Senior Research Scientist Ocean & Coastal Systems Benthic Ecology & Marine Conservation Mangroves • Traditional Ecological Knowledge • OECMs • Cultural Heritage Location KMFRI Mombasa Years of Experience Joined KMFRI in 2012 (14 Years) Department Ocean and Coastal Systems Research Interests Mangrove ecosystems; Benthic ecology; Marine intangible cultural heritage; Conservation; Other area based Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs); Traditional ecological knowledge; Cultural landscapes; Gendered small-scale fisheries; Biodiversity | Research Focus: Advancing marine biodiversity conservation through integrated research on benthic ecosystems, traditional ecological knowledge, and socio-cultural dimensions of small-scale fisheries to inform adaptive conservation measures and sustainable management. My highest academic achievement is a Master's in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management (Belgium). Currently, I am a PhD researcher at Ulster University (UK) looking at marine intangible cultural heritage in East Africa for Sustainability. My research in Kenya has focused on the marine biodiversity of benthic ecosystems in nearshore critical ecosystems (mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs), and the transboundary socio-cultural and ecological dimensions of Swahili small-scale fishers. I have experience conducting biodiversity, social, and climate risk assessments in coastal forests. I am passionate about the traditional ecological knowledge of communities because it provides the foundation upon which our current human-nature interactions have evolved from. It is very useful for adaptive marine conservation measures like Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs). Benthos are my first love; like cultural heritage, they are important in the proper functioning of ecosystems even though they are invisible to the naked eye. I have been a part-time lecturer at Kenyatta University and a technical resource person for the River Ecology module for the Joint Master's degree in Limnology Management. My collaborators include AHRC, Jukwaa Arts, WWF, Wetlands International, Plan International Kenya, KEFRI, KFS, and the Institute of Marine Sciences - University of Dar es Salaam. I have used QGIS, KoboToolbox, ArcGIS Survey123, R, and SPSS to carry out my research. Research & Administrative Responsibility
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Selected Publications Onyango, F. O., Okello, J., Muchiri, Z., Mwamburi, S., Labatt, C., Owiro, E. O., & Cherono, S. (2026). State of mangrove biodiversity assessment in Kenya and the prospect of environmental DNA in strengthening surveys. bioRxiv, 2026-03. Nyboer, E. A., Reid, A. J., ... Labatt, C.K., ... & Cooke, S. J. (2022). Goals, challenges, and next steps in transdisciplinary fisheries research: perspectives and experiences from early-career researchers. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-022-09719-6 Kamau, J., Ochola, O., Ohowa, B., Mitto, C., Magori, C., Labatt, C., ... & Kyewalyanga, M. S. (2020). Employing multivariate analysis to determine the drivers of productivity on the North Kenya Bank and in Kenyan territorial waters. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science, (1/2020), 33-41. Links |
