Agriculture

Master of Science (Fisheries and Aquaculture)

The Master of Science in Fisheries and Aquaculture is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in fisheries management, aquaculture production, and aquatic resource conservation. The programme combines aquatic science with fisheries management and aquaculture technology.

Core areas include fisheries biology, aquaculture, limnology, aquatic ecology, fish health management, fisheries management, fish processing, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both aquatic science theory and practical fisheries and aquaculture application through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Maseno University and University of Eldoret. Both are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in fisheries management, aquaculture production, fish health, aquatic ecology, fish processing, fisheries policy, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, field work, examinations, and a research thesis.

Maseno University charges approximately KES 128,110 to KES 179,400/year for masters programmes. University of Eldoret also offers related fisheries programmes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with First Class or Second Class Honours Upper Division in zoology, fisheries, aquatic sciences, or related biological fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as fisheries officers, aquaculture managers, fish health specialists, aquatic resource managers, fisheries researchers, and lecturers in fisheries and aquaculture across government, research, and private sectors.

Skills Required

Fisheries Biology and Management
Aquaculture Production Systems
Fish Health and Disease Management
Aquatic Ecology and Limnology
Fish Processing and Quality Assurance
Fisheries Policy and Governance
Aquatic Resource Conservation
Research Methods in Fisheries
Fish Breeding and Genetics
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Fisheries Biology and Ecology
Aquaculture Production Systems
Limnology and Aquatic Ecosystems
Fish Health and Disease Management
Fisheries Management and Policy
Fish Processing and Quality Assurance
Marine Fisheries and Oceanography
Fish Breeding and Genetics
Research Methods in Fisheries
Thesis Research

Certifications

KFS Professional Registration
KMFRI Associate Membership

Specializations

Aquaculture Production

Focuses on aquaculture production, covering fish farming, hatchery management, feed formulation, and managing aquaculture production systems.

Fisheries Management

Examines fisheries management, covering stock assessment, fisheries policy, sustainable fishing, and managing fisheries resources.

Fish Health Management

Covers fish health, covering fish diseases, disease diagnosis, disease prevention, fish immunology, and managing fish health.

Aquatic Ecology

Focuses on aquatic ecology, covering limnology, marine ecology, aquatic ecosystems, pollution, and managing aquatic ecosystems.

Fish Processing and Quality

Examines fish processing, covering fish handling, fish processing, quality assurance, food safety, and managing fish processing operations.

Fisheries Policy and Governance

Covers fisheries policy, covering fisheries law, fisheries governance, international fisheries, and managing fisheries policy.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 433,500
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Fisheries Biology and Ecology
Aquaculture Production Systems
Limnology and Aquatic Ecosystems
Fish Health and Disease Management
Fisheries Management and Policy
Fish Processing and Quality Assurance
Marine Fisheries and Oceanography
Fish Breeding and Genetics
Research Methods in Fisheries
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Fisheries Biology and Ecology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines fish biology, fish ecology, population dynamics, fish behaviour, and managing fisheries resources.
Aquaculture Production Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers fish farming, hatchery management, pond management, recirculating systems, and managing aquaculture production.
Limnology and Aquatic Ecosystems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines aquatic ecosystems, water quality, lake ecology, physical limnology, and managing aquatic ecosystems.
Research Methods in Fisheries
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting fisheries research, preparing students for their thesis.
Fish Health and Disease Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers fish diseases, disease diagnosis, disease prevention, fish immunology, and managing fish health.
Fisheries Management and Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines stock assessment, fisheries policy, sustainable fishing, fisheries regulation, and managing fisheries.
Marine Fisheries and Oceanography
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers oceanography, marine ecology, marine fisheries, marine resources, and managing marine fisheries.
Fish Processing and Quality Assurance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines fish handling, fish processing, quality assurance, food safety, and managing fish processing operations.
Fish Breeding and Genetics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers fish genetics, selective breeding, fish reproduction, hatchery genetics, and managing fish breeding programmes.
Aquatic Environmental Pollution
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines aquatic pollution, pollution sources, pollution monitoring, environmental impact, and managing aquatic pollution.
Law of the Sea and Fisheries Governance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers law of the sea, fisheries law, fisheries governance, international fisheries, and managing fisheries governance.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a fisheries or aquaculture topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and fisheries knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Aquaculture Production
Focuses on aquaculture production, covering fish farming, hatchery management, feed formulation, and managing aquaculture production systems.
Fisheries Management
Examines fisheries management, covering stock assessment, fisheries policy, sustainable fishing, and managing fisheries resources.
Fish Health Management
Covers fish health, covering fish diseases, disease diagnosis, disease prevention, fish immunology, and managing fish health.
Aquatic Ecology
Focuses on aquatic ecology, covering limnology, marine ecology, aquatic ecosystems, pollution, and managing aquatic ecosystems.
Fish Processing and Quality
Examines fish processing, covering fish handling, fish processing, quality assurance, food safety, and managing fish processing operations.
Fisheries Policy and Governance
Covers fisheries policy, covering fisheries law, fisheries governance, international fisheries, and managing fisheries policy.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Fisheries and Aquaculture programme combines lectures, laboratory practicals, field visits, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover fisheries biology, aquaculture, limnology, fish health, and fish processing. Fisheries biology sessions examine fish biology, fish ecology, stock assessment, fisheries dynamics, and managing fisheries resources. Aquaculture sessions cover fish farming, hatchery management, feed formulation, pond management, and managing aquaculture production. Limnology sessions cover aquatic ecosystems, water quality, lake ecology, physical limnology, and managing aquatic ecosystems. Fish health sessions cover fish diseases, disease diagnosis, disease prevention, fish immunology, and managing fish health. Fish processing sessions cover fish handling, fish processing, quality assurance, food safety, and managing fish processing operations. Fisheries management sessions cover stock assessment, fisheries policy, sustainable fishing, fisheries regulation, and managing fisheries. Marine fisheries sessions cover oceanography, marine ecology, marine fisheries, marine resources, and managing marine fisheries. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory practicals provide hands-on experience with fish biology, water quality analysis, disease diagnosis, and laboratory techniques. Field visits provide practical experience with fish farms, fishing operations, aquatic ecosystems, and field data collection. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in fisheries and aquaculture. Guest lectures from experienced fisheries officers, aquaculture managers, and researchers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a fisheries or aquaculture topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand for fisheries professionals with Kenya's Blue Economy initiatives and expanding aquaculture sector.
Programme is offered by multiple universities (Maseno, Eldoret), providing institutional choice.
Programme combines fisheries science with aquaculture technology, providing versatile skills for both capture fisheries and fish farming.
Maseno University offers affordable fees at approximately KES 128,110-179,400/year.

Against it

University of Eldoret fees not independently verified, limiting fee comparison.
No private university confirmed offering this exact programme, limiting options.
Programme is specialised, which may limit versatility compared to broader biological or environmental science degrees.
Career prospects may be concentrated in specific sectors (government, research, aquaculture), limiting options in other sectors.

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

Public84k to 434k

84k at Rongo University434k 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

UoN & Rongo fees unverified. Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KMFRI may provide training support for research staff. WorldFish may provide training support for aquaculture researchers in developing countries. Some fisheries organisations and aquaculture companies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KMFRI Training Support
WorldFish Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KMFRI Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute supports training for research staff.
WorldFish Training Support
GrantKsh 250,000
WorldFish provides training support for aquaculture researchers in developing countries.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require First Class or Upper Second Class Honours in zoology, fisheries, or related biological field. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience or Postgraduate Diploma are considered. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework20% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, field reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering fisheries biology, aquaculture, limnology, fish health, and fisheries management.
Practical and Field Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory exercises, field work, aquaculture projects, fish health diagnostics, and demonstrating fisheries skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a fisheries or aquaculture topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and fisheries knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Maseno University and University of Eldoret (both public) offer MSc in Fisheries and Aquaculture. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in fisheries and aquaculture. Graduates are eligible for KFS professional registration and KMFRI associate membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Maseno University and University of Eldoret (both public) offer MSc in Fisheries and Aquaculture. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in fisheries and aquaculture. Graduates are eligible for KFS professional registration and KMFRI associate membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Fisheries Officer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages fisheries resources, overseeing fisheries regulation, stock assessment, licensing, and managing fisheries services.
Aquaculture Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages aquaculture operations, overseeing fish farming, hatchery management, feed management, and managing aquaculture production.
Fish Health Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages fish health programmes, overseeing disease diagnosis, disease prevention, fish health management, and managing fish health services.
Aquatic Resource Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages aquatic resources, overseeing resource conservation, ecosystem management, environmental monitoring, and managing aquatic resources.
Fisheries Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Conducts fisheries research, overseeing research design, data collection, analysis, and managing fisheries research activities.
Fisheries Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches fisheries and aquaculture at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, field supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Water Quality Kit
EquipmentPrimary
Water quality testing kit for aquaculture, covering pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, ammonia, and managing water quality monitoring.
Microscope
Equipment
Microscope for fish disease diagnosis, covering parasite identification, bacterial examination, histopathology, and managing fish health diagnostics.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for fisheries research, data analysis, and analysing and interpreting research data for thesis.
GIS Software
Software
GIS software for fisheries mapping, covering spatial analysis, fisheries distribution, and managing geographic data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Fisheries and aquaculture is just about fishing.
Fisheries and aquaculture covers comprehensive aquatic science including fisheries management, aquaculture technology, fish health, aquatic ecology, and fish processing.
This programme is only for those working in fisheries.
Fisheries and aquaculture skills are valuable in research, conservation, government, food industry, and any organisation dealing with aquatic resources.
Fisheries has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With growing aquaculture sector, Blue Economy initiatives, and fisheries management needs, demand for fisheries professionals is increasing in Kenya.
Aquaculture is just about digging fish ponds.
Modern aquaculture involves advanced technology including recirculating systems, hatchery management, feed formulation, and fish health management.
This programme is not relevant to modern challenges.
Fisheries and aquaculture is critical to food security, Blue Economy, sustainable resource management, and climate change adaptation.
Fisheries science is the same as marine biology.
Fisheries science focuses on fish populations, fisheries management, and aquaculture, while marine biology covers broader marine life and ecosystems.