Early Career Ocean Professionals Network

Empowering a new generation of ocean professionals

The BRIDGES research program funds and supports a broad network of early-career professionals through its targeted projects and two calls for PhD clusters. These PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and engineers help address BRIDGES’ scientific challenges by conducting research grounded in the realities of its study sites.

These early-career professionals benefit from an intercultural, interdisciplinary environment of scientific excellence, enabling them to develop the expertise needed to understand, manage, and transform marine social-ecological systems in the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO).

Drawing on their diverse backgrounds and career paths, they will go on to shape the future of the ocean as academics, managers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, or civil society professionals, in the SWIO region and beyond.

PhD clusters – The BRIDGES doctoral cohorts

The BRIDGES program funds and supports two PhD clusters covering the periods 2026–2029 and 2029–2032.

A PhD cluster brings together complementary doctoral research projects across multiple disciplines to address BRIDGES’ scientific challenges. Working across all study sites, this cohort of PhD candidates will tackle shared questions through transdisciplinary research to develop innovative approaches. To support their work, BRIDGES funds three-year doctoral contracts and provides €20,000 in research support per PhD project.

The doctoral cohorts also benefit from a mandatory, integrated training program combining:

Scientific training (e.g., social-ecological systems modeling, observation, integrated analysis);
Transferable skills training (e.g., communication, entrepreneurship);
Meetings and networking opportunities that foster collaboration and co-construction among peers.

The 2026–2029 PhD cluster

Dedicated trainings for BRIDGES PhD students

The first BRIDGES doctoral training course will take place from December 4 to 9, 2026, on La Réunion. It will bring together PhD candidates from the PhD cluster, alongside PhD candidates from the targeted projects who choose to participate. This first major gathering will focus on the transformation of fisheries social-ecological systems in the SWIO and help build connections within this emerging scientific

Explore the Network

PhD Student

Aline Arens

PhD Student

Targeted project: BRIDGES AVATAR

PhD details:

Title: Biogeochemical Fluxes in the Mozambique Channel: Connections Between the Sofala Bank and the Scattered Islands of the Indian Ocean
Supervisors: Pierrick Penven (LPO, IRD), Fanny Chenillat (Actimar), Stéphane Pous (MNHN), Fialho Nehama (UEM), Bernardino Malauene (InOM)
Contract: January 2024–October 2027; LOPS, UBO; based in Brest, France

Background: Aline Arens is an engineer specializing in ocean data science, with a background in physical oceanography, data analysis, and numerical modeling. She is a graduate of ENSTA Bretagne, IMT Atlantique, and IUEM, where she earned a master’s degree in ocean data science. She worked at Actimar as an oceanographic data analysis engineer, focusing on ocean model validation, climate variability, water quality, and the development of Python tools for oceanographic and biogeochemical analyses.

Aline Arens is pursuing a PhD focused on physical and biogeochemical modeling of the Mozambique Channel. Her research combines the CROCO-PISCES model, satellite data, and in situ observations. It aims to identify the nutrient sources that sustain biological productivity in this region and assess their respective contributions. She also investigates the main physical processes that shape and regulate primary production, as well as their influence on plankton ecosystem dynamics across space and time. Her work focuses on the Southwest Indian Ocean, particularly the Mozambique Channel and the Scattered Islands.

Publications :

Arens, A. et al. A Phenoregion Approach to Understanding Chlorophyll‐a Seasonal Cycles and Interannual Variability in the South‐West Indian Ocean. J Geophys Res Oceans 131, (2026).
Chenillat, F., Deshaies, E., Arens, A. & Penven, P. Role of mesoscale eddies in the biogeochemistry of the Mozambique Channel. Front Mar Sci 11, (2024).
CONFERENCES
Ocean Sciences Meeting 2026 (Oral): Chlorophyll-a Bloom Phenology in the Southwest Indian Ocean: Mean State, Seasonal Cycles and Interannual Variability through Satellite Data, A Arens, P Penven, F Chenillat, S Pous, F Nehama, BS Malauene
PISCO meeting 2025 (Oral): Describing the chlorophyll-a seasonal cycles in the South- West Indian Ocean through phenoregions
CROCO user meeting 2025 (Oral): Describing the chlorophyll-a seasonal cycles in the South- West Indian Ocean through phenoregions

PhD Student

Hugo Julia

PhD Student

Targeted project: BRIDGES RESILIENCE

PhD details:

Title: Dynamics of Plastic and Microplastic Pollution Through an Interdisciplinary Approach in a Constrained Context: The Case of Mayotte Lagoon
Supervisors: Cristele Chevalier (MIO, IRD), Sylvain Rigaud (University of Nîmes), Guillaume Marchessaux (MIO, IRD)
Contract dates: September 2025–October 2028; Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), Marseille, France

Background: Hugo Julia holds an engineering degree in applied mathematics from INSA Toulouse, specializing in numerical modeling. Seeking to better understand how science can inform public decision-making on environmental issues, he subsequently earned a master’s degree in innovation management at ÉTS Montréal. After a six-month internship at the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography on the hydrodynamics of Mayotte Lagoon, he worked there as a research engineer on two projects: a study of Sargassum strandings in the western Atlantic and the modeling of jellyfish transport in Leucate Lagoon.

Since October 2025, Hugo Julia has been pursuing a PhD on the origins and transport pathways of plastics and microplastics in Mayotte Lagoon. He investigates oceanic, terrestrial, and atmospheric inputs, notably through the PLASMA participatory science project. His interdisciplinary approach combines numerical modeling, field measurements, and the experiential knowledge of fishers, divers, and other lagoon users. His research aims to identify the main pollution sources, accumulation zones, and transport pathways to help Mayotte Marine Natural Park develop responses tailored to the local context.

Further reading:

Chevalier, J. Devenon, M. Pagano, G. Rougier, J. Blanchot, and R. Arfi. “The atypical hydrodynamics of the Mayotte Lagoon (Indian Ocean): Effects on water age and potential impact on plankton productivity.” Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, vol. 196, pp. 182–197, September 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2017.06.027.
Strady et al. “Risk Assessment and Spatiotemporal Variation of Microplastic Concentration, Size, and Polymer Type in Mayotte Lagoon’s Surface Water (Comoros Archipelagos).” Microplastics, vol. 4, no. 2, June 2025. DOI: 10.3390/microplastics4020031.

PhD Student

Ibrahim Tamou

PhD Student

PhD Cluster #1

PhD details:

Title: MOSAIC - Multidimensional assessment of seaweed aquaculture in Comoros: species screening, site suitability, carrying capacity, and socio-economic feasibility
Supervisors: Maria Darias (MARBEC, IRD), Myriam Callier (MARBEC, Ifremer), Brett Macey (DFFE)
Contract: October 2026 - 2029; MARBEC, IRD; based in Mohéli, Comoros and Palavas-les-flots, France

Background: Ibrahim Tamou is a researcher specializing in the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources, with a particular interest in mariculture, marine spatial planning, and coastal ecosystem conservation. He holds a master’s degree in Marine Science from IPB University in Indonesia and a professional bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology and Fisheries from the University of the Comoros. His master’s research, titled “Integrating Local Knowledge, Socio-Cultural Insights, and Spatial Planning for Sustainable Mariculture Development on Mohéli, Comoros,” explored how local knowledge and spatial approaches can be combined to identify opportunities for sustainable mariculture on Mohéli. Ibrahim currently works at INRAPE, where he coordinates international research collaborations and serves as the national coordinator for ECOP Comoros.

His PhD research focuses on the sustainable development of seaweed aquaculture in the Comoros, particularly on Mohéli Island and within its National Park. It combines screening of candidate species, GIS-based spatial suitability mapping using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and weighted linear combination, carrying capacity assessment, and a socioeconomic feasibility analysis based on participatory approaches with local communities. Fieldwork spans the kashkazi and kusi seasons and includes multivariate analyses (ANOSIM, SIMPER) and pilot longline cultivation trials to guide site selection and the co-management of an emerging mariculture sector.

Publications :

Tamou, I., Mashar, A., Kurnia, R., Ferse, S.C., Azali, H.A., 2025. Integrating Community Perspectives and Scientific Tools for Exploring the Potential of Sustainable Mariculture Development in Mohéli, Comoros. J. Trop. Fish. Manag. 9, 6–19. https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/6132/
Tamou I., Mashar A., Kurnia R., Azali H.A. Integrating Participatory Approaches and Spatial Analyses for Potential Mariculture Site Selection and Marine Resource Management. 4th ICIACR Conference on Innovative Approaches of Comorian Students and Researchers, février 2026. Communication orale.
Tamou I., Mashar A., Kurnia R., Ferse S.C., Azali H.A. Integrating Community Perspectives and Scientific Tools to Explore the Potential for Sustainable Mariculture Development in Mohéli, Comoros. 13th WIOMSA Scientific Symposium, Mombasa, Kenya, septembre 2025. Communication poster.
Tamou I., Mashar A., Kurnia R., Ferse S.C., Azali H.A. Integrating Community Perspectives and Scientific Tools to Explore the Potential for Sustainable Mariculture Development in Mohéli, Comoros. 5th ICCMMBT, IPB University, juillet 2025. Communication orale.
Tamou I., Mashar A., Kurnia R., Azali H.A. Integrating Participatory Approaches and Spatial Analyses for Potential Mariculture Site Selection and Marine Resource Management. 5th International Symposium on Aquatic Sciences and Resource Management, juin 2025. Communication orale.

Intern

Inès Duquesnoy

Intern

Targeted project: BRIDGES CO-CONSTRUCTION

Internship details:

Title: “Nós dependemos do mar” (“We Depend on the Sea”): Marine Conservation and Environmental Injustices in KaNyaka, Mozambique
Supervisors: Stéphanie Duvail (IRD, PALOC), Uacitissa Mandamule (Observatório do Meio Rural)
Contract: March–June 2026; PALOC/OMR, IRD; based in Maputo, Mozambique

Background: Inès Duquesnoy holds a bachelor’s degree in humanities and social sciences, specializing in sociology and ethnology, from the University of Lille. She then pursued a master’s degree in Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution at the French National Museum of Natural History in Paris, specializing in Societies and Biodiversity. In 2025, she completed a research internship at UMR PALOC on tensions surrounding legislation and regulations in the context of the third United Nations Ocean Conference.

Inès Duquesnoy’s internship focuses on environmental justice on Inhaca Island, also known as KaNyaka, in Mozambique. Her research examines how marine conservation in Inhaca contributes to reshaping local stakeholders’ use of natural resources. On this island of 7,000 inhabitants, who depend heavily on fishing, she explores interactions with conservation measures implemented by the marine biology station since 1961 and by Maputo National Park since 2009. Drawing on interviews, maps, and the theoretical framework of environmental justice, she highlights unequal economic and material benefits linked to the local community’s role in managing the marine reserve.

Publications:

Duquesnoy, I. (2026). “Nós dependemos do mar”: Conservation marine et injustices environnementales à KaNyaka, Mozambique [“We Depend on the Sea”: Marine Conservation and Environmental Injustices in KaNyaka, Mozambique]. Unpublished. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29169.65125
Web article: On Inhaca Island, off Maputo: marine conservation and environmental justice, BRIDGES

Further reading:

Capaina, N. (2026). Pescando pescadores para o desenvolvimento. Ethale Publishing.
de Boer, W. F., van Schie, A. M. P., Jocene, D. F., Mabote, A. B. P., & Guissamulo, A. (2001). The Impact of Artisanal Fishery on a Tropical Intertidal Benthic Fish Community. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 61(2), 213–229. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011043510100
Schlosberg, D. (2004). Reconceiving Environmental Justice: Global Movements and Political Theories. Environmental Politics, 13(3), 517–540. https://doi.org/10.1080/0964401042000229025
Rodary, E. (2019). L’apartheid et l’animal : Vers une politique de la connectivité. Wildproject.

Postdoctoral researcher

Julie Dulat

Postdoctoral researcher

Targeted project: BRIDGES IMPACT

Postdoctoral research details:

Title: History and Transformations of the Relationships Between Field Sciences and Territories in the Southwest Indian Ocean
Supervisors: Isabelle Arpin (LESSEM, INRAE), Béatrice Cointe (CSI, CNRS)
Contract: February 2026 - 2028; LESSEM, INRAE; based in Grenoble, France

Background: Originally trained as an agricultural engineer, Julie Dulat returned to university in 2021 to study anthropology at Paul-Valéry Montpellier University. After completing her master’s degree, she defended her PhD in December 2025 on domestication in oyster farming across three contrasting field sites: Corsica, the Thau Lagoon, and New Caledonia. Building on her joint coordination of the exploratory research project PARCS, this work enabled her to develop alternative, interdisciplinary methods with several artists, notably through the projects De l’eau à la bouche, Dessine-moi l’ostréiculture with Laurent Lolmède, and Chantent les huîtres ! with Juliette Mariel, Marie Lusson, and Emilien de Bortoli.

Julie Dulat’s postdoctoral research contributes to broader reflection on research impact. Her work examines the trajectories of research, conservation, and development at Mohéli National Park in the Comoros. Through interviews, participant observation, and document analysis conducted in France and the Comoros, she investigates the place and role of research within the park, as well as the relationships between research projects and conservation and development initiatives. The aim is to better understand the impact(s) of research on environmental protection dynamics in a postcolonial context.

Publications:

Dulat, J. 2025. Domestiquer le temps et les huîtres, le travail des ostréiculteur·trice·s en situation d’incertitude [Domesticating Time and Oysters: The Work of Oyster Farmers Under Conditions of Uncertainty]. PhD dissertation in anthropology, Paul-Valéry Montpellier University, 420 pp. Available online: https://theses.hal.science/tel-05481662v1
Latifa Pelage (IRD), Mouna Chambon (IRD), Ndickou Gaye (UCAD), Marie-Christine Cormier-Salem (IRD), Élodie Fache (IRD), Julie Dulat (UMPV), Catherine Sabinot (IRD), Yoann Thomas (IRD), Clara Therville (IRD), Ariadna Burgos (IRD), Emma Inthavong (IRD). 2025. Reconnaître les contributions des femmes pour une gouvernance juste et durable des pêcheries artisanales [Recognizing Women’s Contributions to Equitable and Sustainable Governance of Small-Scale Fisheries]. Policy brief, IRD, 2 pp.
Dulat, J. 2024. Entre la place qu’on prend et celle qu’on nous laisse : partage genré des tâches en ostréiculture [Between the Space We Claim and the Space We Are Given: The Gendered Division of Tasks in Oyster Farming]. Agrigenre. Available online: https://agrigenre.hypotheses.org/18061
Dulat, J. 2024. Huîtres contaminées au Norovirus, les limites des dispositifs de surveillance [Norovirus-Contaminated Oysters: The Limitations of Monitoring Systems]. The Conversation. Available online: https://theconversation.com/huitres-contaminees-au-norovirus-les-limites-des-dispositifs-de-surveillance-223101

Further reading:

PhD newsletters: Newsletter No. 8 & PARCS project webpage

PhD Student

Julie Imbert Nguyễn

PhD Student

PhD Cluster #1

PhD details:

Title: EPIREEF - Quantitative eDNA and epigenetic for reef monitoring and assessment
Supervisors: Sylvain Bonhommeau (Entropie, Ifremer), Serge Bernard (LIRMM, CNRS), Matthias Rouan (Santeco, CNRS)
Contract: October 2026 - 2029; EMR SantEco, CNRS; based in Le Port, Réunion Island

Background: Julie Imbert Nguyễn holds a master’s degree in Environmental Management, specializing in the AquaDura track, from the University of Montpellier. Following a civic service placement (VSC) in marine genetics at Ifremer’s Indian Ocean Delegation (DOI), she specialized in reef ecology, environmental DNA, genetics, and epigenetics. Her experience at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Ifremer, and Reef Conservation has equipped her with skills in marine sampling, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and statistical analysis, particularly applied to echinoderms. Trained in DNA methylation and environmental DNA approaches, she aims to pursue a research career and contribute to the development of innovative, non-invasive tools for monitoring and conserving tropical marine populations.

The EPIREEF PhD project aims to develop innovative methods combining environmental DNA (eDNA) and epigenetics to assess the status of populations of the sea cucumber Stichopus chloronotus in the western Indian Ocean. It seeks to estimate population abundance using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), calibrated against drone data and visual observations, and to identify methylation markers associated with body size and sex. Conducted in Réunion Island, Mayotte, and the Îles Éparses, the project combines fieldwork, molecular analyses, bioinformatics, and modeling to develop non-invasive tools for coral reef monitoring and management.

Publications :

Chevrier, T., Bonhommeau, S., Thompson, M., Farley, J., Del Vecchio, G., Nieblas, A.-E., Cowart, D. A., Nguyễn, J. I., Bernard, S., Guiguen, Y., Cabau, C., Klopp, C., Zoller, J. A., Horvath, S., Brooke, R., Lu, A. T., Pellegrini, M., & Chanut, J. (2026). Searching for shared epigenetic clocks : Evaluating ultra-conserved markers in a de novo genome assembly of the albacore tuna. GeroScience, 48(3), 3831‑3845. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-026-02192-0
Hollander, J., Chinta, T., Pasnin, O., Gullström, M., Imbert, J., Buljore, D., & Young, K. (2025). Seagrass meadows in lagoons of Mauritius : Species composition, structural complexity and spatial distribution. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 89, 104387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104387
Jensen, K., Doll, P. C., Cabrera, M. C. G., Diaz-Pulido, G., Logan, M., & Uthicke, S. (2025). Feeding preferences and growth in herbivorous juvenile crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster cf. Solaris). Marine Biology, 172(6), 86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-025-04646-z

PhD Student

Laura Suarez Barrera

PhD Student

Targeted project: BRIDGES CO-CONSTRUCTION

PhD details:

Title: Environmental Justice and Governance of Coastal Social-Ecological Systems: Small-Scale Fisheries in La Réunion
Supervisors: Tarik Dahou (PALOC, MNHN/IRD), Marie Thiann-Bo Morel (Espace-Dev, University of La Réunion)
Contract: October 2024 - September 2027; PALOC, MNHN; based in Saint-Pierre, La Réunion

Background: Laura Suarez Barrera is a PhD student in social anthropology, affiliated with the PALOC laboratory at the French National Museum of Natural History (MNHN, France) and Espace-Dev at the University of La Réunion. She holds a master’s degree in anthropology from Lumière Lyon 2 University, where she studied the social and environmental impacts of Sargassum in Mahahual, Mexico. Her research focuses on environmental justice, marine governance, political ecology, small-scale fisheries, participatory approaches, and visual anthropology. Through ethnographic fieldwork, she examines how conservation policies, local ecological knowledge, and social inequalities shape the governance of coastal social-ecological systems.

Laura’s PhD research focuses on the interactions between small-scale fishing communities, environmental governance, and conservation policies within La Réunion Marine Nature Reserve. Drawing on environmental justice and political ecology approaches, she investigates how marine protected areas transform access to marine resources, fishing practices, and the participation of different stakeholders in decision-making. Based on long-term ethnographic fieldwork, her research combines participant observation, semi-structured interviews, collaborative photography, and participatory mapping. She examines how fishers experience environmental regulations and changes in coastal ecosystems. Particular attention is paid to the interactions between scientific knowledge, local ecological knowledge, and public policy in the governance of marine social-ecological systems.

Publications:

Web article: How can artisanal fishermen be better integrated into marine governance and conservation issues in Reunion Island?, BRIDGES.

Further reading:

Artaud, H. (2022). Immersion. Une ethnographie des expériences corporelles sous l'eau. Éditions de la Sorbonne.
Schlosberg, D. (2007). Defining environmental justice : Theories, movements, and nature. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199286294.001.0001 Bazin, D. (2022). Valérie Deldrève, Jacqueline Candeau, Camille Noûs (dir.), Effort environnemental et équité : Les politiques publiques de l’eau et de la biodiversité en France. Économie rurale. Agricultures, alimentations, territoires, (381), Article 381. https://doi.org/10.4000/economierurale.10510
Robbins, P. (2012). Political ecology : A critical introduction (Second edition). Wiley.
Marin, F. (2017). On the Possibilities of Collaboration in the Valdés Peninsula : Fishers, Biologists, Anthropologists, and the Politics of Knowledge. Collaborative Anthropologies, 10(1‑2), 124‑141. https://doi.org/10.1353/cla.2017.0005
Ingold, T. (2011). Being Alive: Essays on Movement, Knowledge and Description. Routledge.
Berkes, F. (2009). Evolution of co-management : Role of knowledge generation, bridging organizations and social learning. Journal of Environmental Management, 90(5), 1692‑1702. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.12.001

PhD Student

Lucie Pellissier

PhD Student

Targeted project: BRIDGES IMPACT

PhD details:

Title: Characterizing Barriers to and Enablers of Transformation in Marine Social-Ecological Systems in the Southwest Indian Ocean
Supervisors: Nicolas Gratiot (IGE, IRD), Nicolas Champollion (IGE, CNRS)
Contract: November 2025 - October 2028; IGE, IRD; based in Grenoble, France

Background: Lucie Pellissier is a PhD student with a background in industrial engineering, specializing in ecological transitions. A graduate of Grenoble INP in industrial engineering who also holds a dual degree in political science, she combines systems analysis, data science, life cycle assessment, and social sciences. She contributed to the development of MyCO2, Carbone 4’s carbon footprint calculator, and worked as an environmental engineer at EDF in Peru on geographic information systems, environmental assessment, and decision support. In the long term, she aims to contribute to ocean conservation through field-based research that connects scientific knowledge with the needs of coastal communities and decision-makers.

Through her PhD research, Lucie Pellissier examines how scientific practices can evolve to better support the transformation of marine social-ecological systems. Her work aims to reconcile research objectives with reducing the environmental footprint of research, preserving biodiversity, and delivering benefits to local communities. In the Southwest Indian Ocean, she combines a systems approach, participatory methods, and interdisciplinary research to identify, together with scientists and local stakeholders, the barriers to and enablers of this change.

Publications:

Web article: International research and sustainability: how to reconcile scientific quality, benefits for societies and preservation of the habitability of marine ecosystems?, BRIDGES.
Gratiot N., Klein J., Challet M., Dangles O., Janicot S., Candelas M., et al. (2023). A transition support system to build decarbonization scenarios in the academic community. PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, 2(3): e00000492022-2.
Teran-Escobar, C., Becu, N., Champollion, N., Gratiot, N., Hingray, B., Panthou, G., & Ruin, I. (2024). A pilot randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of the MaTerre180’ participatory tool including a serious game versus an intervention including carbon footprint awareness-raising on behaviours among academia members in France. PLOS ONE, 19(3), e0301124.

PhD Student

Maëva Tota

PhD Student

PhD Cluster #1

PhD details:

Title: Making the invisible visible: non-commercial fishing in the management of ecosystems and maritime uses in Réunion Island
Supervisors: Stéphanie Mahévas (MARBEC, Ifremer), Thomas Claverie (ENTROPIE, University of La Réunion), Erwann Lagabrielle (Espace-Dev, University of La Réunion), and Emmanuel Tessier (MARBEC, Ifremer)
Contract: October 2026 - 2029; EMR SantEco, CNRS; based in Saint Denis, Réunion Island and Sète, France

Background: Maëva Tota holds a master’s degree in Biology, Ecology, and Evolution from the University of Montpellier and specializes in elasmobranch ecology and conservation. Her skills include statistical modeling, GIS, acoustic telemetry, and fisheries data analysis. During her internships at UMR MARBEC, she studied the habitat and activity of the common angelshark in Corsica, fish communities in Fakarava, and patterns in tiger and bull shark catches in Réunion Island. She aims to pursue a research career focused on the conservation and sustainable management of marine populations.

Maëva Tota’s PhD research examines the role of recreational and informal fishing in Réunion Island’s coastal demersal fishery. It aims to quantify catches, assess their effects on ecosystems, commercial fishing, and ecosystem services, and co-develop integrated management scenarios with local stakeholders. The goal is to strengthen fisheries sustainability and the resilience of Réunion Island’s marine social-ecological system. This research is conducted in collaboration with Ifremer, the University of La Réunion, and institutional and professional partners.

Publications :

Tota, M. (2023). Étude de l'abondance et de la diversité des populations de poissons dans la passe de Fakarava en utilisant deux méthodes de collecte d’images. [Rapport de stage de L3 non publié]. Université de Montpellier, Faculté des Sciences.
Tota, M. (2025). Utilisation spatiale et activité de l'ange de mer (Squatina squatina) en Corse : Optimiser les stratégies de conservation [Rapport de stage de M1 non publié]. Université de Montpellier, Faculté des Sciences.
Tota, M. (2026). Effets du programme de pêche de régulation du risque requin sur les populations de requin tigre (Galeocerdo cuvier) et bouledogue (Carcharhinus leucas) et sur les espèces accessoires à La Réunion entre 2014 et 2024 [Rapport de stage de M2 non publié]. Université de Montpellier, Faculté des Sciences

PhD Student

Margot Perdereau

PhD Student

Targeted project: BRIDGES CO-CONSTRUCTION

PhD details:

Title: BIOMA – Is Marine Biodiversity Adequately Protected by Law?
Supervisors: Marie Bonnin (IRD/LEMAR), Jihad Zahir (FSS/Cadi Ayyad University)
Contract: October 2024 - 2027; LEMAR, IRD; based in Brest, France

Background: Margot Perdereau is a legal scholar specializing in marine environmental law. She began her university studies at the University of Caen Normandy (2019–2022), specializing in public law. She then pursued a master’s degree in the Law of Maritime Spaces and Activities at the University of Western Brittany (2022–2024), where she developed a strong interest in marine environmental law. She completed two internships within the Nawras project, in Brest (LEMAR) and Marrakech (Cadi Ayyad University), exploring the question: “Where, when, and how does the law protect the oceans?” Her PhD builds on this topic, focusing more specifically on marine biodiversity protection, particularly in the Indian Ocean.

Margot Perdereau’s BIOMA PhD research examines where, when, and how the law contributes to protecting marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean, Africa, and the Indian Ocean. She uses legal indicators to analyze legislation and its implementation, then compares these findings with data on the status of marine species and stocks. Combining law, data management, and marine ecology, she seeks to assess the effects of environmental legal standards. Her work contributes to BRIDGES CO-CONSTRUCTION, which examines how these standards are developed and implemented at different scales.

Publications:

M. Perdereau, C. Zahedi, M. Bonnin, Y. Al Mouatamid, C. Kaouri, S. Lanco, J. Zahir, Mesurer l’impact du droit de l’environnement marin : test d’une méthode empirique appliquée aux oiseaux marins et aux baleines (Presentation)
Colloque annuel SFDE « Les défis de la production de connaissances sur le droit de l’environnement », Palais Beaumont, Pau, France.
M. Perdereau, M. Bonnin, J. Zahir, Protéger la biodiversité pour préserver la pêche côtière africaine : quel rôle pour le droit ? (videoconference intervention)
Colloque «PILDDE», Univ. Polytechnique de San Pedro, San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire
M. Perdereau, M. Bonnin, J. Zahir, Assessing the legal protection of marine biodiversity: an interdisciplinary approach combining law and artificial intelligence (poster)
One Ocean Science Congress, Nice, France
Web article: BIOMA: When the law questions the protection of marine biodiversity, BRIDGES.

PhD Student

Mattéo Le Floc’h

PhD Student

Targeted project: BRIDGES RESILIENCE

PhD details:

Title: MAYRUNFISH – Assessing resources vulnerability of coastal fisheries in a data limited context – Insights from the western Indian ocean
Supervisors: ean Marc Fromentin (MARBEC, Ifremer), Emmanuel Tessier (MARBEC, Ifremer), Lionel Pawlowski (DECOD, Ifremer), and Thomas Claverie (ENTROPIE, University of La Réunion).
Contract: October 2026 - 2029; MARBEC, Ifremer; based in Sète, France

Internship details:

Title: Vulnerability of Coastal Marine Resources in Data-Limited Contexts: Adapting and Standardizing Productivity–Susceptibility Analysis (PSA) for Coastal Small-Scale Fisheries in La Réunion and Mayotte (Southwest Indian Ocean).
Supervisors: Emmanuel Tessier (MARBEC, Ifremer); Lionel Pawlowski (DECOD, Ifremer)
Contract: February–August 2026; Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation (MARBEC), Sète, France

Background: Mattéo Le Floch is a graduate of Institut Agro Rennes-Angers. His experiences in Sri Lanka, Senegal, and the Caribbean led him to study a range of tropical small-scale fisheries, including elasmobranch landings, the trade in giant guitarfish, and dolphinfish fishing. His work combines surveys of fishing communities, landings analysis, and biological data collection. Returning to complete the second year of a master’s degree in fisheries science, he specialized in statistics applied to fisheries and ecological modeling before undertaking his final-year internship within BRIDGES RESILIENCE.

In the Southwest Indian Ocean, small-scale coastal fisheries harvest a wide range of species, but the available data do not always allow their stocks to be assessed. Mattéo Le Floch’s work adapts Productivity–Susceptibility Analysis (PSA) to La Réunion and Mayotte to compare species’ vulnerability based on their biology and exposure to fishing. It covers marine fish, reptiles, and invertebrates of economic, ecological, or heritage importance. The aim is to rank species by vulnerability to identify the most sensitive species, the management measures needed, and priorities for data collection. This decision-support tool seeks to support the sustainable management of marine resources in the study areas and could be extended to other BRIDGES study sites.

In October 2026, he will continue his work within BRIDGES through a PhD entitled “MAYRUNFISH – Assessing resources vulnerability of coastal fisheries in a data limited context – Insights from the western Indian ocean,” supervised by Jean Marc Fromentin (MARBEC, Ifremer), Emmanuel Tessier (MARBEC, Ifremer), Lionel Pawlowski (DECOD, Ifremer), and Thomas Claverie (ENTROPIE, University of La Réunion).

Publications:

Web article: Assessing the Vulnerability of Marine Species with Limited Data in Réunion Island and Mayotte, BRIDGES
Scientific poster presented at the 17th conference of the French Fisheries Association (AFH) in June 2026:
Le Floch, Mattéo (2026). Vulnérabilité des ressources marines côtières en contexte à données limitées : Adaptation et standardisation de l’analyse PSA aux pêcheries artisanales côtières de la Réunion et de Mayotte (Sud-Ouest de l’Océan Indien) [Vulnerability of Coastal Marine Resources in Data-Limited Contexts: Adapting and Standardizing PSA for Coastal Small-Scale Fisheries in La Réunion and Mayotte (Southwest Indian Ocean)]. 17th conference of the French Fisheries Association (AFH): “Diversity in Social-Ecological Systems: What Strengths Does It Offer for Their Resilience?” June 24–26, 2026, Institut Agro, Rennes. https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/01072/118318/

Intern

Meï-Lynn Parmentier

Intern

Targeted project: BRIDGES CO-CONSTRUCTION

Internship details:

Title: Legal and Economic Analysis of Fisheries Conflicts in the Southwest Indian Ocean
Supervisors: Patrice Guillotreau (MARBEC, IRD), Adrien Comte (LEMAR, IRD), Florence Galletti (MARBEC, IRD)
Contract: March–August 2026; Espace-Dev, IRD; based in Saint-Pierre, Reunion Island

Background: Meï-Lynn Parmentier holds a master’s degree in Environmental Management, specializing in Integrated Coastal Management and Fisheries Resource Development, from the University of Corsica. She has developed expertise in coastal ecosystem analysis, fisheries resource management, and the study of interactions between human activities and marine environments. Her professional experience has also enabled her to acquire skills in data processing, mapping (QGIS), statistical analysis (R), and scientific communication. Her research interests include marine biodiversity conservation, resource governance, and the sustainable management of coastal areas.

Meï-Lynn Parmentier’s internship aims to better understand the tensions surrounding the exploitation and management of fisheries resources, particularly among stakeholders in small-scale, semi-industrial, and industrial fisheries, as well as issues related to resource access, regulations, and uses of marine space. Through legal and economic analysis, she compiled a database of fisheries-related conflicts in the region, characterized these conflicts according to several criteria (stakeholders involved, causes, location, duration, and resolution mechanisms), and contributed to their spatial analysis using mapping tools (QGIS). This work contributes to a better understanding of fisheries governance issues and to the development of more sustainable and equitable management strategies.

Further reading:

Haas B., Azmi K., Sinan H., Hanich Q. (2024). Policy pathways to reduce disproportionate burdens in tuna fisheries. Fish and Fisheries, 25: 542–548.
Singh G. G., Cisneros-Montemayor A. M., Swartz W. et al. (2018). A rapid assessment of co-benefits and trade-offs among Sustainable Development Goals. Marine Policy, 93: 223–231.
Spijkers, J., Singh, G., Blasiak, R., Morrison, T. H., Le Billon, P., & Österblom, H. (2019). Global patterns of fisheries conflict: Forty years of data. Global Environmental Change, 57, 101921.
Spijkers, J., Singh, G. G., Wabnitz, C. C., Österblom, H., Cumming, G. S., & Morrison, T. H. (2021). Identifying predictors of international fisheries conflict. Fish and Fisheries, 22(4), 834–850.

Postdoctoral researcher

Noussayba Rahmouni

Postdoctoral researcher

Targeted project: BRIDGES CO-CONSTRUCTION

Postdoctoral research details:

Title: Participatory Science and Knowledge Transformations: Narratives, Practices, and Engagement
Supervisor: Mélodie Faury (PALOC, MNHN)
Contract: November 2024 - 2026; PALOC, CNRS; based in Paris, France

Background: Noussayba Rahmouni is a postdoctoral researcher and urban geographer at CNRS–MNHN. She holds a PhD in Regional Planning from Kyoto University. Her research focuses on participatory research, decoloniality, and the role of experiential knowledge in social and territorial transformations. Using ethnographic methods and participatory mapping, she examines how knowledge is collectively produced and mobilized in participatory processes. She has collaborated with various stakeholders to design participatory mapping projects in Morocco and France, and contributed to participatory mapping activities in the Comoros as part of BRIDGES. She explores how participatory exchanges can foster more diverse and democratic spatial knowledge production through a reflexive and decolonial approach.

Noussayba Rahmouni’s postdoctoral research is conducted within the Chair Transformative Roles and Approaches of Participatory Science and Research. She investigates how participatory processes produce, transform, and circulate spatial knowledge, with particular attention to decolonial perspectives and experiential knowledge. Within BRIDGES CO-CONSTRUCTION, she contributes to the “reflexivity and evaluation” work led by Mélodie Faury and to participatory mapping workshops, notably in the Comoros. She analyzes exchanges among stakeholders, collective learning, and persistent institutional or epistemic barriers. Her work in urban geography and decolonial planning informs a critical examination of the possibilities and limitations of these methods.

Publications :

Rahmouni, N., Gonnet, L., Parmentier, Z. & Faury, M. (à paraître). Vers une approche écologique, relationnelle et infraordinaire des sciences et recherches participatives. Émulations.
Bedessem, B., Faury, M., Gonnet, L. & Rahmouni, N. (à paraître). Politiques des sciences et recherches participatives. In Quelles portées scientifiques et démocratiques des sciences et recherches participatives (ENS Éditions).
Rahmouni N., Faury M., Jahjah, M. (2026). Les voix que nous entendons. Œconomia Human.
Azimat, S., Rahmouni N. (2026). Conversation entre terrain et texte : vers une écriture relationnelle décoloniale. Soufflé Mondes.
Rahmouni, N. & Saizen, I. (2024). Planification spatiale au Maroc postcolonial : une conception institutionnelle pour la décolonisation. Perspectives de planification.
Rahmouni, N. & Saizen, I. (2024). Implication de l'informalité institutionnelle dans l'évolution historique de l'urbanisme du Maroc. Les villes.
Rahmouni, N. & Saizen, I. (2023). Planification et gouvernance dans un contexte postcolonial. Revue internationale de recherche urbaine et régionale.

PhD Student

Océane Desbonnes

PhD Student

PhD Cluster #1

PhD details:

Title: SWIOMPA - Integrated Marine Protected Area Planning for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Southwest Indian Ocean
Supervisors: Ignacio Palomo (IGE, IRD), Pierre Brasseur (IGE, CNRS) et Hugo Deléglise (IGE, IRD)
Contract : October 2026 - 2029; IGE, CNRS; based in Grenoble, France

Background: Océane Desbonnes holds a master’s degree in Ecology, Ecophysiology, and Ethology from the University of Strasbourg and specializes in marine ecology in the Southwest Indian Ocean. From 2021 to 2026, she worked as a project officer at the Agence de Recherche pour la Biodiversité à La Réunion (ARBRE). She contributed to an inventory of elasmobranchs in the Mascarene Islands using tools such as underwater cameras and environmental DNA. Through several research expeditions at sea in the Southwest Indian Ocean, she has also explored issues affecting the region’s social-ecological systems.

Océane Desbonnes’s PhD research focuses on the integrated planning of marine protected areas in the Southwest Indian Ocean. It aims to reconcile biodiversity conservation with the maintenance of ecosystem services, particularly those supporting small-scale fisheries. By combining data on biodiversity, human activities, and connectivity between marine habitats, she develops decision-support tools with local stakeholders to compare spatial planning scenarios. The goal is to propose effective, realistic solutions tailored to regional challenges that support transitions toward sustainability.

Publications :

Crochelet, E., Desbonnes, O., Quod, J-P., Mulochau, T., 2026. First record of holothurian by the ocellated eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus) in Réunion island. Environmental Biology of Fishes 109:35, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-026-01808-w
Crochelet, E., Desbonnes, O., Inçaby, L., Nazurally, N., Stevens, G., Van Beuningen, D., Gadenne, J., Morand, G., Bertrand, G., Nikolic, N., 2025. Biodiversity and conservation of elasmobranchs in the Mascarene Islands: Policy implementation and protection strategies. Ocean & Coastal Management 270, 107921, 107921. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.107921
Durville P., Durville S., Potin G., Mulochau T., Quod J.P., Caratini J., Cartault F., Crochelet E., Desbonnes O., Molina C., Jannel L.A., Troadec R., Bonommeau S., Fricke R., 2023. OBJECTIF 1000 : Campagne de collecte à 1000 m de profondeur sur deux sites à l'ouest de La Réunion. Rapport de projet Galaxea/Deal/Sciences Réunion. 41 pages + Annexes.
Nikolic N., Desbonnes O., Bonin A., Corse E., Mulochau T., Inçaby L., Gustavo Cardoso L., Clua E., Planes S., Archambeau H., Pierron M., Sessegolo C., Bellemain E., Crochelet E. 2023. IRRAE : Inventaire des requins autour de La Réunion à partir d’analyses d’ADN environnemental avec une approche écosystémique (élasmobranches et poissons osseux). Rapport de projet et poster pour Fête de la Science. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.12743.27046.
Corse E, Gimenez M, Crochelet E, Paulin-Fayolle A, Campagnari F, Desbonnes O, et al. 2025 Environmental DNA illuminates the darkness of mesophotic assemblages of fishes from West Indian Ocean. PLoS One 20(5): e0322870. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322870

PhD Student

Pierre-Louis Rault

PhD Student

PhD Cluster #1

PhD details:

Title: COASTAL - Cumulative stressors along the land–sea continuum: an integrated coral–sponge framework for the spatial management of lagoon social-ecological systems.
Supervisors: Elliott Sucré (MARBEC, University of Mayotte), Héloïse Rouzé (MARBEC, IRD), Emmanuel Corse (MARBEC, University of Mayotte)
Contract: October 2026 - 2029; MARBEC, IRD; based in Dembéni, Mayotte

Background: Pierre-Louis Rault holds a master’s degree in Life Sciences from the École Pratique des Hautes Études and specializes in reef ecology, with a particular interest in coral and fish larval recruitment. He contributed to ecophysiology research at CRIOBE in French Polynesia, followed by research in ecotoxicology, ethology, and metabarcoding during a two-year civic service placement (VSC) with IRD at the BOREA laboratory in Guadeloupe. His multidisciplinary approach combines in situ monitoring, controlled experiments, and bioinformatics analyses to investigate disturbances affecting social-ecological systems in French overseas territories. He aims to pursue research on the impacts of human-induced stressors on the coral holobiont across multiple scales.

The COASTAL PhD project assesses cumulative pressures along the land–sea continuum and their impacts on coral reef vulnerability through the study of coral–sponge interactions. It combines spatial mapping of land-based environmental pressures, seasonal field monitoring, underwater photogrammetry, and biological assessments across multiple scales, including microbiomes and ecophysiological biomarkers. Controlled experiments will test the effects of priority stressors. Together, these approaches aim to develop early-warning bioindicators of stress and spatial assessments of vulnerability to support the adaptive management of Mayotte’s lagoon and its social-ecological system.

Publications :

Ruiz, E.; Thémèze-Leroy, M.; Ferraton, F.; Panfili, J.; Durand, J.-D.; Kulbicki, M.; Silhol, J.; Bernard, A.; Rault, P., Thomas, R.; Morisson, T. Global Pelagic Dispersal Traits Datasets for Early-Life Stages of Marine Fishes. Scientific Data 2026, 13 (1), 1291.
Ruiz, E.; Pascal, P.; Vanalderweireldt, L.; Cordonnier, S.; Chatagnon, A.; Rault, P.; Albouy‐Boyer, S.; Silhol, J.; Thomas, R.; Dromard, C. R.; Pellissier, L.; Le Berre, T.; Panfili, J.; Albouy, C.; Leprieur, F. In Situ Estimation of Active Dispersal Abilities in Reef Fish Early Life Stages Using Tracking Technologies. Methods Ecol Evol 2025, 16 (4), 744–759. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.70011
Vignaud, L.; Frédérich, B.; Boudault, M.; Chatagnon, A.; Rault, P.; Cordonnier, S.; Lecchini, D.; Dromard, C. R. Variation of Phenotypic Disparity over the Ontogeny of Coral Reef Fish Populations. Mar Biol 2025, 172 (7), 106. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-025-04658-9

Postdoctoral researcher

Théophile Mouton

Postdoctoral researcher

Targeted project: BRIDGES AVATAR

Postdoctoral research details:

Title: Scoping Review of Socio-Ecological Modelling Tools for Spatial Management and Decision Support in Marine and Coastal Systems
Supervisors: Stéphanie Mahévas (MARBEC, Ifremer), Stéphanie D’Agata (ENTROPIE, IRD)
Contract dates: January–July 2026

Background: Théophile Mouton is a marine conservation scientist and scientific consultant based in Montpellier, France. He holds a PhD in macroecology from the University of Montpellier, where he studied the spatial and temporal reorganization of biodiversity under climate and land-use change. His career has taken him to research institutes, universities, and international organizations, including NIWA in New Zealand, the University of Zurich, and the IUCN Shark Specialist Group. Specializing in macroecology and systematic conservation planning, he combines advanced programming, coordination of international expert networks, and scientific consultancy.

During his contract, Théophile Mouton produced a review cataloging modeling frameworks useful for the integrated management of marine and coastal social-ecological systems and assessing their relevance to BRIDGES study sites. Of the 3,013 references retrieved from Web of Science and screened using ASReview and active learning, 816 were retained, and 207 full-text articles were analyzed using an artificial intelligence tool. The extraction method was compared with manual coding of 30 articles, achieving 85% agreement (Gwet’s AC1 = 0.75). The review identifies approximately 26 modeling frameworks. Estimated to be 86% complete, this inventory will guide model selection and adaptation.

Publications: Selected publications relevant to spatial management and marine conservation planning. Full list at www.theophile-mouton.com/Publications.

Mouton T. L., D. Silvestro, K. Kocáková, D. Spitznagel, F. Leprieur and C. Pimiento (2025). Global gaps and priorities for shark and ray conservation: integrating threat, function, and evolutionary distinctiveness. bioRxiv 2025.11.28.691085. Preprint. doi: 10.1101/2025.11.28.691085
Mouton T. L., A. Gonzalez-Pestana, C. A. Rohner, et al. (2024). Shortfalls in the protection of Important Shark and Ray Areas undermine shark conservation efforts in the Central and South American Pacific. Marine Policy 171: 106448.
Pimiento C., C. Albouy, D. Silvestro, T. L. Mouton, et al. (2023). Functional diversity of sharks and rays is highly vulnerable and supported by unique species and locations worldwide. Nature Communications 14: 7691.
Mouton T. L., J. D. Tonkin, F. Stephenson, P. Verburg, M. Floury (2020). “Increasing climate-driven taxonomic homogenization but functional differentiation among river macroinvertebrate assemblages.” Global Change Biology. 00:1–12.

Further reading:

Schlüter M., et al. (2019). Capturing emergent phenomena in social-ecological systems: an analytical framework. Ecology and Society, 24(3): 11.
Nielsen J. R., et al. (2018). Integrated ecological–economic fisheries models: evaluation, review and challenges for implementation. Fish and Fisheries, 19(1): 1–29.
Ostrom E. (2009). A general framework for analyzing sustainability of social-ecological systems. Science, 325(5939): 419–422.

PhD Student

Tirouvi Kaully

PhD Student

PhD Cluster #1

PhD details:

Title: BRIDGHEAT - Marine Heatwaves and Coastal Pelagic Fisheries in the Southwestern Indian Ocean
Supervisors: Alexandre Ganachaud (MARBEC, IRD), Aurore Receveur (MARBEC, IRD), Rakamaly Madi Moussa (Mayotte University)
Contract: October 2026 - 2029; MARBEC, IRD; based in Sète, France.

Background: Tirouvi Kaully is involved in marine research, ecosystem conservation, marine protected area management, and the development of the blue economy. With more than seven years of experience across NGOs, the private sector, and government in Mauritius, she has contributed to public policy development and the management of projects addressing climate change and conservation. Her skills include critical analysis, observation, communication, negotiation, and project coordination. She aims to apply this experience within a rigorous, interdisciplinary scientific approach while developing new knowledge.

Her PhD research will investigate interactions between marine heatwaves and coastal pelagic fisheries in the Southwest Indian Ocean, particularly small-scale tuna fisheries in the Comoros, Mayotte, and other regional study sites. It will comprise four complementary areas: characterizing marine heatwaves; analyzing their links with coastal tuna catch dynamics in Mayotte; examining fishers’ behavior through field surveys; and assessing governance implications to co-develop recommendations. Fieldwork will support these research activities.

Publications :

Ebert D. A., Leslie R.W., Bogorodsky S. V., Sithole Y., Kaully T., Seetohul T., Can Standen M., Etmopterus bulbosus n. sp., a new lanternshark (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) from the southwestern Indian Ocean (Manuscript accepted, in press)
Michalsen K., Munbodhe V. , Mourgues C. , Kanga D.K , Odland E. , Psomadakis P. , Aguirre G., Meissner Bissessur B., Bhagooli R., Sadasing O., Sauba K., Kaully T., Audit A, Elaheebocus K, Gowrea S., Ruttanah R., Kristnama L, Seetohul T, Perrine s., and Korimbocus A., 2025 R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen Leg 2.1 Exploratory Expedition on Fisheries Resources and Oceanographic Studies (Republic of Mauritius), 19 May - 10 June, 2025. NORAD-FAO PROGRAMME GCP/GLO/690/NOR, CRUISE REPORTS DR FRIDTJOF NANSEN, EAF- Nansen/CR/2025/05
Ramah S., Kaullysing D., Ah Shee Tee L., Young K., Jogee S., Bhagooli R., Kaully T., 2025 Western Indian Ocean Seagrass Status Report 2025 Country Report: Republic of Mauritius, WIOMSA (sous presse)
Munbodhe V., Kaully T., Elaheeboccus K., Gowrea., Ruttanah A., Kristama L., 2025 Preliminary report on Fisheries Mapping, Biodiversity Assessment, Seafloor Mapping and Oceanographic Studies, AFRC, MAIFSBEF, Government of Mauritius of Mauritius
Munbodhe V., and Kaully T. 2022 BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT AND FISHERIES RESOURCES SURVEY, BIOME RESEARCH EXPEDITION, St Brandon, Preliminary Report, Albion Fisheries Research Centre, Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping, Government of Mauritius