As a Chairperson at Aqua-Farms Organization (AFO), Valeli Bugota is a principal overseer of all the affairs and business of the Organization. Valeli previously (2016 – 2020) served as a Treasurer, where he was overall in charge and custodian of the finances of the Organization, he was also an advisor of the Chairperson and the Board of Directors on financial matters. Valeli Bugota is also a Marine Scientist and Conservationist and a co-founder of Aqua-Farms Organization. He holds an MSc. in Marine Sciences from the Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam. He is also an Advance Open Water Diver. He has more than 6 years of experience working in Fisheries and the Blue Economy. His works are rooted in aquatic ecology, conservation genetics, aquaculture and fish diseases, and Coastal Livelihoods. His interest is in the conservation and management of all aquatic resources through the scientific advisory process and molecular techniques as the best approaches to effective conservation and management decisions. He believes in a community-based resource management approach and has good experience working with the coastal communities along the coastline of Tanzania. Valeli is passionate about science communication alongside discovering and sharing the rich underwater heritage of the majesty the Indian Ocean with both scientific and non-scientific communities so as to ensure that no one is left behind in the efforts of saving our ocean.

Valeli conducted project research on Sea cucumbers, where worked as Principal Investigator and studies genetic diversity and connectivity among sandfish Holothuria scabra and queen mackerel Scomberomorus plurilineatus along the coastline of Tanzania.

“Let us be champions of our given natural resources and livelihoods”