Principal Research Scientist Marine Fisheries Marine Fisheries & Ecology Stock Assessment • Fisheries Management • Ecosystem Modelling • Conservation Email: efondo@kmfri.go.ke Years of Experience Joined KMFRI in 1993 (33 years) Research Interests Fisheries, Ecology, Ecosystem modelling, Marine Conservation | Research Focus: Undertaking catch assessment surveys of small-scale fishers, fishery stock assessment in Marine and Coastal areas of Kenya and ecosystem-based management through multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. Dr. Esther Fondo is a Principal Research Scientist working under the Marine Fisheries Department of KMFRI, Mombasa, Kenya. She holds a BSc in Zoology and Botany, an MSc in Biology of Conservation from the University of Nairobi, and a PhD in Marine and Estuarine Ecology from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Her work involves undertaking catch assessment surveys of small-scale fishers, fishery stock assessment in Marine and Coastal areas of Kenya, and ecosystem-based management. She has conducted national, regional and international research in multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. She has published in peer reviewed journals, technical reports and contributed to several book chapters on the status of marine fisheries and the EEZ of Kenya. She also reviews manuscripts and books. Research & Administrative Responsibility - ▹ Co-PI – Biological baseline survey of the Port of Mombasa (GEF Project)
- ▹ PI – Mud crab of Kenya Project (MARG I – WIOMSA)
- ▹ Co-PI – Ecological assessment of spear fishery in Kenya (IFS Project)
- ▹ Work Package Coordinator for six countries – Fish2Sustainability (Belmont Forum Project)
- ▹ PI for Kenya – Fish2Sustainability (Belmont Forum Project)
- ▹ Team Leader – Prawn Fishery stock assessment (KEMFSED – World Bank Project)
- ▹ Technical Advisor – Prawn Fishery Management Plan Implementation Committee
- ▹ Chairperson – KMFRI Institutional Repository Committee
- ▹ Chairperson – KMFRI Road Safety Mainstreaming Committee
- ▹ Chair – SWIOFC Technical Group on Shrimp Fisheries
- ▹ Technical expert on FAO Weight of Evidence Framework application
- ▹ Member – Kenya National Ocean Decade Committee
- ▹ Member – 11th Our Oceans Conference Planning Committee
- ▹ Delegate – Conference of Parties to the CITES Convention
Research Interest / Areas of Expertise - ▹ Fisheries
- ▹ Ecology
- ▹ Ecosystem modelling
- ▹ Marine Conservation
Academic Qualifications - ▹ PhD – Marine & Estuarine Ecology – University of Queensland, Australia, 2019
- ▹ MSc – Biology of Conservation – University of Nairobi, Kenya, 1996
- ▹ BSc – Zoology/Botany – University of Nairobi, Kenya, 1991
Professional Membership - ▹ Chair – Technical Group on Shallow-water Shrimp Fisheries (TGSWSF) of SWIOFC
- ▹ Member – Working Group on Stock Assessment (WGSA) of SWIOFC
Professional Services - ▹ Springer Nature Reviewer
- ▹ Member – Prawn Fishery Management Plan Implementation Committee
Selected Publications Fondo E.N., Milani C., Heymans J. J., Skilleter A. 2015. Banning fisheries discards abruptly has a negative impact on charismatic marine megafauna. PLoS ONE 10(12):e0144543. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144543 Fondo, E N and B. Ogutu. 2021. Sustainable crab fishery for blue economy in Kenya. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 24(1): 21-26. DOI: 10.14321/aehm.024.01.05 Fondo, E.N., Omukoto, J.O., Wambiji, N., Okemwa, G.M., Thoya, P., Maina, G.W. and Kimani, E.N., 2022. Diversity of Shallow-Water Species in Prawn Trawling: A Case Study of Malindi-Ungwana Bay, Kenya. Diversity, 14(3), p.199. https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/3/199 Mzungu R, Makokha G, Fondo E, Siljander M, Mueni E, Kiilu B. 2024. Population, Distribution Structure, and Fishery Potential of the Golden Deep-Sea Crab, Chaceon somaliensis in the Kenyan Coast in East Africa. J. Geo. Env. Earth Sci. Int. 28(6):93-111. https://journaljgeesi.com/index.php/JGEESI/article/view/784Fondo E.N., R. E. Bitoun, E.N.Kimani, C.N.Munga, et al. 2025. The contributions of coastal small-scale fisheries toward the sustainable development goals: a Kenyan Case Study. npj Ocean Sustainability. 2025:4:14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00117-6 Everett, B.I., Fennessy, S.T., Avotramalala, N., Randrianalisoa, N.A., Abdula, S., Fondo, E.N., Kishe, M. and Silas, M.O., 2025. Benthic biodiversity of soft-sediment habitats of the western Indian Ocean. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science SI, 1(2025), pp.19-34. Links |
