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<span>Dr. Johnstone Omuhaya</span>
Scientist

Dr. Johnstone Omuhaya

Research Scientist

Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
 
Senior Research Scientist
Marine & Coastal Fisheries Research
 
Fisheries Social-Ecological Systems
Stock Dynamics • Catch Assessment • Marine Policy • Food & Nutrition Security
 

Email: jomuhaya@kmfri.go.ke Email: jomukoto@gmail.com

 
Academic Qualifications
PhD Candidate (Environmental Science) – Lancaster University, United Kingdom (ongoing)
MPhil (Aquatic Resources Management) – Moi University, Kenya
BSc (Fisheries) – Moi University, Kenya
Current PhD Research
Disentangling the determinants of fish for food and nutrition security towards tackling hidden hunger using small-scale tropical fisheries (ERC Project FairFish – Lancaster University)
Research Location & Specialization
KMFRI Mombasa
Department: Marine and Coastal Fisheries Research
Specialization: Marine and Coastal Fisheries Social-Ecological Systems, Small-scale Fisheries Stock Dynamics, Catch Assessment Surveys, Marine Policy, Fish for Food and Nutrition Security
Leadership Focus: Advancing understanding of marine social-ecological systems, fisheries production dynamics, and the contribution of fisheries to coastal livelihoods and food/nutrition security through evidence-based research and policy engagement.
 

Johnstone Omukoto Omuhaya is a Senior Research Scientist at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Mombasa. He formerly worked for 3 years as a Fisheries Officer at the Ministry of Fisheries Development, Kenya (2009-2012) and earlier as a Research Assistant at the Wildlife Conservation Society, Mombasa, Kenya for 3 years (2006-2009). He is currently pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science at Lancaster University, United Kingdom. He has an accumulated 15 years of experience in fisheries and aquatic sciences research.

Professional commitments at KMFRI involve collection, compilation and analysis of marine and coastal fisheries statistics/data, marine fisheries exploratory surveys, fishery observer deployment, proposal writing, marine biodiversity assessment, data analysis, technical report writing and dissemination and publishing of research findings using different dissemination tools. He has also worked on institutional projects, task teams, individual small-grant projects, and collaborated on national and regional research projects.

Currently, Johnstone is working as a participating research scientist on two Billfish Research Projects in the WIO region: (1) WIOMSA-MASMA funded project "Billfish Interactions, Livelihoods, and Linkages for Fisheries sustainability in the Western Indian Ocean (BILLFISH - WIO)"; and (2) PEW funded project "Strengthening data collection and capacity building for effective conservation and management of billfish fisheries in the Western Indian Ocean region".

 
Key Research Projects Involved
BILLFISH-WIO (WIOMSA-MASMA) – Billfish Interactions & Livelihoods PEW Fellowship Project – Billfish Data Collection & Capacity Building P-Mowtick (ESPA) – Participatory Modeling of Wellbeing Tradeoffs SPACES (ESPA) – Sustainable Poverty Alleviation from Coastal Ecosystem Services ESTUARIZE-WIO (WIOMSA-MASMA) – Socio-ecological Assessment of Estuarine Fisheries FairFish (ERC) – Hidden Hunger & Forgotten Food (PhD Research)
 
Research Specializations & Interests
  • Linkages between Marine Social-Ecological Systems – Understanding interactions between human communities and marine environments
  • Fisheries Production & Contribution to Livelihoods – Assessing how fisheries support coastal community wellbeing
  • Small-Scale Fisheries Stock Dynamics – Evaluating population trends and sustainability of artisanal fisheries
  • Catch Assessment Surveys – Designing and implementing fisheries monitoring programs
  • Marine Policy & Management Strategies – Developing evidence-based approaches for sustainable fisheries governance
  • Fish for Food & Nutrition Security – Addressing hidden hunger through small-scale tropical fisheries
  • Fisheries Observer Deployment – Coordinating at-sea monitoring programs
 
Key Research Contributions & Publications
Stock Assessment of Bycatch Species – Co-authored research on stock assessment of the Tigertooth croaker (Otolithes ruber) from commercial prawn trawl fishery bycatch in coastal Kenya (WIO Journal of Marine Science 2020).
Trawl Fishery Management – Co-authored research on trawling effort distribution and influence of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) in Malindi-Ungwana Bay, informing resource management and marine spatial planning in Kenya (Marine Policy 2019).
Participatory Fisheries Assessment – Lead author on participatory assessment of priority fishery profiles in an overfished urban inshore seascape in Kenya (WIO Journal of Marine Science 2018).
Microplastic Pollution – Co-authored research on occurrence and ingestion of microplastics by zooplankton in Kenya's marine environment – first documented evidence (African Journal of Marine Science 2018).
Ecosystem Services & Human Wellbeing – Co-authored research on evaluating taboo trade-offs in ecosystem services and human well-being (PNAS 2015).
Artisanal Fisheries Characterization – Co-authored research on propulsion-gear-based characterization of artisanal fisheries in Malindi-Ungwana Bay, Kenya (Ocean & Coastal Management 2014).
Johnstone Omukoto Omuhaya's research and leadership at KMFRI strengthens the Institute's capacity to assess small-scale fisheries dynamics, evaluate social-ecological linkages, and advance food and nutrition security – contributing critical scientific evidence for sustainable fisheries management, marine policy development, and the wellbeing of coastal communities in Kenya and the Western Indian Ocean region.
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