Director Freshwater Systems Research Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences GIS & Remote Sensing • Ecological Modelling • Blue Economy Location Kisumu Years of Experience 2009-present (17 years at KMFRI) Research Interests Fisheries and aquaculture management; GIS, remote sensing and habitat suitability modelling; Environmental and aquatic sciences; Climate change scenarios; Ecological and socio-economic modelling; Water quality and ecosystem health; Blue economy and lake spatial planning; Statistics and data management | Research Focus: Integrating GIS and remote sensing, ecological and socio-economic modelling, and climate change scenarios to support the sustainable management of blue economy resources in freshwater systems. Dr. Christopher Mulanda Aura is the Director of Freshwater Systems Research at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) and a Chief Research Scientist. He holds a PhD in Bio-resource and Environmental Science from Hokkaido University, Japan, an M.Phil. in Aquatic Sciences (Moi University in conjunction with Linkoping and Kalmar Universities, Sweden), and a First Class Honours BSc in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from Moi University, Kenya. His research integrates GIS and remote sensing, ecological and socio-economic modelling, and climate change scenarios to support the sustainable management of blue economy. With over 130 peer-reviewed publications, books and book chapters, he has served as Principal Investigator on numerous internationally funded projects and mentored postgraduate students across African, European and American institutions. His work has earned wide recognition, including the National Outstanding Researcher Award in Kenya (2024), the AU-TWAS Award for Best Young Scientist in Life and Earth Sciences (2012), and repeated recognition as KMFRI's Overall Best Scientist. He serves as an Associate Editor on several international journals and collaborates extensively with local and international institutions. Research & Administrative Responsibility
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Awards and Honours National Outstanding Researcher Award in Biological Sciences, Technology & Innovation – Kenya National Research Festival (2024) Springer Nature Editorial Contribution Award and Author Service Award (2026) AU-TWAS Award for Best Young Scientist in Life and Earth Sciences (2012) KMFRI Overall Best Scientist/Performer for multiple consecutive financial years Top cited article and top downloaded paper globally (Wiley), 2019-2023 WSIS Champion Certificate for the Electronic Fish Market Information System (EFMIS), 2022 Keynote speaker awards African Journal of Ecology Scholarship – pioneer awardee from East Africa Selected Publications Aura, C.M., Gichuru, N., Otuo, P., Wandago, S., Owino, B., Nyamweya, C., & Odoli, C. (2026). Quantification of macroplastics and litter dynamics in a highly active bay of Lake Victoria. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 52(3): 102824. Aura, C.M., & Ntiba, M.J. (2024). Possible lessons on rapid assessment of fish kills in cages in Lake Victoria, Kenya for informed decision making. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 27(3): 65-73. Aura, C.M., Musa, S., Owiti, H.O., & Awour, F.J. (2024). Governance Index for Prioritisation (GIP) of Afrotropical Inland Lakes for Conservation and Sustainability. Lakes & Reservoirs, 29: e70001. Aura, C.M., Mwarabu, R.L., Nyamweya, C.S., Owiti, H., Ongore, C.O., Guya, F., Musa, S., Owili, M., Macaria, S., Abila, R.O., & Marriott, A.L. (2022). Exploring the potential of small water bodies as an integrative management tool for fisheries production. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 29: 254-268. Aura, C.M., Musa, S., Nyamweya, C.S., Ogari, Z., Njiru, J.M., Hamilton, S.E., & May, L. (2021). A GIS-based approach for delineating suitable areas for cage fish culture in a lake. Lakes & Reservoirs, 26: e12357. Aura, C.M., Nyamweya, C.S., Owili, M., Gichuru, N., Kundu, R., Njiru, J.M., & Ntiba, M.J. (2020). Checking the pulse of the major commercial fisheries of Lake Victoria, Kenya, for sustainable management. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 27: 314-324. Aura, C.M., Odoli, C., Nyamweya, C., Njiru, J.M., Musa, S., Miruka, J.B., Owili, M.O., Omondi, R., Raburu, P., Mwamburi, J., Ogari, Z., & Mbaru, E. (2020). Application of phytoplankton community structure in the ranking of major riverine catchments that influence pollution status of a lake basin. Lakes & Reservoirs, 25: 3-17. Aura, C.M., Saitoh, S.-I., Liu, Y., Hirawake, T., Baba, K., & Yoshida, T. (2016). Implications of marine environment change on Japanese scallop (Mizuhopecten yessoensis) aquaculture suitability: a comparative study in Funka and Mutsu Bays, Japan. Aquaculture Research, 47: 2164-2182. Aura, C.M., Nyamweya, C.S., Njiru, J.M., Odoli, C., Musa, S., Ogari, Z., Abila, R., Okeyo, R., & Oketch, R. (2019). Using fish landing sites and markets information towards quantification of the blue economy to enhance fisheries management. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 26: 141-152. Aura, C.M., Nyamweya, C.S., Njiru, J.M., Musa, S., Ogari, Z., May, L., & Wakwabi, E. (2019). Exploring the demarcation requirements of fish breeding and nursery sites to balance the exploitation, management and conservation needs of Lake Victoria ecosystem. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 26: 451-459. Links |
