Agriculture

Master of Science in Fisheries

The Master of Science in Fisheries is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in fisheries science, aquatic resource management, and aquaculture. The programme combines fisheries biology theory with practical fisheries management and aquatic science application.

Core areas include limnology, freshwater fisheries biology, aquaculture, marine fisheries, oceanography, marine ecology, fish handling and processing, environmental pollution, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both fisheries theory and practical laboratory and field work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University, the University of Eldoret, and Maseno University. KU offers MSc in Fisheries Sciences, UoE offers MSc in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, and Maseno offers MSc in Aquatic Resources Conservation and Fisheries Development. All are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in limnology, freshwater fisheries biology, aquaculture, marine fisheries, oceanography, marine ecology, fish handling and processing, and environmental pollution. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory work, field courses, and a supervised research thesis.

KU charges KES 295,800/year for fisheries sciences. University of Eldoret charges approximately KES 200,000/year for science-based masters. Maseno University charges approximately KES 220,000/year for science programmes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in zoology, botany, biology, fisheries, or related science fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as fisheries officers, aquaculture managers, marine biologists, fisheries researchers, aquatic resource managers, and lecturers in fisheries across government fisheries departments, research institutions, aquaculture farms, NGOs, and universities.

Skills Required

Limnology and Freshwater Ecosystem Analysis
Freshwater Fisheries Biology and Stock Assessment
Aquaculture Systems and Fish Farming
Marine Fisheries and Oceanography
Fish Handling, Processing and Quality Assurance
Aquatic Environmental Pollution and Monitoring
Fisheries Management and Policy
Marine Ecology and Resource Conservation
Research Methods in Fisheries Science
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Limnology and Freshwater Ecosystem Analysis
Freshwater Fisheries Biology and Stock Assessment
Aquaculture Systems and Fish Farming
Marine Fisheries and Oceanography
Fish Handling, Processing and Quality Assurance
Aquatic Environmental Pollution and Monitoring
Fisheries Management and Policy
Marine Ecology and Resource Conservation
Research Methods in Fisheries Science
Thesis Research

Certifications

KMFRI Research Certification
FAO Fisheries Professional Membership

Specializations

Aquaculture

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

Fisheries Management

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

Marine Fisheries

Covers marine fisheries, covering oceanography, marine ecology, marine fish stocks, fishing technology, and managing marine fisheries.

Freshwater Fisheries

Focuses on freshwater fisheries, covering limnology, freshwater biology, lake fisheries, river fisheries, and managing freshwater fisheries.

Fish Processing and Quality

Examines fish processing, covering handling, preservation, quality assurance, food safety, value addition, and managing fish processing.

Aquatic Conservation

Covers aquatic conservation, covering habitat protection, biodiversity, endangered species, marine protected areas, and managing aquatic conservation.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 295,800
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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Limnology and Freshwater Ecosystem Analysis
Freshwater Fisheries Biology and Stock Assessment
Aquaculture Systems and Fish Farming
Marine Fisheries and Oceanography
Fish Handling, Processing and Quality Assurance
Aquatic Environmental Pollution and Monitoring
Fisheries Management and Policy
Marine Ecology and Resource Conservation
Research Methods in Fisheries Science
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Limnology and Freshwater Ecosystem Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines freshwater ecosystems, water quality, lake dynamics, nutrient cycling, and managing freshwater ecosystems.
Freshwater Fisheries Biology and Stock Assessment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers fish biology, stock assessment, population dynamics, fish ecology, and managing freshwater fisheries.
Research Methods in Fisheries Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, field methods, and conducting fisheries research, preparing students for their thesis.
Aquaculture Systems and Fish Farming
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines fish farming, hatchery management, feed formulation, water quality, breeding, and managing aquaculture systems.
Oceanography and Marine Ecology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers ocean dynamics, currents, marine chemistry, marine ecosystems, coral reefs, and managing marine ecology.
Marine Fisheries and Resources
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines marine fish stocks, fishing technology, marine policy, law of the sea, and managing marine fisheries.
Aquatic Environmental Pollution and Monitoring
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers aquatic pollution, monitoring, impact assessment, water quality, eutrophication, and managing aquatic pollution.
Fish Handling, Processing and Quality Assurance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines fish handling, preservation, processing, quality assurance, food safety, and managing fish processing.
Fisheries Management and Policy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers stock assessment, fishing regulations, sustainable harvesting, fisheries policy, co-management, and managing fisheries.
Aquatic Resource Conservation and Biodiversity
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines habitat protection, biodiversity, endangered species, marine protected areas, and managing aquatic conservation.
Fish Health and Disease Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers fish diseases, parasites, pathology, immunology, treatment, and managing fish health.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a fisheries topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and fisheries knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Aquaculture
Focuses on aquaculture, covering fish farming, hatchery management, feed formulation, water quality, and managing aquaculture systems.
Fisheries Management
Examines fisheries management, covering stock assessment, fishing regulations, sustainable harvesting, policy, and managing fisheries.
Marine Fisheries
Covers marine fisheries, covering oceanography, marine ecology, marine fish stocks, fishing technology, and managing marine fisheries.
Freshwater Fisheries
Focuses on freshwater fisheries, covering limnology, freshwater biology, lake fisheries, river fisheries, and managing freshwater fisheries.
Fish Processing and Quality
Examines fish processing, covering handling, preservation, quality assurance, food safety, value addition, and managing fish processing.
Aquatic Conservation
Covers aquatic conservation, covering habitat protection, biodiversity, endangered species, marine protected areas, and managing aquatic conservation.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Fisheries programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, field courses, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover limnology, fisheries biology, aquaculture, marine fisheries, and fish processing. Limnology sessions examine freshwater ecosystems, water quality, lake dynamics, nutrient cycling, and managing freshwater ecosystems. Freshwater fisheries biology sessions cover fish biology, stock assessment, population dynamics, fish ecology, and managing freshwater fisheries. Aquaculture sessions cover fish farming, hatchery management, feed formulation, water quality, breeding, and managing aquaculture systems. Marine fisheries sessions cover oceanography, marine fish stocks, fishing technology, marine policy, and managing marine fisheries. Oceanography sessions cover ocean dynamics, currents, marine chemistry, marine physics, and managing ocean systems. Marine ecology sessions cover marine ecosystems, coral reefs, mangroves, marine biodiversity, and managing marine ecology. Fish handling and processing sessions cover handling, preservation, processing, quality assurance, food safety, and managing fish processing. Environmental pollution sessions cover aquatic pollution, monitoring, impact assessment, water quality, and managing aquatic pollution. Fisheries management sessions cover stock assessment, fishing regulations, sustainable harvesting, policy, and managing fisheries. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with fish biology, water quality analysis, plankton identification, and fish health assessment. Field courses at lakes, rivers, coast, and aquaculture farms provide real-world exposure to fisheries environments. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with fish sampling, stock assessment, aquaculture techniques, and fish processing. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in fisheries. Guest lectures from experienced fisheries scientists, KMFRI researchers, and aquaculture professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a fisheries topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Steady demand for fisheries professionals with Kenya's blue economy strategy, aquaculture expansion, fisheries management, and marine conservation initiatives.
Programme offered by three public universities (KU, UoE, Maseno), providing institutional choice.
KU offers well-established MSc in Fisheries Sciences at KES 295,800/year with comprehensive curriculum.
Graduates are eligible for KMFRI research certification and FAO Fisheries professional membership, enhancing career prospects.

Against it

KU fees at KES 295,800/year may be challenging for some students.
UoE and Maseno fees estimated, not independently verified for fisheries specifically.
No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.
Programme requires zoology, botany, biology, or related science background, which limits access for non-related graduates.

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

Public173k to 296k

173k at University of Eldoret296k at Kenyatta University

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

KU 295,800/yr (mawese.com), UoE ~173K/yr (uoeld.ac.ke). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KMFRI and fisheries research organisations may provide research support. FAO and international fisheries organisations may provide research grants. Some aquaculture companies and NGOs may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KMFRI Research Support
FAO Fisheries Grants

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KMFRI Research Support
GrantKsh 250,000Kenyan
KMFRI and partner organisations may provide research support for fisheries and aquatic science professionals.
FAO Fisheries Grants
GrantKsh 300,000Kenyan
FAO and international fisheries organisations may provide research grants for fisheries professionals.

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 Upper Second Class Honours in zoology, botany, biology, fisheries, or related science fields. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, field course reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering limnology, fisheries biology, aquaculture, marine fisheries, and fish processing.
Laboratory and Field Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory exercises, field courses, fish sampling, stock assessment, and demonstrating fisheries skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a fisheries 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). Kenyatta University, University of Eldoret, and Maseno University (all public) offer MSc in Fisheries or related aquatic science programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in fisheries and aquatic sciences. Graduates are eligible for KMFRI research certification and FAO Fisheries professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University, University of Eldoret, and Maseno University (all public) offer MSc in Fisheries or related aquatic science programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in fisheries and aquatic sciences. Graduates are eligible for KMFRI research certification and FAO Fisheries professional 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 programmes, overseeing stock assessment, regulations, compliance, and managing fisheries.
Aquaculture Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages aquaculture operations, overseeing fish farming, hatchery, feed, water quality, and managing aquaculture.
Marine Biologist
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Conducts marine biology research, overseeing marine ecology, biodiversity, conservation, and managing marine research.
Fisheries Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Conducts fisheries research, overseeing research design, data collection, analysis, publication, and managing fisheries research.
Aquatic Resource Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages aquatic resources, overseeing conservation, sustainability, policy, and managing aquatic resources.
Fisheries Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches fisheries at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

R
SoftwarePrimary
R for statistical analysis, covering stock assessment, population dynamics, fisheries data, and managing fisheries research.
ArcGIS
Software
ArcGIS for spatial analysis, covering fisheries mapping, habitat mapping, marine spatial planning, and managing spatial data.
Ecopath
Software
Ecopath for ecosystem modelling, covering food web modelling, trophic interactions, ecosystem analysis, and managing ecosystem models.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering survey data, fisheries data, research data, and managing statistical analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Fisheries is just about catching fish.
Fisheries covers comprehensive biology, ecology, stock assessment, aquaculture, processing, policy, and conservation beyond just catching fish.
This programme is only for those who want to fish.
Fisheries skills are valuable for researchers, managers, policy makers, aquaculture professionals, conservationists, and academics beyond just fishing.
Fisheries has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With Kenya's blue economy strategy, aquaculture expansion, fisheries management, and marine conservation, demand for fisheries professionals is steady in Kenya.
Aquaculture is just about digging fish ponds.
Aquaculture covers comprehensive hatchery management, feed formulation, water quality, breeding, disease management, and sustainable production systems.
Marine fisheries is just about the ocean.
Marine fisheries covers comprehensive oceanography, marine ecology, fish stocks, fishing technology, policy, and marine conservation.
Fish processing is just about drying fish.
Fish processing covers comprehensive handling, preservation, quality assurance, food safety, value addition, and international standards.