CURRICULUM
VITAE
Dr. John
S. Balirwa CBiol; MIBiol,
Contact
Address: Fisheries Resources Research Institute (FIRRI)
P.O
Telephone: 256
– 043 – 120484/121369
Fax: 256 – 043
– 120192
E-mail: firi@firi.go.ug; firi@infocom.co.ug
Nationality:
Ugandan
Date of Birth:
Marital
Status: Married with two children (22,23)
Languages:
English, Swahili, Ganda, Soga
1993-1998:
Agricultural University, Wageningen, The
1990-1992: The
International Institute for Hydraulic & Environmental Engineering (IHE),
1981-1984
The
University of
1972-1975
The
University of
1964-1971
ACADEMIC
QUALIFICATIONS
1998. PhD in Aquatic Ecology. The
Agricultural University, Wageningen, The
1992. MSc in
Environmental Science Technology, IHE, The
1984. MSc in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.
The
1991. Post- Graduate Diploma Environmental
Science & Technology. IHE , The
1975.BSc
(Hons), Zoology and
Botany, The
1988: CBiol
(Chartered Biologist),
1993-1998 Netherlands and
Wageningen Agricultural University . Ministry of Science
& Higher
Education for a Ph.D. Degree.
1994
Societas
Internationales Limnologie- Tonnolli
Fund – Preliminary PhD research
1992-1993
IHE
– Zuiveringschap Northwest Overijssel Water Board Fellowship for an MSc degree
1990-1991
EU-EDF Training
Fund- for a Post- graduate Diploma in Environmental Science
1981-1984
Commonwealth
Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) for an MSc degree.
1972-1975
Association of African Universities Fellowship Scheme (INTERAF) – for
B.Sc.
degree.
1965-1969
Madhvani Education Foundation – Secondary education.
Fish & Fisheries
Biology and Aquatic Ecology; wetlands
Biology of Tilapia;
Aquatic Ecology and biodiversity conservation, Riverine and Wetland fisheries,
Environmental Impact Assessments and water quality (limnology).
2002 – Present Director, Fisheries Resources
Research Institute (FIRRI)
Duties:
(i). Chief Executive, in-charge of administration and
management of personnel,
resources and projects of the Institute
(ii). Responsible for overall development and
management of the institute
(iii). Guide and co-ordinate the preparation of the
Institute’s annual programmes
(Financial
and technical) and budget
(iv).
Direct and co-ordinate the implementation of approved research, training and
outreach programmes of the Institute
(v). Ensure periodic review of the research results
with the farmers, producers and the
extension agencies to identify and package transferable
technology options
(vi).
Organise on-the-job training, workshops, seminars and conferences related to
the
projects of the Institute
(vii). Prepare annual and periodic reports/returns on
the activities or the Institute
(viii). Overall responsibility for planning,
monitoring and evaluating all activities for
the Institute
(ix). Work closely with the
Deputy Director General (Research) and the Deputy Director (x). General
(Outreach) who respectively have overall responsibility for guiding research
and outreach activities in NARO
(xi). Perform such other functions as may be assigned
to you from time to time by the
Director General
Other
responsibilities:
Thematic
Output Co-leader (NARO-ARTP II)
Strategies for harnessing and commercialising natural resource based products developed and promoted (Including; Specific guidelines providing best practice, standards, access levels, etc for each fisheries area.
Strategies and mechanisms for the management and protection of fish breeding areas.
Clear guidelines for commercial and enhancement of wild fish stocks)
Project Leader (NARO-ARTP II)
Generation of knowledge and technologies for the management of the ecology of aquatic systems, fishing methods and fish-farming and harvesting
African Journal of ecology
African Journal of Tropical Hydrobiology and Fisheries
Member: Expert Committee for LVEMP II
Preparations
Member:
Member: Executive Committee of the
Chairperson: Scientific Committee of The
Organisation (LVFO)
Member RAMSAR COMMITTEE (for
Fisheries, Pollution and Environmental Monitoring Regional Working Group
(RWG) of
Infrastructure & HRD Regional
Working Group of LVFO
Member (NARO) CGIAR Science Council Standing
Committee (Standing Panel on M&E)
Member, NARO (National agricultural Research
Organisation) Intellectual Property Rights Committee
Member, NARO (National agricultural Research
Organisation) ARTP III Preparatory Committee
Member: International Association of Theoretical & Applied Limnology: Societas Internationale Limnologiae (SIL), Expert Conservation Committee of SIL.
Member: Hydrobiological Society
for
Member: International Geoshpere Biosphere Program (IGBP)
1994
– Present Senior Research
Officer, National Research Organization (NARO), posted at the Fisheries
Research Institute (FIRI).
1991 – 1994 Senior Principal Research Officer in the Ministry of
Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), at The
1989 – 1991 Principal Research Officer in the
1984 – 1988 Senior Research Officer in the
1977 – 1984 Scientific Officer in the Ministry of Regional
Co-operation at,
1975 – 1977 Research Officer: East African
Fresh Water Fisheries Research Organization (EAFFRO), in the East African
Community.
1975
Tsetse
Officer: Tsetse
Control Department – Ministry of Animal Resources.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (1994 – 2001)
·
Senior Research Officer in the National
Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), position held at FIRRI.
Charged
with designing and executing research projects in the limnology/water
environment, acting as project leader guiding the conduct of research in
relevant fields as determined by priorities and constraints identified by
fisherfolk and other stakeholders.
Conducting
training including giving lectures to students at
Mobilizing and
managing financial and human resources (project identification and development)
as may be determined from time to time and other duties/responsibilities
assigned as outlined below for the period reported:
(a)
Project
Leader: The impact
of wetland degradation on water quality and fish production systems.
(b)
Project
coordinator: Wetland
Ecotone studies.
(c)
Principal
Investigator:
(d)
Principal
Investigator: Lakeshore
wetlands ecology and biodiversity assessment for management.
(e)
Principal
Investigator: Riverine and
stream fisheries studies.
(f)
Collaborating
Scientist: Water hyacinth research and impact studies.
(g)
Collaborating
Scientist: Fish production constraints of minor lakes.
(h)
Collaborating
Scientist: Impact of fish species introductions.
(i)
Collaborating
Scientist: Aquatic ecosystem studies.
(j)
Scientific
Team Leader: Proposal for
acute and long-term toxicity studies on candidate chemicals to control water
hyacinth.
(k)
Scientific
Team Leader: Toxicity
studies on the possible use of herbicides to control water hyacinth.
(l)
Project
Manager in charge of
the Scientific Investigations of the Aquatic Ecosystem Study and Fisheries of
the
(m)
Scientific Investigations of the Aquatic
Ecosystem Study and Fisheries of the Kyoga
PROJECT
PROPOSALS RESEARCH FUNDED FROM INITIATIVES 1990-2003 (concept initiated and projects
funded)
2004: VICRRES.
Wetlands and Land use
2004 USAID
Commercial Aquaculture
1998-2002
University of Florida-Makerere-FIRRI Exchange program
1998-2001
CIDA-FIRRI Internship program
1998
Austria/FIRRI students scheme (E-mail server)
1992-1994
Wetlands management component
Information and Database Establishment
Control
and management of water hyacinth and other invasive weeds
1992-96
MUKLA/FIRRI IDRC E-mail connection
1997
IDRC/FIRRI Local Area Network
Increased Fish
Production and Forest Conservation: Integrating Conservation and Rural
Development in the Crater Lakes Region of Western Uganda (with University of
Florida, FIRRI, Makerere University, Leiden University, University of Kwazulu,
S.A)
Information
Communication and Outreach Strategy for the Fisheries (For FAO-TCP)
Fish yield
sustainability and integrated land-water management-Lake Kyoga and its basin
(ICRAF,CGIAR, DWD, FIRRI, KARI, MUK)
1990-2003
(a)
Training
Coordinator for institute, and research coordinator - MSc (Fisheries) training.
(b)
Chairman
Technical Committee for the African Journal of Tropical Hydrobiology and
Fisheries.
(c)
Chairman
Technical Committee of FIRRI – in charge of scientific issues of the Institute
(d)
Member:
Inter - Ministerial Committee on wetlands; Institute contact person
(e)
Member:
Ramsar Sites Convention Committee; Institute contact person
(f) Member:
National Commission for UNESCO; Institute contact person
(g) Member:
Makerere University Team to develop a B.Sc.(Fisheries)
curriculum
(h) Member:
Makerere University Team to develop MSc (Fisheries) curriculum
(i) Member:
Makerere University Team to develop curriculum for the establishment of a
Centre for Aquatic Ecotoxicology.
(j) Member:
National Agricultural Research Organization Task Force to draw up proposal for
the establishment of a National Wetland Research Centre.
(k) Institute
representative on National Agricultural Research Organization Committee for
institutionalizing Biotechnology in NARO.
(l) Institute
Chair and representative of the National Agricultural Research Organization
Centenary Scientific Programme.
(m) Institute
Leader of Information Communication Technology Development
(n)
Task
leader-Information & Database projects of the Lake Victoria Environment
Management project (LVEMP)
(o)
Chairman – East African Regional Task Force
for Fisheries Database for
(p)
Member
of the EU – Lake Victoria Fisheries Research Project (LVFRP) mid-term Review
Mission
(q)
Member
of the Organizing committee for the International Lake Victoria 2000
Conference.
(r)
Member
of the Scientific and Editorial Committee for the International Lake Victoria
2000 Conference Proceedings.
(s)
Chairman
of the LVFO 2000 Conference Theme: “Role of conservation in biodiversity and
fisheries sustainability”
(t)
Coordinator
of MSc. and Ph.D. fellows from various universities at FIRRI
(u)
Project
Component Coordinator – Fisheries Research sub-components: Fish Biology &
Biodiversity conservation; aquaculture research, socio-economics research;
water hyacinth research and establishment of database Lake Victoria
Environment).
1991 – 1994: As Senior Principal Research Officer:
a)
Principal
Investigator: Tilapia research on
b)
Principal
Investigator: Riverine and stream Ecology
c)
Collaborating
scientist: Wetlands and land use research by use of satelites and GIS data,
water hyacinth research,
d)
Project
Formulation Team
H.
TEACHING
Guest
Lecturer: International Course on African Wetland Management. Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute,
Associate
Lecture: Department of
Guest Instructor – Ecology, Biology, Wildlife &
Environmental biology for A-level classes, 1984-1993,
MSc Supervisor
(10)
PhD Supervisor
(3)
MSc External
Examiner (5)
PhD Vetter (4)
2004.
D. Mbabazi, F.L. Orach-Meza, B. Makanga, R.E. Hecky, J.S. Balirwa, R.
Ogutu-Ohwayo, P. Verburg, G. Namulemo, E. Muhumuza and J. Luyiga. Trophic
structure and energy flow in fish communities of two lakes of the
2004. Linda M. Campbell, J.S. Balirwa, D.G. Dixon and R.E. Hecky. Biomagnification of mercury
if fish from
2004. J.S. Balirwa & J.R. Kamanyi. The Status of the fish
stocks in the Ugandan water bodies with emphasis on
2004. R. Ogutu-Ohwayo amd J.S. Balirwa. Management challenges of
freshwater Fisheries in
2003.
J.S. Balirwa, C.A. Chapman, L.J. Chapman, I.G. Cowx, K. Geheb, L.
Kaufman, R.H. Lowe-Mcconnell, O. Seehausen, J.H. Wanink, R.L. Welcomme, and F.
Witte. Biodiversity and Fishery Sustainability in the
2003. R. Ogutu-Ohwayo and J.S. Balirwa. Prediction
of Losers and winners among fish Populations in relation to fishing, Predation,
Biological and Environmental Factors. A paper presented at the 46th
conference on Great Lakes Research and the 10th World Lake
Conference,
2003.
D. Mbabazi, R. Ogutu-Ohwayo, J.S. Balirwa, R.E, Hecky, F. Orach-Meza, B.
Makanga, S.B. Wandera and G. Namulemo. Human impacts on
distribution and trophic structure of the fish communities in the
2003. J.S. Balirwa and M. Nsega. Evolution of the tilapia fishery with special reference to
2003. J.S. Balirwa, M. Nsega
& S.K. Sekiranda. The role of wetlands
and riparian zones as buffers and critical habitats for biotic especially fish
communities in
2002.
R. Ogutu-Ohwayo, R. Mugidde and J.S. Balirwa (eds).
Technical guidelines for Management of Fisheries Resources,
Biodiversity and Environment of Victoria Basin Lakes. Technical
Document No.1. Fisheries Resources Research Institute, Jinja. ISBN 9970 851 00 4
2001. J. S. Balirwa. The
2001. J. S. Balirwa. Evolution and
importance of the tilapia fishery in
2001. Bwanika, G.N., Y.S. Kizito, L.J. Chapman & J.S.
Balirwa, co-existence of Nile tilapia with Nile perch in the Lake Victoria
basin Lake Victoria Environmental Project (LVEMP) First National Scientific
Conference, Colline Hotel, Mukono, 17-21 September 2001.
2001. L.J. Chapman, J. Balirwa,
F.W.B. Bugenyi, C. Chapman and T.L. Crisman. Wetlands of
A. Kadama, M.
Magumba, J. S. Balirwa & N. Kabatereine. 2001. Epidemiology of
bilharzia (Schistomiasis) in the fishing communities in Lake Victoria basin in
Uganda at the Workshop Enhancing Knowledge Base for
Sustainable Development and Management of the Fisheries Resources of the
Victoria Basin Lakes FIRRI, Jinja, 5th - 7th
Sept. 2001.
Balirwa,
J. S. & G. Magezi. 2001.
Implications of intensive environmental degradation on aquatic flora and
fauna: Lessons from Kabaka’s lake at the
Workshop Enhancing
Knowledge Base for Sustainable Development and Management of the Fisheries
Resources of the Victoria Basin Lakes FIRRI, Jinja,
5th - 7th Sept. 2001.
Balirwa, J. S.
2001. Evolution and importance of the tilapia fishery in Lake Victoria with
suggestions for its sustainability at the Workshop Enhancing Knowledge Base for
Sustainable Development and Management of the Fisheries Resources of the
Victoria Basin Lakes FIRRI, Jinja, 5th - 7th
Sept. 2001.
Balirwa,
J. S. & A. Katende 2001. Macrophytes and health issues at the Workshop on the status of the fish stocks and
environment of Kabaka’s
Balirwa,
J. S. & Twongo T. 2001. Importance of
protecting fish habitats at the Workshop Towards Empowering
Fisheries Officers to Manage the Fish Stocks, Biodiversity and Environment of
Balirwa, J. S.
2001. Basic principles of aquatic resources management at the Workshop Towards Empowering Fisheries Officers to
Manage the Fish Stocks, Biodiversity and Environment of Kyoga Basin Lakes
12th – 16th June 2001, FIRRI, Jinja – Uganda
Balirwa, J. S.
2001. Information needs for management of the Kyoga basin lakes at the Workshop
Towards Empowering Fisheries Officers to
Manage the Fish Stocks, Biodiversity and Environment of Kyoga Basin Lakes
12th – 16th June 2001, FIRRI, Jinja – Uganda
2001. Ogutu-Ohwayo R., J.S. Balirwa, R. Mugidde &
L.M. Ndaula. Response of fish populations to predation, fishing and
environmental impacts, pressures and changes in food webs: Lessons from Lake
Victoria (
Balirwa, J. S 1999: Seasonal and Diurnal
patterns of Abundance in the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis
niloticus L`) of northern Lake Victoria: Regional Meeting on the fisheries
of
1995. Balirwa, J.S.
Management of water quality and land use in
1995.
Balirwa, J.S. Management and control of water hyacinth and other
invasive weeds in
1995 Twongo,
T. and J.S. Balirwa. The water hyacinth problem and the biological
control option in the highland region of the Upper Nile Basin-Uganda ‘s experience . The Nile 2002 Conference- Conference
Water Resources
Development of the
1995. Balirwa ,
J. S and T. Twongo. Fish species composition and biomass estimates in the
shallow (wetland) littoral habitats of Lake Victoria (
1994. Twongo ,T; Balirwa J.S; and F.M. Wanda .A preliminary Assessment of the
Impact of water hyacinth (Eichhornia
Crassipes) on the ecology of
Riparian Environments of Lakes Victoria and Kyoga (
1994. Balirwa, J.S
and F.W.Bugenyi. An ecological Perspective of Implications of Human Activity -Induced changes for the
1995. Balirwa, J.S. The
1993. Balirwa, J.S. A study of
Hydrology and Nutrient Status in the North West Overijssel (The Netherlands).
MSc. Thesis . IHE ,
1992. Balirwa, J.S. The population structure of the
1991. Balirwa, J.S. The effect of ecological changes
in
Balirwa, J. S.
1990. Perspectives on Conservation and management of the
River Nile System in
Balirwa, J. S.
1990. Die Barbus – Arten des
Victoriasees (Pisces, Cyprinidae) – German Translation. DATZ,
6. 349 – 352.
Balirwa, J. S.
1990. The present status of the tilapia fishery of lake
Victoria (
Bugenyi,
F. W. B. and Balirwa, J. S., 1989. Human
intervention in natural processes of the lake Victoria
system. The Problem. Symp. Biol. Hung. 38: 311 – 339.
Balirwa, J. S.
1988. The evolution of the fishery of Oreochromis
niloticus (Pisces: Cichlidae) in
Balirwa,
J. S. and Bugenyi, F. W. B. 1988. An attempt to relate environmental factors in the lotic habitats of
Balirwa, J. S.
1987. The significance of Pre-impound studies on the River Nile fishery in
Balirwa, J. S.
1984. Ecological
separation in Barbus species in
Balirwa, J. S.
and Bugenyi, F. W. B. 1980: Notes on the fisheries of River Nzoia,
Balirwa, J. S.
1979. A contribution to the study of the six cyprinid fishes
in the Lake Victoria basin,
Balirwa, J. S.
1977: River and swamp fishery of
Consultancies
2002.
Fisheries Sector Expert. UNIDO Program for the Establishment
of a National Cleaner Production Centre in
2001. Team
Leader Haplochromine habitat study of Bujagali Hydropower Project,
2000. Project
Manager of the Scientific Investigations of the Aquatic Ecosystem Study and
Fisheries of the
1999. Expert
Aquatic ecosystem study of Karuma Falls Hydropower Project. EIA
report. NORPLAN A.S. 48p.
1986. Fish In:
Report of Environmental Impact
Assessment. Baseline studies report – Power Development study of the Uganda
Electricity System.
1995. Balirwa, J.S. Management and control of water
hyacinth and other invasive weeds in
1995. Balirwa, J.S. Sustainable Utilization and
Management of wetlands in
Selected Recent Seminars/Conferences/Workshops and, dates
attended and roles.
1994. IUCN Workshop on wetland Biodiversity
Assessment for Management; Mwanga, Moshi, Tanzania 27 Nov- 4 Dec. 1994.
1994. Training
Workshop. The Application and Use of Spot images to Water Hyacinth distribution
and spread . Regional Centre For Services in Surveying
and Mapping,
1994. Workshop on Role of International Education in The Exchange of Knowledge and Skills
between Developed and Developing Countries. IHE, The
1994. VI
International Congress of Ecology.Progress To Meet The
Challenge of Environmental Change.
1994.FAO/CIFA Management Committee Meeting on The Establishment
of The
1994. START-
System for The Analysis, Research And Training
Workshop To Define The Research Agenda for Global Climatic Change Phenomena and
Human Dimensions of Global Change for
1994. National
Ramsar Workshop on The
1993.
IDRC/FIRI Workshop and Final Presentations of the Nile Perch and
6th
Session CIFA Sub-Committee on
European
Icthyological Congress,
International
Conference on Conservation and Management of rivers. 10-13 September 1990.
G.
ROFESSIONAL AFFLIATIONS/MEMBERSHIP OF SOCIETIES:
Institute of Biology (
International Association for Ecology (INTERCOL).
Database
listed Expert for the Environment & Economics Unit (UNEP).
Wetland
Working Group of Experts (IHE, The
Fisheries Society of
Database
listed Expert for IGADD.
National
Expert for UNIDO (Fish Sector Analysis)
G
(ii) Special Skills:
I.
Computer applications using several software
II.
Application of GIS to Remote sensing data (satellite imagery) for
environmental assessments;
III.
Wetland biodiversity and fisheries assessments for Management;
IV.
Environmental Impact Assessments.
Lake Victoria Wetlands and the Ecology of the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus Linne¢
ABSTRACT
An ecological
study of wetlands was undertaken in northern Lake Victoria (East Africa)
between 1993 and 1996 with a major aim of characterizing shallow
vegetation-dominated interface habitats, and evaluating their importance for
fish, in particular, for the stocked and socio-economically important Oreochromis niloticus LINNE’ (the Nile
tilapia). From field and laboratory experiments, five major habitat types could
be defined by the type of the dominant emergent macrophyte at the shore from
the more than 40 identified plant species along a 110-km shoreline. These were:
Cyperus papyrus L. (papyrus), Phragmites mauritianus Kunth (reeds), Typha domingesis Pers. (bulrush), Vossia cuspidata (Roxb.) (hippo grass), and the alien floating Eichhornia crassipes (Martius) Solms-Laubach (water hyacinth). From
digital data, considerable long term changes in the shoreline wetland landscape
of the lake were discerned and appeared primarily associated with increasing
human activity (e.g. agriculture, biomass harvests) which had resulted into a
5% reduction of wetland cover. In spite of the absence of a well developed
euhydrophyte community (e.g. Potamogeton
and Ceratophyllum), and increasing
infestations with E. crassipes mats,
the width of the littoral zone was established as being about 50 – 70 m away
from the shallow (less than 1 m deep) vegetation fringe sloping to between 2
and 4 m in depth at its outer fringe. Hydrological influences associated with
seasonal changes (the alternation of rainy with dry periods) explained most of
the observed variation in abiotic (e.g. Si, tot.-P., soluble reactive-P.,
NO3-N, pH, temperature) and biotic (phytoplankton, macrofauna, fish) factors,
but there was also significant (p.< 0.05) variation
due to vegetation, distance from the shore out towards open water and
interaction effects between these factors. At least 30 species of fish were
identified from the shallower (up to 2.5 m deep) vegetated habitats in contrast
to 10 species from the deeper (4 – 8 m) open water habitats. There were other
significant (p. < 0.05) spatial and temporal differences in habitat use by
fish. Species diversity was dominated by haplochromine species but three
stocked species (the Nile perch, Lates
niloticus L., O. niloticus and Tilapia zillii) contributed at least 90%
of the estimated numerical and biomass densities of which, the
CONTACT ADDRESS
John S. Balirwa,
The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO)
The Fisheries Resources Research Institute (FIRRI)
JINJA,
TEL. 256 – 43 –121369
Private: 077 620505
FAX. 256 – 43 – 120192
TELEGRAMS: “LAKELAB JINJA”
E-Mail : firi@infocom.co.ug, jbalirwa@yahoo.com, firi@firi.go.ug, director@firi.go.ug
Contact persons
ProfessorJ. Okedi
Email:johnokedi@yahoo.com
Professor F.I.B.
Kayanja
Ogutu-Ohwayo
Deputy Executive Secretary
LVFO,
Dr. Y. Kizitio,
Senior Lecturer,
Department of Zoology
Dr. P.
Mwesigye,
Executive Secretary
UNIDO, P.O. Box
John S.
Balirwa
February 2005