Leadership Focus: Advancing understanding of phytoplankton dynamics, marine plastic pollution, and ocean acidification to inform evidence-based policies for coastal ecosystem health and blue economy sustainability. Ms. Catherine Mwalugha is a Research Scientist at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), based in Mombasa within the Department of Oceanography and Hydrography. Her work focuses on critical areas of marine science including phytoplankton studies, plastic pollution, and ocean acidification. With a strong foundation in biological sciences, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany and Zoology from the University of Nairobi, Ms. Mwalugha applies interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the complex interactions between marine ecosystems and anthropogenic pressures. Her research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on how pollution and climate-related stressors impact coastal and freshwater environments. Ms. Mwalugha is an active member of Western Indian Ocean Early Career Scientists (WIO-ECSN) and the Organization for Women In Science for Developing World (OWSD), demonstrating her commitment to scientific collaboration, early career development, and promoting women's participation in science. Research Specializations Phytoplankton Studies Marine Plastic Pollution Ocean Acidification Litter Pollution in Transboundary Lakes Mangrove & Estuary Pollution Dynamics Key Research Contributions & Publications Transboundary Lake Pollution – Contributing author to research on anthropogenic litter pollution in selected African transboundary and Great Rift Valley lakes (Journal of Great Lakes Research 2024) and the complexity of litter pollution in Lakes Jipe and Chala in Kenya and Tanzania. Mangroves as Pollution Sinks – Co-authored research on whether tropical mangroves act as sinks for litter leaking from land- and sea-based sources, with evidence from selected Kenyan mangroves (Marine Pollution Bulletin 2023). Estuarine Litter Dynamics – Research on whether tropical estuaries are sources or sinks for marine litter, using Sabaki Estuary, Kenya as a case study (Marine Pollution Bulletin 2022). COVID-19 & Marine Litter – Co-authored study on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on marine litter pollution along the Kenyan Coast (Marine Pollution Bulletin 2021). Baseline Marine Litter Studies – Contributing author to the first-ever documented study on marine macro-litter composition and distribution along the Kenyan Coast (Marine Pollution Bulletin 2020) and baseline meso-litter pollution in selected coastal beaches. Blue Economy & Water Pollution – Co-authored research on water pollution and its impact on the Blue Economy initiative using lessons learned from the Kenyan Coast (Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management 2022). Book Chapters – Contributor to Decadal Pollution Assessment and Monitoring Along the Kenya Coast (IntechOpen) and African Litter Monitoring Manual (2nd Edition, Sustainable Seas Trust) on trawl surveys for floating meso-litter and buried litter surveys on beaches. Ms. Catherine Mwalugha's research at KMFRI strengthens the Institute's capacity to monitor and mitigate marine pollution, understand phytoplankton dynamics, and assess ocean acidification impacts – contributing critical scientific evidence for the protection of Kenya's coastal and freshwater ecosystems and the sustainable development of the blue economy. | 
