Research Scientist Marine Fisheries Ecology & Genetics Fish Stock Assessment & Population Genetics Skipjack & Kawakawa Tuna • Hydroacoustic Surveys • NGS Email: fmzingirwa@kmfri.go.ke Email: fmzingirwa@gmail.com Academic Qualifications PhD Candidate – Rhodes University (Enabling sustainable exploitation of skipjack and kawakawa tuna in the Western Indian Ocean)
MSc – Marine Fisheries
BSc – Biological Sciences Research Location & Interests KMFRI Mombasa
Department: Fisheries
Research Interests: Marine Fisheries Ecology and Genetics, Fish Stock Assessment Grants & Funding Awards Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (MARG 1)
International Foundation for Science (IFS)
National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) | Leadership Focus: Advancing sustainable tuna fisheries through stock assessment and population genetics, integrating molecular techniques with fishery management for informed decision-making in the Western Indian Ocean. Fatuma Mzingirwa is currently pursuing her PhD at Rhodes University on "enabling sustainable exploitation of skipjack and kawakawa tuna in the Western Indian Ocean" – research that addresses critical knowledge gaps for tuna fisheries management in the region. She has been involved in stock assessment and hydroacoustic surveys for sustainable harvesting of fish and management as a whole, applying advanced methodologies to evaluate fish population status and inform harvesting strategies. Fatuma has worked on molecular techniques to investigate genetic diversity of marine fish in the Indian Ocean. The techniques she has used include mitochondrial DNA and nuclear microsatellites. She has also gained skills in Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), an advanced method for genetic studies that enables comprehensive analysis of population structure and connectivity. Research Projects & Collaborations South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Project (SWIOFP) Kenya Coastal Development Project (KCDP) Stock Assessment & Hydroacoustic Surveys Molecular Genetics – mtDNA & Microsatellites Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Research Specializations & Technical Expertise - Stock Assessment – Evaluating fish population status to determine sustainable harvesting levels
- Hydroacoustic Surveys – Using acoustic technologies for fish biomass estimation and distribution mapping
- Population Genetics – Investigating genetic diversity and connectivity using mitochondrial DNA and nuclear microsatellites
- Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) – Advanced genomic techniques for comprehensive genetic analysis
- Tuna Fisheries Management – PhD research on skipjack and kawakawa tuna in the Western Indian Ocean
- Marine Fisheries Ecology – Understanding fish population dynamics and ecosystem interactions
Key Research Contributions & Publications Genetic Connectivity Studies – Lead author on genetic connectivity of the Sky Emperor, Lethrinus mahsena populations across a gradient of exploitation rates in coastal Kenya (Frontiers in Genetics 2019), providing critical insights for fisheries management. Deep Water Snapper Population Genetics – Published research on genetic diversity and spatial population structure of a deep water snapper, Pristipomoides filamentosus, in the southwest Indian Ocean (Molecular Biology Reports 2019), contributing to understanding of deep-sea fish connectivity. Stock Assessment of Bycatch Species – Stock assessment of the Tigertooth croaker, Otolithes ruber, from commercial prawn trawl fishery by-catch in coastal Kenya (WIO Journal of Marine Science 2020), providing data for bycatch management. Fatuma Mzingirwa's research at KMFRI brings advanced expertise in fish stock assessment, hydroacoustic surveys, and population genetics – strengthening the Institute's capacity to assess tuna fisheries sustainably, apply molecular techniques for connectivity studies, and provide evidence-based advice for the management of Kenya's marine fishery resources. | 
