Ms. Monica Owili

Email: mowili@kmfri.go.ke

Academic Background
Monica A. Owili holds a BSc (Upper Second Class Honors) in Botany and Zoology from the University of Nairobi (1989). She has completed extensive international training, including a Postgraduate Diploma in Aquatic Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (Fisheries Training Programme, Iceland, 2004), and specialized courses in Tropical Coastal Ecology Management and Conservation, Tropical Limnology, Fisheries Data Collection and Analysis (Wageningen, The Netherlands), and Project Cycle Management, Strategic Planning, and Monitoring & Evaluation (KAPP/World Bank).

Research Focus
Her research centers on sustainable fisheries management through stock assessment of freshwater ecosystems, with particular focus on Lake Victoria. She is a key member of the Lake Victoria National and Regional Catch Assessment (CAS) and Frame Survey (FS) Working Groups, actively participating in planning, implementation (supervisory role), reporting (catch estimates, effort data, ex-vessel values), and stakeholder engagement since 2010 to date (2026), thus enhancing advice on catch and fishing effort.

Notable Research Achievements
Throughout her 36-year career at KMFRI, Monica has made significant contributions to fisheries stock assessment and management in Lake Victoria. She has been instrumental in coordinating Catch Assessment and Frame Surveys, providing critical data for fisheries management advice. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Great Lakes Research, Fisheries Management and Ecology, Frontiers in Environmental Science, and Lakes & Reservoirs. She has also contributed to understanding the socio-economic dynamics of Lake Victoria fisheries through collaborative research on community cohesion and patron-client relations.

Collaborations
Monica actively collaborates with various stakeholders including the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO), WorldFish, and international research partners. She has worked with researchers from the University of Birmingham, UK, and other international institutions on fisheries governance, stock assessment, and ecosystem management. Her collaborative work has contributed to understanding the social and economic ties in fisherfolk communities and the fluidity of power in patron-client relations in Lake Victoria fisheries.

Research Impact
The research has significantly contributed to sustainable fisheries management in Lake Victoria, generating scientific evidence that informs fisheries policy, resource management, and conservation planning. The identification of catch trends, effort dynamics, and ex-vessel values provides a basis for designing management strategies. Her research aligns closely with Kenya's blue economy priorities and international sustainability agendas, contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.

Future Research Vision
To build on existing collaborations, she aspires to advance integrated fisheries science through: Enhanced application of stock assessment models, integration of ecosystem-based fisheries management approaches, capacity building for early-career scientists, and strengthening stakeholder engagement for co-management of fisheries resources.

• ▹ Coordination of Catch Assessment and Fisheries Frame Survey research across Lake Victoria waters
• ▹ Design and coordination of Catch Assessment and Frame (Effort) Surveys in Lake Victoria and other freshwater lakes
• ▹ Provision of stock assessment and ecosystem advice to relevant stakeholders
• ▹ Student supervision and mentorship of students on attachment or internship
• ▹ Coordination and execution of fisheries-independent surveys (Catch Assessment, Frame Surveys, Length frequency, Age-growth, and Mortality analysis)
• ▹ Prioritization of research and guidance of junior scientists in identifying and prioritizing species for assessment
• ▹ Reporting and developing policy based on research findings
• ▹ Review of project proposals and manuscripts
• ▹ Dissemination of research findings to stakeholders
• ▹ Management of research budgets and resources for field surveys, vessels and equipment
• ▹ Capacity building and stakeholder engagement
• ▹ Organization and participation in monthly internal seminars
• ▹ Collaboration with various stakeholders (LVFO, WorldFish)

• ▹ Fisheries stock assessment and fish population dynamics
• ▹ Catch assessment surveys
• ▹ Frame surveys (effort data)
• ▹ Limnology, water quality, eutrophication and plankton ecology
• ▹ Climate change impacts on aquatic ecosystems, fisheries and dependent communities
• ▹ Statistics, data management, monitoring and evaluation

• ▹ BSc (Upper Second Class Honors) – Botany and Zoology, University of Nairobi, 1989
• ▹ Postgraduate Diploma – Aquatic Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Fisheries Training Programme, Iceland, 2004
• ▹ Specialized Training: Tropical Coastal Ecology Management and Conservation; Tropical Limnology; Water Resources Monitoring and Assessment; Fisheries Data Collection and Analysis; Project Cycle Design, Strategic Planning, Management and M&E; Leadership Dynamics for Senior Women Managers (Wageningen, The Netherlands; KAPP/World Bank)

• ▹ Lake Victoria National Catch Assessment Working Group (2010-present)
• ▹ Lake Victoria Regional Catch Assessment Working Group (2010-2016)
• ▹ Lake Victoria National Frame Survey Working Group (2010-present)
• ▹ Lake Victoria Regional Frame Survey Working Group (2010-2016)
• ▹ Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society (AEHMS)

• ▹ Consultancy: Site Suitability and Carrying Capacity Assessment for cage aquaculture siting and zoning, carrying capacity of lakes and small water bodies, and environmental limits for sustainable production; delivered for IFAD/ABDP, Gatsby Africa, county governments
• ▹ Lake Turkana Frame Survey submitted to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the programme titled "Sustainably Unlocking the Economic Potential of Lake Turkana" under Service Agreement Reference No 2025/107/112845/SMK between KMFRI and IHE Delft Institute of Water Education