Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute

🌊 Day Two of the Ocean Conference spotlights the transformative role of science, innovation, research, and collaboration in advancing a sustainable blue economy.

Discussions kicked off with the Director of Ocean and Coastal Systems, Dr James Mwaluma, leading the keynote session, which focused on unlocking the ocean's potential to create jobs, strengthen climate resilience, and drive inclusive economic growth, particularly for early-career ocean professionals.

Participants emphasised the need for innovative solutions to monitor and address microplastic pollution, develop effective ecosystem management strategies, and accelerate the implementation of blue economy policies.

A key takeaway from presentation was the importance of breaking down institutional silos and creating clusters, strengthening science communication, and fostering partnerships that translate research into meaningful action. Equally important is investing in and mentoring young-career scientists who will lead the next generation of ocean stewardship and innovation.

Together, we are shaping a future where healthy oceans support thriving communities, sustainable livelihoods, and resilient ecosystems.
State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries Our Ocean Conference UNEP-Nairobi Convention Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) Comred The Nature Conservancy in Africa

'𝐖𝐞, 𝐚𝐬 𝐊𝐌𝐅𝐑𝐈, 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 ."
Our Ocean Conference

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 — 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲." Dr Paul O***a, KMFRI Director General

𝑨 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒚𝒂’𝒔 𝒂𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓!

Pictured after the launch of the National Fish Welfare Manual Standard Operating Procedures (FW-MSOP) are KMFRI Director General Dr Paul O***a, KeFS Director General Dr Daisy Muriuki, and Africa Fish Welfare (AFIWEL) Program Manager Julie Bwoga.

Launched during the , the FW-MSOP is Kenya’s first national framework dedicated to promoting fish welfare across freshwater aquaculture and mariculture systems. The manual provides science-based guidance to enhance aquatic animal health, sustainable aquaculture production, food security, and responsible Blue Economy development.

Developed with support from the One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI) through the AFIWEL Program, this milestone reflects the power of collaboration among government, research institutions, and development partners in shaping a more sustainable and resilient aquaculture industry.

Leading with science. Promoting fish welfare. Advancing sustainable aquaculture.
, , ,

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚’𝐬 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴?

KMFRI Director General Dr Paul O***a led a panel discussion on “From Coastline to Market: Unlocking Blue Economy Value Chains" during a Business Forum, preeeding the 11th Our Ocean Conference.

The session brought together leaders in conservation, finance, technology, enterprise development, and investment; and explored how Africa can move beyond resource extraction to capture greater value from its ocean assets.

The message was clear: the true potential of the Blue Economy lies not only in what is harvested from the ocean, but in how it is transformed, marketed, and connected to global opportunities. By reducing value losses and investing in innovation, partnerships, and enabling policies, Africa can unlock new pathways for economic growth, create quality jobs, empower coastal communities, and attract sustainable investment.

As the world looks to the ocean for solutions, Africa has an opportunity not just to participate in the global blue economy, but to lead it.

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚’𝐬 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴?

KMFRI Director General Dr Paul O***a led a panel discussion on “From Coastline to Market: Unlocking Blue Economy Value Chains" during a Business Forum, preeeding the 11th Our Ocean Conference.

The session brought together leaders in conservation, finance, technology, enterprise development, and investment; and explored how Africa can move beyond resource extraction to capture greater value from its ocean assets.

The message was clear: the true potential of the Blue Economy lies not only in what is harvested from the ocean, but in how it is transformed, marketed, and connected to global opportunities. By reducing value losses and investing in innovation, partnerships, and enabling policies, Africa can unlock new pathways for economic growth, create quality jobs, empower coastal communities, and attract sustainable investment.

As the world looks to the ocean for solutions, Africa has an opportunity not just to participate in the global blue economy, but to lead it.
Ocean Conference

Harnessing the power of music to champion our oceans.

More than just melodies, the KMFRI Choir brought warmth, culture, and soul to the Academia and Research Symposium at PrideInn Paradise, Mombasa. 🎶✨

As researchers, scientists, and innovators gathered to exchange knowledge, the choir’s harmonious performance created moments of connection, inspiration, and joy, beautifully complementing the spirit of learning and collaboration that defines this symposium.
UNEP-Nairobi Convention Our Ocean Conference The Nature Conservancy in Africa CORDIO East Africa Hon. Ali Hassan Joho State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries

The stage is set! The Academia and Research Symposium has officially kicked off in Mombasa, bringing together leading researchers, scientists, policymakers, innovators, and ocean champions for insightful discussions that will help shape the future of the blue economy.

Officiating the opening ceremony, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation, called on researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to strengthen partnerships, embrace innovation, and ensure scientific findings translate into practical solutions that inform policy and drive sustainable growth of the blue economy.

The PS emphasized the critical role of science, technology, and research in addressing ocean challenges, including marine pollution, biodiversity loss, climate change, and sustainable fisheries management. He also highlighted the importance of investing in youth, research commercialization, and stronger collaboration between academia, industry, government, and local communities.

Also present were; Dr. Davies Makilla, representing the Principal Secretary, State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries; Prof. Micheni Ntiba of the University of Nairobi; Amb. Dr. Wenwa Akinyi, Chairperson of the KMFRI Board of Management; Board of Management members; Director General Dr. Paul O***a; and other distinguished partners and stakeholders.

The symposium serves as a key platform for advancing science-based solutions and fostering collaboration ahead of the 11th Our Ocean Conference. UNEP-Nairobi Convention, Our Ocean Conference, State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries