Senior Research Scientist Coral Reef Ecologist Coral Reef Restoration & Blue Economy Climate Resilience • Community Conservation • Benthic Monitoring • Marine EIA Email: jmwaura@kmfri.go.ke Years of Experience 17 years (Joined KMFRI in 2009) Department Ocean, Coastal Systems and Blue Economy Metadata / Search Keywords Coral Reef Restoration, Marine Ecosystems Management, Coral Bleaching, Community-Based Conservation, Benthic AI Monitoring, Blue Economy Policy, Marine EIA, Western Indian Ocean, Joint Co-Management Areas (JCMAs), Coral reef ecology and GCRMN Protocols | Research Focus: Bridging foundational ocean science with community-led conservation through coral reef restoration, AI-driven benthic monitoring, climate resilience research, and translating science into national policy for sustainable Blue Economy development. Dr. Jelvas M. Mwaura is a Senior Research Scientist at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) with 25 years of expertise across Kenya and the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). He holds a PhD in Fisheries & Environmental Sciences from Nagasaki University (Japan), an MSc in Ecological Marine Management (Distinction) from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium), and a BSc in Natural Resource Management (Honors) from Egerton University (Kenya). In 2026, Dr. Mwaura's community-led marine conservation and reef restoration work at KMFRI was recognized globally as part of the 2026 Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize Cohort, a prestigious international initiative hosted by the Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy at the University of Utah. A pioneer lead in bridging foundational ocean science with community-led conservation, Dr. Mwaura is the lead architect of the Kenya National Coral Reef Restoration Protocol, the country's primary regulatory framework for reef interventions. His research centers on multiple anthropogenic impacts including thermal stress on coral reefs, overfishing, and land-based nutrient pollution and their socio-ecological implications for coastal communities dependent on Blue Economy resources. Dr. Mwaura specializes in cutting-edge field methodologies, deploying AI-driven benthic monitoring (CoralNet), high-resolution thermal telemetry, and PAM fluorometry. As a principal investigator and consultant, he has led high-impact projects funded by FAO, UNDP/GEF, TNC, and the International Foundation for Science. His work has successfully established climate-resilient and community-led coral restoration projects and achieved over 75% coral survivorship in community-restored reefs in Wasini Island. Beyond research, Dr. Mwaura translates ocean science into national policy. He serves as a lead ecological consultant for major national infrastructure projects—including marine impact assessments for the 2Africa and Daraja submarine fiber-optic cables—and regularly contributes to Nairobi Convention State of the Coast (SOC), National Marine Diagnostic Analysis (MEDA) and Global/National status of coral reefs reports. Dedicated to capacity building, he actively mentors University MSc students and interns, empowers local fisherfolk in participatory reef monitoring, and serves as a peer reviewer for international aquatic journals. Research & Administrative Responsibility Research Responsibilities - ▹ Principal Investigator & Scientific Lead: Conceptualizes, designs, and executes long-term research projects on coral reef ecology, ecosystem resilience, and marine biodiversity in the Western Indian Ocean.
- ▹ Reef Restoration & Community Integration: Directs pilot and full-scale coral restoration initiatives (e.g., micro-fragmentation and coral gardening), training local marine co-management units (BMUs) on low-tech restoration techniques.
- ▹ Climate Change & Anthropogenic Stress Impact Monitoring: Leads field monitoring campaigns assessing coral bleaching, ocean warming, nutrient pollution, and dredging impacts across protected and unprotected marine areas.
- ▹ Scientific Publishing & Peer Review: Publishes research findings in peer-reviewed journals, contributes to regional coral reef status reports (e.g., GCRMN), and serves as an expert reviewer for marine science publications.
- ▹ Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA): Provides expert scientific consultation and underwater ecological surveys (via SCUBA) for coastal development projects, port expansion, and offshore resource extraction.
- ▹ Grant Proposals & Research Funding: Drafts competitive grant proposals to secure national and international funding for marine conservation and blue economy scientific research.
Administrative & Leadership Responsibilities - ▹ Exhibition & Outreach Coordination: Serves as the lead coordinator for the coral reef exhibition section during Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) shows, translating complex scientific research into accessible public educational materials.
- ▹ Executive Board Representation: Serves diligently as Acting Assistant Director during Board Management meetings, contributing to institute-wide strategic planning, policy formulation, and administrative decision-making.
- ▹ Task Force Leadership: Functions as the Technical Focal Point (TFP) and National Coordinator for regional Blue Economy projects and the Kenya Chapter of the Coral Reef Task Force.
- ▹ Inter-Agency & Stakeholder Liaison: Collaborates with government ministries, international conservation NGOs, and local fishing communities to align scientific research with national marine spatial planning policies.
- ▹ Resource & Team Management: Oversees laboratory facilities, field research vessels, and multi-disciplinary teams of researchers, technical staff, and postgraduate students.
Research Interest / Areas of Expertise - ▹ Coral Reef Restoration & Socio-Ecological Resilience – Community-led reef rehabilitation, micro-fragmentation, artificial reef structures, and implementation of national restoration protocols (e.g., Wasini and Pate-Kiunga models).
- ▹ Coral Thermal Stress Physiology & Climate Change Dynamics – Quantifying thermal bleaching susceptibility, Degree Heating Weeks (DHW), and photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm via PAM fluorometry) across shallow and mesophotic refugia.
- ▹ AI-Driven & Automated Benthic Monitoring – Integrating machine-learning computer vision workflows (CoralNet) with high-resolution photo-transects and citizen-science data streams for rapid benthic ecosystem assessment.
- ▹ Anthropogenic Stressors & Coastal Water Quality – Evaluating the cumulative impacts of land-based nutrient enrichment, urban runoff, overfishing, and dredging on benthic community health and connectivity.
- ▹ Marine Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) & Subsea Infrastructure – Ecological risk modeling, underwater baseline surveys, and Environmental Monitoring Plans (EMoPs) for critical coastal and marine infrastructure (e.g., 2Africa & Daraja fiber-optic cables, port dredging).
- ▹ Blue Economy Governance & Co-Management Policy – Translating foundational benthic science into regional policy frameworks (Nairobi Convention, State of the Coast) and establishing resilient Joint Co-Management Areas (JCMAs).
Academic Qualifications - ▹ PhD in Fisheries & Environmental Sciences – Nagasaki University, Japan (2017)
Thesis Focus: Multiple anthropogenic stressors and climate change impacts on Kenyan reef communities. - ▹ MSc in Ecological Marine Management (Distinction) – Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium (2007)
- ▹ BSc in Natural Resource Management (Honors) – Egerton University, Kenya (1998)
Professional Membership National Taskforces & Governance - ▹ National Coordinator – Coral Reef Task Force (Kenya Chapter): Oversee and profile multi-partner benthic datasets for national reporting and regional Western Indian Ocean (WIO) synthesis.
- ▹ Technical Focal Point (TFP) – FAO / Government of Japan Blue Economy Initiative: Lead technical alignment for community-based coral reef restoration and sustainable coastal livelihoods.
- ▹ Lead Technical Architect – Kenya National Coral Reef Restoration Protocol: Authored the national regulatory framework governing reef rehabilitation interventions across Kenya.
Regional & International Professional Associations - ▹ Member – Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA): Active regional contributor to marine research, capacity building, and policy formulation.
- ▹ Expert Contributor – Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) / International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI): Regional author and node expert for the Status and Trends of Coral Reefs of the Western Indian Ocean reports.
- ▹ Certified Evaluator & Field Lead – Reef Check Network / Participatory Reef Monitoring: Trained local fishing communities, Beach Management Units (BMUs), and rangers in standardized underwater visual census (UVC) techniques.
Editorial & Advisory Roles - ▹ Peer Reviewer – Kenya Aquatica and Cogent Journals (periodically reviewing aquatic science, benthic ecology, and fisheries management literature).
- ▹ Specialist Marine Ecological Assessor – Subcontracted via Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) and AECOM for high-level marine EIAs (e.g., 2Africa & Daraja Submarine Fiber-Optic Cable systems).
- ▹ Expert Panelist & Lead Author – Nairobi Convention / IOC-UNESCO: Lead Reef author for the Kenya Chapter of the State of the Coast (SoC) reports and Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis (MEDA) framework.
Professional Services National & Regional Advisory Panels - ▹ National Coordinator – Coral Reef Task Force (Kenya Chapter): Coordinate multi-institutional benthic monitoring networks, data integration, and policy reporting for the Nairobi Convention.
- ▹ Technical Focal Point (TFP) – FAO / Government of Japan Blue Economy Initiative: Advise on community-based coral restoration models and sustainable alternative livelihoods for coastal fishing communities.
- ▹ Lead Technical Consultant & EIA Specialist – Subsea Infrastructure & Coastal EIA Panels: Serve on expert panels for strategic coastal infrastructure assessments, including marine baseline surveys for the 2Africa and Daraja submarine fiber-optic cable systems.
International Scientific Committees & Expert Working Groups - ▹ Regional Expert Contributor – Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) / International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI): Regional author for Western Indian Ocean (WIO) status and trends reporting.
- ▹ Expert Panelist & Lead Author – Nairobi Convention / IOC-UNESCO Working Groups: Lead contributor to the State of the Coast (SoC) reporting framework and the Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis (MEDA) panel.
- ▹ Specialist Evaluator – Reef Check Network / Participatory Reef Monitoring: Field lead and technical advisor for standardized underwater visual census (UVC) training across Beach Management Units (BMUs) and local conservation groups.
Editorial Boards & Journal Peer Review - ▹ Journal Reviewer – Kenya Aquatica Journal (Periodical peer-reviewer for marine biology, benthic ecology, and fisheries science).
- ▹ Journal Reviewer – Cogent Environmental Science / Cogent Journals (Manuscript evaluator for marine conservation and climate adaptation literature).
- ▹ Editor & Chapter Author – From Ridge to Reef: Sustainable Coastal Development in Kenya (KCDP, 2021) volume.
Awards and Honours - ▹ 2026 Cohort Member, Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize – University of Utah: Selected to the global cohort of climate innovators for pioneering sustainable, community-driven coral reef restoration models aimed at safeguarding Kenya's coastal ecosystems and marine biodiversity.
- ▹ Senior Management Certification – Kenya Institute of Management (KIM, 2023): Recognized for excellence in institutional governance, fiduciary management, and strategic leadership.
- ▹ Certificate in Coral Reef Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) for Marine Protected Areas – Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) Biodiversity Programme, Mauritius (Sep 2018): Specialized training in marine environmental law enforcement, underwater forensic evidence collection, and damage assessment protocols in coral reef ecosystems.
- ▹ Certificate in Underwater Forensic & Evidence Collection (Coral Reef CSI) – International Marine Forensic Panel / Regional Enforcement Network, Durban, South Africa: Advanced certification in marine crime scene investigation, evidence preservation, and ecological litigation protocols for coral reef damage.
Selected Publications Eakin, C. M., Herron, S. F., Connolly, S. R., Hodgson, G., Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Obura, D. O., Mwaura, J. M., et al. (2026). Severe and widespread coral reef damage during the 2014–2017 Global Coral Bleaching Event. Nature Communications, 17(1), 1318. Mwaura, J. M., Karisa, J. F., Said, H. O., Murage, D., & Omar, M. S. (2025). Small community-based Marine Protected Areas enhance local fish stocks and hard coral habitats. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science, 24, 103–118. Otwoma, L. M., Aura, C. M., Alati, V. M., Mwaura, J., & Chimimba, C. (2025). Local knowledge corroborates threats of local extinctions in Kenya's exploited reef fishes. Marine Policy, 177, 106512. Mwaura, J. M., Murage, D., et al. (2022). Artificial reef structures and coral transplantation as potential tools for enhancing locally-managed inshore reefs: A case study from Wasini Island, Kenya. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science, 21(2), 83–94. Kimanga, F. K., Ochiewo, J., Waiyaki, E., Munyi, F., Mwaura, J., & Karani, J. M. (2021). The socioeconomic impacts of coral reef rehabilitation: Coastal community perspectives from Wasini in the South Coast of Kenya. Kenya Aquatica Scientific Journal, 6, 17–31. Obura, D., Gudka, M., Mwaura, J., et al. (2017). Coral Reef Status Report for the Western Indian Ocean. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) / International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), pp. 140. Mwaura, J.M., Umezawa, Y., Nakamura, T., & Kamau, J. (2017). Evidence of chronic anthropogenic nutrients within coastal lagoon reefs adjacent to urban and tourism centers, Kenya: A stable isotope approach. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 119, 74–86. Mwaura, J. M., Umezawa, Y., Furaha, J., Kimeli, A., Kamau, J., & Aura, C. (2017). Spatial variability of scleractinian coral bleaching susceptibility in 2010 El Niño–Southern Oscillation between northern and southern reefs, Kenya. Coastal Marine Science, 40(1), 17–27. van der Ven, R. M., Triest, L., De Ryck, D. J. R., Mwaura, J. M., Mohammed, M. S., & Kochzius, M. (2015). Population genetic structure of the stony coral Acropora tenuis shows high but variable connectivity in East Africa. Journal of Biogeography, 43, 510–519. Gudka, M., Obura, D., Treml, E., Samoilys, M., Aboud, S. A., Osuka, K., Mbugua, J., Mwaura, J., Karisa, J., Knoester, E., & Musila, P. (2024). Leveraging the Red List of Ecosystems for national action on coral reefs through the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. bioRxiv (Preprint). Links |
