Marine and Coastal Division - Environment and Ecological Programme
What is MEEP?
Marine ecology & environment program (MEEP) is one of the six research programs at KMFRI whose overall aim is to generate data and information of coastal and marine ecosystems that will enable sound management and sustainable utilization of resources. MEEP is therefore a service program which supports and works hand in hand with other Programs within KMFRI.
Research Units
There are three main research units under the Program:-
Critical habitats: These critical habitats cover mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs, benthic ecology. Various research teams under this unit investigate the status of these major ecosystems and associated biodiversity, threats to these ecosystems and provide recommendations for their wise use and improved management which include:- restoration of degraded ecosystems, initiation of alternative livelihoods to reduce human pressure among other approaches
Water, sediment quality and productivity: Comprising of Environmental chemistry, microbiology and plankton studies, this unit studies the quality of water and sediments both for human needs and biodiversity conservation. The unit thus assesses pollution productivity levels of various biotopes and recommends appropriate mitigation measures.
Oceanography and Meteorology: This unit investigates hydrodynamics/water circulation, shoreline change, river discharges, sediment budgets and also monitors sea level rise and climate change related issues.
Expertise within the program
Environmental Chemistry: Analyzing nutrient/pollution levels in water column and sediments.
- Microbiology: Determination of quality of fresh water and seawater for human consumption, and recreation respectively; sediment quality etc
Mangrove ecology and conservation: Assessment of mangrove structure, productivity, threats, formulation of management plans, restoration in degraded areas and role of mangroves in carbon sequestration - Sea-grass ecology: Assessment of habitat structure, associated biodiversity
Benthic and water column ecology: Use of biodiversity associated with various biotopes as indicators of ecosystem integrity - Coastal geology: Shoreline changes and sediment budgets
- Physical oceanography: Assessment of water circulation, tides, sea-level monitoring and how these processes affect the coastal environment and resources
Projects and consultancies successfully completed
- Kenya/Belgium Project on Marine ecology: Donor – Belgian Government
- Kenya/Netherlands Ocean Research Program: Donor – Netherlands Government
- Assessment of mangrove dynamics: Donor – European Union (EU)
- Groundwater/Anthropogenic input in coastal ecosystems: Donor - EU
Development of a mangrove management plan for the mangroves of Egypt (FAO) - Assessing capacity building needs in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Region: Donor – UNEP
- Western Indian Ocean Satellite Altimetry Program (WIOSAP) for Tuna-like fisheries: Donor – EU
- Earth-watch Institute Mangrove Project for Kenya: Donor – Earth-watch Europe
- Annual production of tide-tables for the Kenyan coast: Donor – GoK
- Environmental Impact Assessment on the expansion of the container terminal at Kenya Ports Authority (KPA): Donor – Japanese Govt.
- Ungwana Bay Fisheries Project – GoK.