Lise Fournier-Carnoy

There is urgent need for effective monitoring and management of marine environments to reduce the rates of species and ecosystem decline. This is often done with modern baselines of abundance (e.g., abundance was stable compared to 2014, or similar) and Western management practices (e.g., no-take areas), which do not reflect historical abundances and may not achieve conservation goals. My project explores alternative methods of monitoring and managing the marine environment, with a focus on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), participation, and practices. My project on seabirds in the Recherche Archipelago aims to better understand past species abundance, how these may have shaped marine systems below the water, as well as the connections between Traditional Owners on the south coast of WA and seabirds. The outcomes of this project will highlight the value of the place-based ecological knowledge of First Nations and encourage western scientists to collaborate with them for the better of nature.