNIPH: Development of alternative sustainable fish feeds (GBP 347,790) – Co-PI
  • National Research Fund (2017–2019) – Effects of probiotics on growth performance, immunity and flesh quality of pond cultured Nile tilapia (KES 1,332,000) – Principal Investigator
  • World Bank KAPAP (2010–2014) – Commercializing aquaculture production through sustainable technologies and market linkages (KES 30,000,000) – Lead Seed systems
  • ASARECA (2011–2013) – Building Public-Private Sector Partnership to Enhance Productivity and Competitiveness of Aquaculture in Eastern and Central Africa (USD 264,736) – Co-PI/Project Coordinator
 
Training & Capacity Building
Resource Person – Training of fish farmers, Hatchery managers, processors, traders, students and government extension officers in Good aquaculture practices, Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements in Aquaculture, Ornamental fishery, Seed production and hatchery management, Aquaculture entrepreneurship, Aquaculture economics, Aquaculture nutrition, Fish health management and general aquaculture management.
Previous Role – Research Assistant at CARE Kenya, an international NGO dealing in smallholder livelihood projects.
Dr. Mary Opiyo's leadership as Principal Research Scientist at KMFRI Kisumu brings exceptional expertise in fish nutrition, alternative protein sources, probiotics, seed quality improvement, and climate-smart aquaculture – strengthening the Institute's capacity to develop sustainable and cost-effective fish feeds, improve the quality of farmed fish seed, enhance fish health management, address antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture, and advance food and nutrition security through innovative research, national seed quality coordination, regional policy advisory roles, and capacity building across Kenya's aquaculture value chain.
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