Agriculture

Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology

The Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in in fisheries and aquaculture technology. The programme falls under the Engineering & Technology category and typically spans 4 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Aquatic Biology and Ichthyology, Aquaculture Engineering and Fish Farming Systems, Fish Hatcheries, Breeding and Nutrition, Fish Health, Diseases and Biosecurity, Fisheries Management and Stock Assessment, Fish Processing, Preservation and Quality Control. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Mechanics, Agricultural Structures, Cloud Computing, Crop Management. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Aquatic Biology and Ichthyology, Fish Processing, Preservation and Quality Control, Engineering Economics, CAD and Research Methods, Fisheries Management and Stock Assessment, Fish Health, Diseases and Biosecurity. The teaching approach combines lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials, assignments and independent research projects. This blend ensures graduates can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems in their field.

The programme offers specialisations in Seafood Processing and Quality Assurance, Aquaculture and Fish Farming, Fish Health and Hatchery Management. Students can focus their studies on areas of particular interest, allowing them to tailor their degree to specific career goals. The flexibility enables graduates to pursue diverse professional paths within the sector.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology pursue careers as Aquaculture Manager / Fish Farm Manager, Research Officer / Aquatic Ecologist, Fish Hatchery Manager / Fish Health Specialist, Seafood Processing Technologist / Quality Assurance Officer. They find employment in various sectors including government agencies, private companies, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. The degree opens doors to both local and international opportunities.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and offered at recognised universities across Kenya. Students benefit from industry attachments, fieldwork and practical training that complement classroom learning and enhance employability upon graduation.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 324,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Aquatic Biology and Ichthyology
Aquaculture Engineering and Fish Farming Systems
Fish Hatcheries, Breeding and Nutrition
Fish Health, Diseases and Biosecurity
Fisheries Management and Stock Assessment
Fish Processing, Preservation and Quality Control
Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystems
Aquaculture Economics and Business Management
GIS, Remote Sensing and Aquatic Instrumentation
Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Aquatic Biology and Ichthyology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Biology, aquatic biology, ichthyology, fish anatomy, fish physiology, aquatic ecology, limnology, freshwater ecosystems, marine ecosystems, understanding fish, and supporting aquatic biology.
Aquaculture Engineering and Fish Farming Systems
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Aquaculture engineering, fish farming, pond construction, tank design, recirculating aquaculture systems, RAS, cage culture, understanding aquaculture, and supporting aquaculture engineering.
Fish Hatcheries, Breeding and Nutrition
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Fish hatcheries, fish breeding, fish nutrition, fish feeds, feed formulation, feeding management, understanding hatcheries, and supporting hatchery and nutrition management.
Fish Health, Diseases and Biosecurity
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Fish health, fish diseases, fish parasites, disease management, biosecurity, understanding fish health, and supporting fish health and biosecurity.
Fisheries Management and Stock Assessment
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Fisheries management, fish stock assessment, fishing gear, fishing methods, fisheries regulations, understanding fisheries, and supporting fisheries management.
Fish Processing, Preservation and Quality Control
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Fish processing, seafood processing, fish handling, fish preservation, cold chain, freezing, drying, smoking, salting, canning, quality control, food safety, HACCP, fish product development, value ...
Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystems
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Water quality, water chemistry, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, water quality monitoring, aquatic instrumentation, understanding water quality, and supporting water quality management.
Aquaculture Economics and Business Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Aquaculture economics, fisheries economics, business management, entrepreneurship, marketing, understanding economics, and supporting aquaculture business and economics.
GIS, Remote Sensing and Aquatic Instrumentation
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
GIS, remote sensing, aquatic instrumentation, environmental impact, sustainability, understanding GIS, and supporting GIS and aquatic technology.
Engineering Economics, CAD and Research Methods
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Engineering economics, CAD, engineering drawing, safety, occupational health, research methods, understanding economics, and supporting engineering practice.
Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Supervised industrial attachment at a fish farm, fish processing plant, hatchery, research institution, or fisheries authority, applying fisheries and aquaculture technology skills.
Final Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Research Project or Dissertation
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Final year fisheries and aquaculture technology research project or dissertation, assessed through written report and oral defence.

Specialisations

Aquaculture and Fish Farming
Focuses on aquaculture engineering, fish farming, pond construction, RAS, cage culture, and supporting aquaculture engineering.
Fish Health and Hatchery Management
Specialises in fish hatcheries, fish breeding, fish health, diseases, biosecurity, and supporting hatchery and fish health management.
Fisheries Management and Conservation
Concentrates on fisheries management, stock assessment, fishing methods, fisheries regulations, and supporting fisheries management.
Seafood Processing and Quality Assurance
Focuses on fish processing, seafood processing, preservation, quality control, HACCP, value addition, and supporting seafood processing and quality assurance.
Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality
Concentrates on aquatic ecology, water quality, limnology, aquatic ecosystems, and supporting aquatic ecology and water quality management.

A day as a student

A typical day starts with a morning lecture on aquaculture, fish health, or fish processing, followed by laboratory work, field visits, pond practicals, or hatchery exercises. Students work on water quality tests, fish anatomy dissections, feed formulation, pond design, fish breeding exercises, disease diagnosis, fish processing practicals, quality control tests, and fisheries and aquaculture research. Laboratory work for water quality and fish health, field visits to fish farms and lakes, pond and hatchery practicals, and industrial attachment at a fish farm, fish processing plant, or research institution provide practical experience.

The trade offs

In its favour

Blue Economy priority — the government has prioritised the Blue Economy, creating opportunities in fisheries and aquaculture.
Food security — aquaculture contributes to food security and nutrition, a government priority.
Entrepreneurship potential — graduates can start fish farming, fish processing, or aquaculture consulting businesses.

Against it

Field work intensive — fisheries and aquaculture involves working at fish farms, lakes, and processing plants in various conditions.
Moderate salary — starting salaries are lower compared to traditional engineering fields.
Limited awareness — fisheries and aquaculture is less well-known than traditional agriculture or engineering fields.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public277k to 324k

277k at Egerton University324k at University of Nairobi

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Egerton 276.7K/yr (educationnewshub), UoN 324K/yr (Schedule II). Private unverified.

Students can access HELB undergraduate loans, Universities Fund government scholarships, and county government bursaries. Some fisheries organisations, aquaculture companies, and Blue Economy initiatives offer scholarships for fisheries and aquaculture students.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
Universities Fund Government Scholarship
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

4 recorded

County Government Bursaries
GrantKsh 50,000Kenyan
Students from specific counties. Criteria vary by county.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
Government-sponsored (KUCCPS) students in public universities. Awarded through the Higher Education Funding Model.
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to accredited universities. Means-tested based on family income.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
SponsorshipKsh 500,000
Academically talented but economically disadvantaged African students at partner universities.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (plus) mean grade at KCSE
Alternative entry: Diploma holders with credit pass in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Biology, or related fields from recognised institutions may join.

Mathematics
C (plain)
Biology
C+ (plus)
Chemistry or Physics
C (plain)
English or Kiswahili
C (plain)

How you are assessed

5 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests, assignments, problem sets, and laboratory exercises throughout the semester.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum5% of the mark
Assessment of industrial attachment at a fish farm, fish processing plant, or research institution. Includes logbook, supervisor evaluation, and written report.
Final Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Research Project or Dissertation
Research5% of the mark
Final year fisheries and aquaculture technology research project or dissertation, assessed through written report and oral defence.
End of Semester Examinations
Exam40% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering aquaculture, fish health, fisheries management, fish processing, water quality, and aquatic ecology.
Project / Practical Assessment
Practicum20% of the mark
Assessment of water quality tests, feed formulation, pond designs, disease diagnosis, fish processing practicals, and quality control tests.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenya Fisheries Service registration is required for fisheries practice. KEBS standards govern fish and seafood quality.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
CUE accredits all university programmes in Kenya. Kenya Fisheries Service registration is required for fisheries practice. KEBS standards govern fish and seafood quality.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Aquaculture Manager / Fish Farm Manager
Medium demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages fish farming operations, oversees production, supports aquaculture systems, and supporting aquaculture management.
Research Officer / Aquatic Ecologist
Low demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Conducts research, studies aquatic ecosystems, supports conservation, and supporting fisheries and aquaculture research.
Fish Hatchery Manager / Fish Health Specialist
Low demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages hatcheries, supports fish breeding, diagnoses diseases, and supporting hatchery and fish health management.
Seafood Processing Technologist / Quality Assurance Officer
Medium demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages fish processing, ensures quality control, supports food safety, and supporting seafood processing and quality assurance.
Fisheries Officer / Fisheries Manager
Medium demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages fisheries resources, supports stock assessment, enforces regulations, and supporting fisheries management.
Fisheries Consultant / Aquaculture Entrepreneur
Medium demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 230,000
Provides consulting, starts aquaculture businesses, advises on fish farming, and supporting fisheries consulting and entrepreneurship.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as aquaculture managers, fisheries officers, and seafood processing technologists. Fisheries and aquaculture technology is in medium to high demand driven by Blue Economy and food security. Starting salaries range from KES 55,000 to 90,000 per month, with experienced professionals earning KES 100,000 to 250,000. KMFRI, Kenya Fisheries Service, fish farming companies, fish processing companies, county governments, NGOs, and KEBS offer the main opportunities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Project
Project management
Python
Code
AutoCAD
DesignPrimary
MATLAB
CodePrimary
Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet
SolidWorks
Design

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Fisheries and aquaculture is just about fishing.
This programme covers fish farming, hatcheries, fish health, nutrition, processing, quality control, fisheries management, and aquatic ecology. It's a comprehensive aquaculture and fisheries discipline.
Graduates only work at fish ponds.
Graduates work at fish farms, hatcheries, processing plants, research institutions, government, NGOs, consulting firms, and as independent consultants.
This field has limited career prospects.
Blue Economy, aquaculture expansion, fish processing for export, and food security create growing demand for qualified fisheries and aquaculture professionals.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.