Department of Environmental Science and Land Resources Management

Why the Department of Environmental Science and Land Resources Management

The rapid expansion of global population has dramatically increased the demand for high-quality protein, especially from aquatic sources. Unfortunately, capture fisheries in most parts of the world are not performing very well and in most cases fish catches have more-or less reached the optimum capacity, well beyond the maximum sustainable yield. In some cases, the catches are even showing precipitous declines due to overfishing, habitat destruction and pollution. There is therefore an urgent need to generate scientific knowledge on the capture fisheries which would form the basis for the promotion of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. This is becoming critical in view of the challenges faced in an attempt to increase capture fisheries under the current global conditions.
Also, increased investment in aquaculture production is clearly required to complement the declining capture fisheries and meet the increasing demand for food in the third millennium. This increased demand for aquaculture production means increasing pressure for development of more efficient aquaculture production systems. This can only be achieved by training highly skilled fisheries and aquaculture resource scientists and managers. It is on this basis that the Council of South Eastern Kenya University found it wise to establish the Department of Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Technology, as one of the key academic departments in the School of Water Resources Science and Technology. The department has a special focus on building the research and management capacity in aquatic sciences, fisheries and aquaculture. In this respect, the department has come up with tailor-made courses that are designed to prepare students for career in the management of fisheries and promotion of sustainable use of aquaculture resources.

VISION

To be a department of excellence in high quality fisheries and aquaculture training, research, outreach, technological development and consultancy for the advancement of human well-being.

MISSION

To provide an academically motivating environment that enhances training of highly qualified personnel in fisheries and aquaculture through provision of quality education, research, extension and consultancy services.

Objectives of the Department

• To train personnel in fisheries by offering educational programmes in fisheries and aquaculture technology at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• To offer extension services and increase awareness on fisheries, aquaculture and management issues among professionals, government officials, local communities, institutions and other key stakeholders.
• To provide a forum for effective collaboration between the public and private sectors and other interested parties for conservation and management of Fisheries resources.
• To offer consultancy services in fisheries and aquaculture.
• To conduct research and generate publications in Fisheries and aquaculture in order to disseminate information and innovative technologies for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

Academic Programmes

The Department of Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Technology is currently offering a B.Sc. degree Programme in Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Technology and a B.Sc degree programme in Aquatic Sciences. Plans are underway to start a Masters and Ph.D programme in the same fields.
Research Initiatives
The Department of Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Technology is active in research. The departments collaborates with a number of both local and international institutions in the implementation of its research programmes. The staff in the department are currently involved in the following research activities:
1. Capacity - building to deliver competent human resources in integrated water resources management and aquaculture for equitable and sustainable livelihoods in Kenya’s arid and semi arid lands and beyond (Project funded by the Government of the Netherlands under the NICHE programme).
2. Response of benthic fauna to mangrove degradation and restoration in Gazi bay, Kenya (Project funded by the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovations).
3. Enhancing food security among coastal fisher communities by promoting small-scale mariculture technologies along Kilifi creek, Kenya. (Project funded by the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovations.

4. Promotion of Surface runoff and rainwater harvesting for application in aquaculture and horticulture development in Kitui District, Kenya. (Project funded by the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovations.

PUBLICATIONS

Mutua, A.K., K. M. Mavuti, N. Daro and M. Tackx (2004): Spatial Distribution of Suspended Particulate Matter in Mtwapa Creek and Funzi Bay, Kenya. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Sciences. Vol. 3 (1), p29–36.

A.K. Mutua, M.J. Ntiba, A. Muthumbi, D. Ngondi and A. Vanreuse (2011): Restoration of Benthic Macro-endofauna after Reforestation of Rhizophora mucronata Mangroves in Gazi Bay, Kenya. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science. Vol. 10 (2,) p 39-49.

Aloo P. A, Oyugi D. O, Morara G. N and Owuor M. A. (2013): Recent changes in fish communities of the equatorial Lake Naivasha, Kenya. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquaculture Vol. 5(4), pp. 45-54.

Angienda, P.O., Hyuk Je Lee., Kathryn R. Elmer., Romulus Abila., Eliud N. Waindi and Axel Meyer (2007): Genetic structure and gene flow in an endangered native tilapia fish (Oreochromis esculentus) compared to invasive Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Yala swamp, East Africa.. Conserv Genet DOI 10.1007/s10592-010-0136-2.

Muendo P. N., J. J. Stoorvogel, M. C. J. Verdegem, Alejandra Mora-Vallejo and J. A. J. Verreth (2011): Ideotyping integrated aquaculture systems to balance soil nutrients. Journal of agriculture and rural development in the tropics and sub-tropics 112(2):157- 168
Muendo P. N., A. Milstein, A.A. Van Dam, E.N. Gamal J.J. Stoorvogel, and M.C.J. Verdegem, (2006): Exploring the trophic structure in organically fertilized and feed driven tilapia culture environments using multivariate analyses. Aquaculture Research 37: 151 – 163.
Muendo P. N., J.J. Stoorvogel, E.N. Gamal and M.C.J. Verdegem (2005): Rhizons improved estimation of nutrient losses because of seepage in aquaculture ponds. Aquaculture Research 36: 1333 - 1336.