Josheena Naggea

Josheena’s research interests are marine resource management in small island states. Her focal area is the Western Indian Ocean, where she grew up. Her work investigates ways of assessing and enhancing the value of marine and cultural heritage in small islands states. Through the lens of political ecology, Josheena explores factors which contribute to making an island comparatively more resilient than others and how those factors can be applied to other small island states or areas around the globe. She uses social network analysis and participatory mapping to research the key players currently establishing the “blue economy,” a global framework that aims to protect ocean systems while achieving sustainable economic development in the region. Her research seeks to better understand the impacts and implications of these collaborations on marine resource management.

Prior to coming to Stanford, Josheena was an active leader in these collaborations. As the Program Manager of a marine conservation NGO in Mauritius, she developed the first Marine Eco-Guide program funded by the US Embassy. The program gives a professional certification to tourist guides and local boat operators to enable them to acquire the knowledge skills and values to facilitate creative and innovative guiding experiences within the marine environment. The course was developed in collaboration with Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA). She was also an active member of the National Sea Turtle Conservation Project and the National Awareness Campaign for the seasonal Octopus Fisheries Closure in Mauritius, where she worked with international agencies such as the Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme,UNDP, regional institutions such as the Indian Ocean Commission, government bodies, the private sector, the media, other NGOs and local communities. She has also launched a series of lagoon discovery events to raise awareness about the degradation of coastal habitats and the urgent need for marine conservation.

Josheena holds a Bsc. in Environmental Management from Monash University and an honours degree in Tropical Biology from Monash University, Australia.