Marie is a marine scientist whose research sits at the intersection of spatial ecology and marine conservation. She holds two master’s degrees: one in Environmental Management from Duke University (North Carolina, USA), and another in Marine Ecology from the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) in Marseille, France. Her work is driven by a deep concern for the degradation of coastal ecosystems and the resulting impacts on marine biodiversity and local communities.
Before beginning her PhD, Marie spent five years with the Conservatoire du Littoral, working on the conservation and management of coastal wetlands in the French Overseas Territories. Based in Guadeloupe, she travelled throughout the Caribbean, as well as the Indian, and Pacific Oceans, collaborating with local stakeholders to support research and conservation across a diverse range of territories and cultural contexts. These experiences, along with two years of research in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, in Costa Rica and Ecuador, have deepened her understanding of the ecological significance of coastal habitats, the complex pressures they face, and their vital role as shared spaces for people, communities, and species of ecological, cultural, and economic importance.
Rooted in a lifelong passion for the ocean, Marie’s research focuses on tropical marine ecosystems and movement ecology. With expertise in geospatial analysis and a keen interest in biologging technologies, she investigates the movement and behaviour of marine species to drive tangible conservation outcomes. Collaborating with local communities and resource managers, her work delivers ecological data that supports decision-making and contribute to the protection of important species and their habitats.
Her current research explores the spatial ecology of sharks and rays in the coastal waters of Karajarri Sea Country and the wider Kimberley region of northern Western Australia. Co-designed with the Karajarri Traditional Owners and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, the project embraces a two-way science approach that combines Indigenous and Western scientific knowledge to create ethical and mutually beneficial research. Using acoustic and satellite tags, Marie and her collaborators track the movements and behaviour of juvenile sawfish. This work seeks not only to enhance our understanding of these species and their habitats, but also to support Country managers in improving conservation outcomes for some of the most endangered species in our oceans.
When not working, Marie can usually be found in, on, or near the water—whether scuba- or freediving, swimming, fishing, sailing, or riding her skateboard along the coast. An ocean enthusiast with an insatiable curiosity, she is driven by a deep love for knowledge and a passion for learning across all domains of natural and social sciences.
