Chief Research Scientist Mariculture Research & Development Aquaculture & Silvofisheries Mariculture • Aquatic Food Systems • Innovations Location Mombasa Years of Experience 2009-present (17 years at KMFRI) Research Interests Design and construction of aquaculture systems; Fish nutrition; Aquatic food systems; Aquatic ecosystems; Small scale aquaculture and fisheries; Gender aspects in aquaculture | Research Focus: Advancing small-scale aquatic food systems through community-driven mariculture and silvofisheries innovations, developing sustainable aquaculture technologies, and shaping global policy interventions for aquatic food security. David Oersted Mirera is a Chief Research Scientist with specialization in aquaculture, fisheries and silvofisheries with a PhD in Science from Linnaeus University, Sweden. He has worked as an Assistant Director for Mariculture Research and Development at KMFRI between 2017 and 2024. He has more than 20 years of experience in small scale aquatic food systems dealing with small scale fish farmers and fishers in coastal water systems mainly in Africa and sections of Asia and Europe. He has led and developed partnerships with over 25 countries and raised more than 10 million USD in funding from development partners, governments and private sector players and published more than 50 papers in peer reviewed journals. He is the brainchild of community mariculture and silvofisheries in the western Indian ocean region and works closely with local communities to assess the impact of research. He has developed innovation of farming freshwater Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in full seawater, designed a mangrove intertidal earthen ponds, resourced for and supported development of the 1st marine hatchery in Kenya, designed and developed 1st marine floating wooden fish cage in the Western Indian Ocean, Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), restorative seaweed farming and assessed impacts of extreme events like Covid-19 and EL Nino on aquatic food systems in fisheries and aquaculture. He also has developed a feed formula that reduces dependency on fish meal by 50% and thus minimizing competition for aquatic foods. He has been nominated to the High-Level Panel of Experts for Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE-FSN) as a drafting team member from July 2026. Previously served in the task force for the development of the first aquaculture policy in Kenya in 2011 and in the review of the policy in 2023. His research is multi-disciplinary/interdisciplinary and is currently partnering with scientists from different countries in development of global policy interventions to guide availability and consumption of aquatic foods. He has mentored several students at Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate from different local and international universities and has been involved in several consultancies at national and international level. Research & Administrative Responsibility
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Selected Publications Magondu, E., Muthoka, M., Okemwa, D., Zwedie, M., Njogu, L., Munguti, J., Aboah, J., Mirera, D., & Yossa, R. (2026). Unlocking the potential of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture in coastal Kenya: Assessment of system status, stakeholder awareness, and pathways for sustainable mariculture development. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 57(2), e70092. https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.70092 Holeh, GM., Mees, J., Asselman, J., Njiru, J., Mirera, D., Janssen, C., Semmouri, I. (2026). Comparative assessment of the performance and economic feasibility of seaweed cultivation at different depths along the Kenyan coast. Aquaculture Reports, Volume 48, 103585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2026.103585 Mirera DO, Holeh GM, Kendi J, Maina GW, Kawaka J, Mondesto I, Chebet M, Kwekwe L, Okemwa D, Magangi N, Odhiambo M, Mwangangi SM, Ouma D, Nelson AA, Considine EM (2026). Impacts of Extreme Events on Community Livelihoods: ElNiño Effects and Management of Seaweed Farms in the South Coast of Kenya. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.70223 Okemwa, D., Ngugi, C. & Mirera, O. D. (2025). Effects of replacing dietary black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal with fishmeal (FM) in diets for rabbitfish (Siganus sutor) reared in brackish water intertidal earthen ponds. Sustainable Aquatic Research, 4(2), 184-205. Mirera OD, Holeh GM, Magondu EW, Njiru J (2025). Fish value chain dynamics in coastal Kenya during the Covid-19 pandemic. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science 24(2): 9-22. doi: 10.4314/wiojms.v24i2.2 Mirera, D.O, Okemwa, D. (2025). Occurrence and distribution of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man, 1879) along Sabaki and Tana river estuaries in Kenya: potential for aquaculture and food security. BioInvasions Records (2025) Volume 14, Issue 3: 701-717. Mirera D. O, Salim A, Kendi K. (2023). Hydrodynamics of nearshore coastal waters: Implications for marine cage farming in Kenya. WIO Journal of Marine Science 22(2): 25-41. doi: 10.4314/wiojms.v22i2.3 Mirera D. O, Okemwa D. (2023). Salinity tolerance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to seawater and growth responses to different feeds and culture systems. WIO Journal of Marine Science 22(2): 75-85. doi: 10.4314/wiojms.v22i2.6 Mirera, O. D., Magondu, W. E., Wainaina, W. M., Muli, B., Okemwa, D., Angulu, R., Heba, K. I., Moyoni, H. (2023). Fish preference at different value chain levels and implications for management of mariculture. Marine Policy. 157. 105845. Mirera, O. D. (2019). Small scale milkfish (Chanos chanos) farming in Kenya: An overview of the trend and dynamics of production. WIO Journal of Marine Science 18 (2) 2019 11-24. Links |
