News Fellows 2025-26

Presentations of research projects

6 May 2026
Fellows visiting Hampiðjan this winter
Fellows visiting Hampiðjan this winter

We are pleased to announce the 2025-26 GRÓ FTP presentations of research projects.

Here our fellows present the outcome of their dedicated work over the last months, carried out in close collaboration with experts from our partner institutions, including Hafró, Matís, University of Akureyri, University of Iceland, the Directorate of Fisheries, and others.

The presentations are open to all and are, of course, particularly relevant for those interested in issues concerning international development cooperation, fisheries, and aquaculture. Attendance is possible in person or online.

The Fisheries Policy and Management (FPM) line will be the first to present, on Monday May 11, at the University of Akureyri.

This will be followed by the Sustainable Aquaculture (SAq) line on Tuesday May 12 at the premises of the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute and the Stock Assessment (ARAM) line on Wednesday May 13 at the same location.

The Quality Management (QM) line will then round off the series with its presentations at Matís on Friday May 15.

Agenda for FPM presentations >

Date /Time: Monday May 11th /08:30-12:45
Venue: University of Akureyri, Norðurslóð 2, Akureyri, Room M101
Head of line: Hreiðar Þór Valtýsson

Join on-line here >

Time

Fellow’s name /country

Supervisor (s)

Research project title

08:30

Ynes Sanchez Calderon /Panama

Gustavo Graciano Fonseca (UNAK) & Haraldur Einarsson (Hafró)

Assessing the Impacts of Ghost Fishing Gear for Sustainable Fisheries Management in Panama

09:15

Philip Obeng /Ghana

Hjördís Sigursteinsdóttir (UNAK) & Hildur Jana Júlíusdóttir (Dir. of Fisheries)

Challenges in Enforcing Fisheries Regulations on Volta Lake: Management Recommendations for The Savannah Region, Ghana

10:00

Solomon
Haeremai /PNG

Thanh Viet Nguyen (UNAK) & Magnús Víðisson (UNAK)

A Bioeconomic Assessment of Papua New Guinea Sea Cucumber Fisheries for Developing Sustainable Biological and Economic Reference Points

10:45

Sophia Natu
/Solomon Islands

Thanh Viet Nguyen (UNAK) & Þór Heiðar Ásgeirsson (GRÓ FTP)

A Step to Bridging a Gap Between Industrial and Small-Scale Artisanal Fisheries in the Tuna Fisheries in Solomon Islands

11:30

Kellishia George
/St. Vincent

Thanh Viet Nguyen (UNAK) & Óttar Gautur Erlingsson (Dir. of Fisheries)

Assessing Revenue Loss Through Bioeconomic Modelling and an Evaluation of MCS&E Implementation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

12:15

Yuniarti Pumpun
/Indonesia

Sæmundur Elíasson (UNAK)
& Óttar Gautur Erlingsson (Dir. of Fisheries)

Assessment of Sharks Fishing in Indonesian Water in Timor Sea

Agenda for SAq presentations >

Date /Time: Tuesday, May 12th /09:30-12:30
Venue: Hafró, Fornubúðir 5, Hafnarfirði, Meeting room on first floor
Head of line: Theódór Kristjánsson

Join on-line here >

Time

Fellow’s name /country

Supervisor (s)

Research project title

09:30

Austin
Mandawala /Malawi

Páll Jensson & Theódór Kristjánsson (Hafró)

Comparative Economic Assessment of Pond-Based and Cage-Based Aquaculture Enterprises in Malawi

10:00

Jessy Lugya /Uganda

Rakel Guðmundsdóttir (Hafró) & Amanda Vang

Assessing the changes in environmental conditions over time at a cage aquaculture site in Napoleon Gulf, Lake Victoria, Uganda

10:30

Mujahid Khan /India

Paul Debes (Hólar Univ.) & Theódór Kristjánsson (Hafró)

Optimisation of Multi-Trait Selection in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

11:20

Michael Ngaiteh
Aruna /Sierra Leone

Ana Orelj (Univ.
of Iceland) & Jón G. Pétursson (Univ. of Iceland)

Challenges for Effective Aquaculture Adoption in Sierra Leone: The Case of Bo Inland District

11:50

Oscar Dargbah
Daryoue /Liberia

Olanrewaju Femi Olagunju & Theódór Kristjánsson (Hafró)

Assessing Feed Quality and Fingerling Availability as Constraints to Smallholder Aquaculture Development in Liberia

Agenda for ARAM presentations >

Date /Time: Wednesday, May 13th /10:30-14:30
Venue: Hafró, Fornubúðir 5, Hafnarfirði, Meeting room on first floor
Head of line: Warsha Singh

Join on-line here >

Time

Fellow’s name
/country

Supervisor (s)

Research project title

10:30

Ashiraf Kayam
/Uganda

James Kenedy (Hafró)

Life History Traits and Abundances of Nile Perch And Nile Tilapia in the Upper Victoria Nile, Uganda: Limitations and Opportunities for Decision Support

11:00

Fred Kwaku Ahiati
/Liberia

Warsha Singh (Hafró) & Anika Sonjudóttir (Hafró)

Estimating the Length-Based Spawning Potential Ratio (Lbspr) of Four Key Demersal Fish Species in Liberia’s Artisanal Fisheries (2023–2025)

11:30

Jibril Olunga
Simbauni /Kenya

Will Butler (Hafró) & Jacob M. Kasper (Hafró)

Spatio-Temporal Dynamics and Population Structure of Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in Kenya's EEZ Amid Western Indian Ocean Stock Decline

13:00

Harshavardhan Joshi /India

Pamela Woods (Hafró) & Sigurvin Bjarnason (Hafró)

Spatio-Temporal Patterns, Stock Status, and Environmental Influences on Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone

13:30

Mariam Kadama
/Tanzania

Margrét V. Þórisdóttir (Hafró) & Einar Hjörleifsson (Hafró)

Optimizing Sampling Strategies for the Catch Assessment Survey of the Tanzania Fisheries

14:00

Prehadi /Indonesia

Julian Burgos (Hafró) & Erla Sturludóttir (Hafró)

Enhancing Ecotourism in the Kaimana Marine Protected Area (MPA), West Papua, Indonesia Through Exploration of Ecological Data on the Endemic Species of Triton Epaulette Shark (Hemiscyllium henryi)

Agenda for QM presentations >

Date /Time: Friday, May 15th /to be decided
Venue: MATÍS, Vínlandsleið 113 Reykjavík
Heads of line: Margeir Gissurarson & Hildur Inga Sveinsdóttir

Join on-line here >

Time

Fellow’s name
/country

Supervisor (s)

Research project title

To be decided

Bonventure
Mwangale /Kenya

Sæmundur Elíasson (Matís) & Margrét Geirsdóttir (Matís)

Assessment of Microbiological Safety and Drying Efficiency of a Solar Tent Dryer in Comparison to Traditional Methods of Processing Silver Cyprinid (Omena) on the Shores of L. Victoria: A Case Study of Dunga Beach Kisumu County, Kenya

To be decided

Madalisto Snake
/Malawi

Cecile Dargentolle (Matís) & Jónas Baldursson (Matís)

Assessment and Improvement of Open Sun-Dried Practices Across the Value Chain of Dried Engraulicypris Sardella (Usipa)

To be decided

Whitney Rodriguez
Fuertes /Cuba

Cecile Dargentolle (Matís) & Hrólfur Sigurðsson (Matís)

Qualitative microbiological risk assessment of oyster (C. rhizophorae) in Cuba's northwestern region

To be decided

Danaly Lago Cruz /Cuba

Margeir Gissurarson (Matís) & Sæmundur Elíasson (Matís)

Utilization of Fishery By‑Products in Cuba: Proposal for designing a Standardized Process to Produce Neutral Fish Broth