Research Scientist KMFRI – Oceanography & Hydrography Social Anthropology & Maritime Heritage Socioecological Systems • Local Ecological Knowledge • Fisheries Management Email: vmwakha@kmfri.go.ke Email: vmwakha@gmail.com Current Research Focus (PhD) Maritime heritage practices of coastal fishing communities – utilizing ethnographic approaches to understand fishing community's sociocultural experiences, practices, beliefs, opinions, moralities, values, identities and way of life. Academic Qualifications PhD Student (Social Anthropology) – University of Roehampton, London (ongoing) MSc in Ecological Marine Management – Free University Brussels, Belgium BSc in Applied Aquatic Sciences – Egerton University, Kenya Research Location & Specialization KMFRI Mombasa Department: Oceanography and Hydrography Specialization: Socioecological Systems; Social Anthropology | Leadership Focus: Bridging social anthropology and marine science to amplify coastal community voices, document indigenous knowledge, and integrate sociocultural dimensions into fisheries policy and management. Mr. Victor M. Alati is a Research Scientist at KMFRI who is deeply interested in understanding local knowledge held by coastal communities of Kenya. His work recognizes that effective marine resource management must be grounded in the lived experiences, cultural practices, and traditional wisdom of the people who depend on these ecosystems. Mr. Alati is currently pursuing his PhD in Social Anthropology at the University of Roehampton, London. His doctoral study focuses on maritime heritage practices of coastal fishing communities and utilizes ethnographic approaches to understand fishing community's sociocultural experiences, practices, beliefs, opinions, moralities, values, identities, and way of life. Through this research, Mr. Alati seeks to document and elevate the rich maritime heritage of Kenya's coastal peoples, ensuring that their voices and perspectives are central to the design and implementation of fisheries management strategies. His work represents a critical bridge between the natural sciences and the humanities within KMFRI's research portfolio. Research Interests & Specializations Social Anthropology Socioeconomics Fisheries Management Socioecological Systems Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) Ethnographic Methods Maritime Heritage Key Research Contributions
Methodological Expertise Ethnographic Approaches – Proficient in participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, oral histories, and community-based participatory research methods that center the voices and experiences of coastal fishing communities. Local Ecological Knowledge Documentation – Specialized in systematic collection, analysis, and integration of fisher knowledge into fisheries assessment and management frameworks. Participatory Research Methods – Extensive experience in collaborative research design that engages fishing communities as active partners in knowledge generation and decision-making. Mr. Victor Alati's research at KMFRI brings unique social anthropological expertise to marine science – strengthening the Institute's capacity to understand the rich cultural heritage of Kenya's coastal fishing communities, document and integrate local ecological knowledge into management frameworks, and ensure that fisheries policies are socially inclusive, culturally appropriate, and grounded in the lived realities of the people who depend on marine resources for their livelihoods and identities. |