Chief Editor Kenya Aquatica Journal Marine Ecology & Taxonomy Zooplankton • Project Management • Capacity Building • Networking Email: mosore@kmfri.go.ke Email: babaalmasi@yahoo.co.uk Academic Qualifications PhD – Biodiversity and Productivity of the Kenya Coast MSc – Fundamentals and Applied Marine Ecology and Taxonomy BSc – Zoology and Chemistry Diploma – Management of Small and Medium Enterprises Current Roles Chief Editor – KMFRI Scientific Journal (Kenya Aquatica, 2018–present) Adjunct Lecturer – Pwani University (since 2016) Translation Services – English/Kiswahili/French Research Location & Specialization KMFRI Mombasa Research Centre Department: Oceanography and Hydrography Specialization: Marine Ecology and Systematics, Project Management, Networking and Capacity Building, Strategy Engagement with Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups Research Interests: Marine Biodiversity, Ecology and Systematics, Linking User Communities to Coastal and Marine Sciences, Communication Science and Networking | Leadership Focus: Advancing marine ecological and taxonomic research, building human capacities for coastal livelihoods, fostering community-driven development, and promoting science communication and networking for sustainable marine resource management. Dr. Melckzedeck Osore has extensive experience in coastal and marine ecological and taxonomic research, specializing in ecological and taxonomic studies of zooplankton in various Kenyan coastal ecosystems including Gazi Bay, Port of Mombasa, Tudor Creek, Mombasa Marine Park and Reserve, Mtwapa Creek, Mida Creek, and Kilifi Creek. He has 28 years of experience (1990 to present) in collaborative research and development of projects and laboratory techniques in Belgium, Brazil, Ecuador, Germany, Netherlands, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Dr. Osore has served as the Chief Editor of the KMFRI scientific journal – Kenya Aquatica (from 2018 to date). He has played a pivotal role in building human capacities for enhancing livelihoods in the marine and coastal environment, including the development and implementation of capacity building strategies, coordinating improvement of capacity for 30 KCDP agency staff and 200 coastal community youths to obtain livelihood skills at certificate, undergraduate, and Masters degree levels. He successfully implemented the Community Driven Development (CDD) approach in the World Bank-funded programme Hazina ya Maendeleo ya Pwani (HMP), enabling coastal communities to create, manage, and deliver their own livelihood and natural resource management projects across 6 Kenyan coastal counties. He also serves as an adjunct lecturer at Pwani University (since 2016) and provides translation services in English, Kiswahili, and French. Leadership & Coordination Roles Chief Editor – Kenya Aquatica Journal (KMFRI) Regional Research Coordinator – WIOMSA (2004-2010) Kenya National Coordinator – Marine Invasive Species (MIS) Initiative National Coordinator – GLOBALLAST Programme (Eastern Africa Coast) Coordinator – RECOSCIX-WIO (IOC-UNESCO, 1999-2002) Founder Team Member – Indian Ocean Coastal & Marine Biodiversity Programme (CoML) Research Specializations & Expertise
Key Research Contributions & Publications Billfish Fisheries Sustainability – Co-authored research on status and challenges for sustainable billfish fisheries in the Western Indian Ocean (Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 2022). Community Participation in Development – Lead author on perceived benefits and barriers to community participation in development projects – The case of Hazina ya Maendeleo ya Pwani on the Kenya coast (WIO Journal of Marine Science 2022); co-author on determinants of sustainability for community-based water projects (WIO Journal of Marine Science 2020). Fish Larvae Assemblage – Co-authored research on assemblage structure and distribution of fish larvae on the North Kenya Banks during the Southeast Monsoon season (Ocean & Coastal Management 2021). Zooplankton Ecology – Pioneering research on zooplankton composition and abundance in Mida Creek, Kenya (Zoological Studies 2004); copepod composition, abundance, and diversity in Makupa Creek, Mombasa, Kenya (WIO Journal of Marine Science 2003); effect of rainfall and tidal rhythm on community structure and abundance of zooplankton in Gazi Bay, Kenya (Hydrobiologia 1997). Mangrove Ecology – Co-authored research on whether the wood-borer Sphaeroma terebrans shapes the distribution of the mangrove Rhizophora mucronata (Ambio 2002). Book & Report Contributions – Co-editor of From Ridge to Reef: A legacy for sustainable coastal development in Kenya (KMFRI 2021); contributor to The RV Mtafiti: Marine research towards food Security and Economic Development of Kenya (KMFRI 2018); author of numerous technical reports including scoping study on the role of Civil Society Organizations and local communities in promoting an all-inclusive sustainable blue economy in coastal Kenya (2021). Dr. Melckzedeck Osore's leadership and research at KMFRI strengthens the Institute's capacity to conduct marine ecological research, build coastal community capacities, foster community-driven development, and promote science communication – contributing critical scientific evidence and community engagement for the sustainable management of Kenya's marine and coastal resources. |