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National Station Network

Twelve stations. Every ecosystem Kenya holds.

From the Indian Ocean coast to Lake Victoria, from the Tana River to the highlands — KMFRI's field station network provides unmatched geographic coverage for Kenya's aquatic research mandate.

12
Research Stations
6
Coastal Stations
4
Freshwater Stations
45+
Years of Field Data
Geographic Coverage

A station in every major aquatic zone

Each KMFRI station is positioned within the ecosystem it studies — giving researchers direct, sustained access to the species, conditions, and communities that define Kenya's aquatic systems.

Station Network — Kenya
Lake Victoria Indian Ocean HQ MMS SHI GAZ MAL LAM SAN KIS KEG NAI BAR SAG
Headquarters
Coastal / Marine
Freshwater / Lake
Inland / Aquaculture
Headquarters Est. 1979

Mombasa Headquarters

Mombasa, Coast County · 4°03′ S, 39°40′ E

KMFRI's principal research and administrative centre, housing the Institute's primary laboratories, library, and the research vessel RV Mtafiti. The headquarters coordinates all KMFRI research programs and serves as the primary interface with international scientific bodies including UNESCO-IOC, WIOMSA, and OBIS.

Research Programs
Marine & Coastal Aquaculture Socioeconomics
Analytical Laboratories
RV Mtafiti Berth
Scientific Library
Conference Facilities
Coastal Marine Est. 1985

Shimoni Field Station

Shimoni, Kwale County · 4°39′ S, 39°22′ E

Located at the southern end of Kenya's coast, Shimoni specialises in coral reef ecology, deep-sea fisheries, and the monitoring of Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park. It is KMFRI's primary base for deep-water demersal fish surveys and seahorse population studies.

Research Programs
Marine & Coastal Socioeconomics
Research Vessels
Reef Monitoring Gear
Deep-Sea Equipment
Community Liaison
Freshwater / Aquaculture Est. 1980

Sangoro Aquaculture Research Station

Pap Onditi, Kisumu County · 0°12′ S, 34°48′ E

Kenya's premier freshwater aquaculture research facility, hosting extensive earthen ponds, hatcheries, and genetics laboratories. Sangoro leads KMFRI's Nile tilapia and African catfish breeding programs and provides extension support to western Kenya's fish farming sector.

Research Programs
Aquaculture Freshwater
Fish Hatcheries
Genetics Laboratory
Earthen Pond Systems
Farmer Training Centre
Freshwater Est. 1979

Kisumu Freshwater Station

Kisumu, Kisumu County · 0°05′ S, 34°46′ E

KMFRI's principal station on Lake Victoria, conducting long-term fisheries assessments of Nile perch, Nile tilapia, and dagaa. Kisumu serves as the operational base for Lake Victoria trawl surveys and coordinates with the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation on transboundary stock assessments.

Research Programs
Freshwater Socioeconomics
Lake Survey Vessels
Echo-Sounder Equipment
Water Quality Lab
LVFO Liaison Office
All Stations

Browse the complete network

Filter by
Headquarters
Mombasa HQ
Mombasa, Coast
Marine Aquaculture

Principal research centre, RV Mtafiti berth, primary laboratories, and scientific library.

Marine
Mombasa Marine Station
Mombasa, Coast
Marine

Intertidal and subtidal monitoring, mangrove ecology, and coastal fisheries assessment within Mombasa Marine Park.

Marine
Shimoni Field Station
Shimoni, Kwale
Marine Socioeconomics

Coral reef ecology, deep-sea demersal surveys, and Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park monitoring.

Marine
Gazi Bay Marine Station
Gazi, Kwale County
Marine

Kenya's primary mangrove research site. Long-term seagrass and mangrove monitoring, blue carbon studies, and coastal ecosystem services research.

Marine
Malindi Marine Station
Malindi, Kilifi County
Marine Aquaculture

Pelagic fish surveys, Malindi Marine National Park monitoring, and mariculture trials for sea cucumber and oysters.

Marine
Lamu Marine Station
Lamu, Lamu County
Marine Socioeconomics

Northern Kenya coast fisheries monitoring, dhow fishery socioeconomic studies, and Lamu Archipelago biodiversity surveys.

Aquaculture
Sangoro ARS
Pap Onditi, Kisumu
Aquaculture Freshwater

Kenya's premier freshwater aquaculture facility. Tilapia and catfish genetics, hatcheries, and farmer training programs.

Freshwater
Kisumu Freshwater Station
Kisumu, Kisumu County
Freshwater Socioeconomics

Long-term Lake Victoria stock assessments, trawl surveys, and LVFO transboundary research coordination.

Freshwater
Kegati Freshwater Station
Kegati, Kisii County
Freshwater Aquaculture

Small-scale aquaculture research and highland stream fisheries studies. Trout research and community aquaculture extension in the western highlands.

Inland
Naivasha Inland Station
Naivasha, Nakuru County
Freshwater Aquaculture

Lake Naivasha fisheries ecology, invasive species monitoring, and floriculture-fisheries interaction studies. Rift Valley water quality monitoring.

Inland
Baringo Rift Valley Station
Lake Baringo, Baringo County
Freshwater

Rift Valley lake system research. Tilapia population dynamics, water level and salinity change impacts, and wetland ecosystem monitoring in lakes Baringo and Bogoria.

Aquaculture
Sagana Trout Station
Sagana, Kirinyaga County
Aquaculture Freshwater

Kenya's only dedicated trout research facility. Rainbow trout and brown trout culture, cold-water fisheries ecology, and highland aquaculture extension for central Kenya.

Research Infrastructure

Forty-five years of infrastructure built for Kenya's waters

KMFRI's station network is equipped with research vessels, analytical laboratories, hatcheries, monitoring systems, and field equipment accumulated over four decades of investment in Kenya's aquatic science capacity.

RV Mtafiti — Research Vessel
KMFRI's 35-metre oceanographic research vessel, equipped for deep-sea surveys, trawling, oceanographic profiling, and underway data collection across Kenya's Exclusive Economic Zone.
Analytical Laboratories
Water quality, fish health diagnostics, food safety, environmental chemistry, genetics, and oceanographic analysis laboratories distributed across six stations. Accredited testing for commercial and government clients.
Hatcheries and Pond Systems
State-of-the-art hatchery facilities at Sangoro and Kegati supporting tilapia, catfish, and trout broodstock programs. Over 80 earthen ponds for applied aquaculture research and trials.
Environmental Monitoring Networks
Long-term ocean and freshwater monitoring equipment deployed at stations and moored in marine and lake environments. Data contribute to national and global observation systems including OBIS and IOC-UNESCO IODE.

Plan your field research at a KMFRI station

KMFRI stations are open to collaborative research, student attachments, and external scientific use. Contact the relevant station to discuss access, logistics, and joint research opportunities.

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