Shadrack Kyalo

I am a hardworking, highly motivated and passionate young aquatic scientist, with over two years of experience in aquaculture (Tilapia and catfish species culture) and in freshwater fish taxonomy and classification. I have experience in RAS (Recirculatory aquaculture system) and the culturing of fish both earthen and liner ponds, hatchery management and the management of fish in the grow out phase. I am also passionate towards advocating the sustainable utilization of aquatic resources especially fish in a way to promote conservation. I have knowledge in wetland ecology and appreciate the importance of wetlands to biodiversity.

I have been attached at Kamuthanga fish farm for three months and Egerton fish farm for another three months. After graduation, I joined the National Museums of Kenya (Zoology department, Ichthyology section) as a volunteer, a position which I hold to date. Further, I also serve as a farm consultant for Lake Naivasha fish farm, offering advisory on fingerlings production, designing fish breeding hatchery and general aquaculture practices. In the National Museums of Kenya, I have been part of the team that is managing the fish collection database. I have also worked with the Kenya Wetlands Biodiversity Research Team(KENWEB) in citizen-based scientific research activities especially on the role of wetlands towards biodiversity conservation. I have also been involved in laboratory experiments including water quality assessments, identification of aquatic organisms, cataloguing and preservation of specimens.

I hold a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree in Applied Aquatic Sciences from Egerton University, Kenya. My undergraduate curriculum introduced me to a wide range of subjects such as Aquaculture, fisheries technology, Biostatistics, wetland ecology, lake ecology, water chemistry, aquatic invertebrates, aquatic resource and management, principles of water quality, among others.