Head of Department: Zekeria Abdulkerim
Ph.D., University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Specialization: Fish Biology
Email: Zekeria@marine.uoa.edu.er

Overview

The Department of Marine Sciences was set up within the department of Biology in 1984.The department seeks to produce qualified graduates who have working knowledge of marine sciences, which can be applied both to the public and private sectors. The curriculum allows students to carry out basic and applied marine research in cooperation with local and international bodies, as well as in public service.

The other major goal of the Department is to disseminate information pertinent to the management and conservation of the Red Sea marine resources through public awareness programs.

The department maintains a research-oriented field station at Massawa, consisting of four distinct laboratories: An Aquarium (wet) Lab, An Oceanographic Lab, An Optical Lab, and an Ecology Lab. The laboratories are equipped with wide range of Marine Science research and field equipment, including spectrophotometer, microtome facilities, sampling equipment, underwater cameras and a range of other aquarium science tools. The field station has two research boats: a 4.5meter aluminum boat is used for work conducted in the shallow water near Massawa, and a 9.5meter inboard-engine powered research vessel is for trips to more distant locations.

In the past, most graduates have found employment in the Ministry of Fisheries, while others have found openings in the Department of the Environment (Ministry of Land Water and Environment) and in food processing plants and private fishing companies.

Presently, both the fisheries industry and aquaculture in this country are in their nascent stages. Recent developments, particularly the Seawater Farms Eritrea initiative, have indicated clearly that the need for marine biology experts, both in the public and private sectors, will be rising considerably in the coming years.