Christophe Cleguer

Dr. Christophe Cleguer is the leader of the Marine Megafauna Research group at the Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) at James Cook University, Australia. In addition, Dr. Cleguer serves as an International Advisor to the United Nations’ Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on the conservation and management of dugongs and their seagrass habitats throughout their range.

Dr. Cleguer’s research interests span marine mammal population assessments, spatial ecology, and conservation. His current work is centred on the population assessment and spatial ecology of the dugong (Dugong dugon), with a primary focus on Australian waters. 

His research team employs cutting-edge methodologies, including the use of aerial imagery and artificial intelligence (AI) for dugong population surveys, satellite imagery for herd detection, satellite and multi-sensor tags for movement behaviour analysis, genomics, drone-based body condition assessments, and blood collection for health and contaminant analysis. This comprehensive approach aims to provide actionable insights into dugong ecology and conservation.

Dr. Cleguer is a strong proponent of research partnerships with First Nations communities, having worked extensively with Indigenous groups across northern Australia, the Pacific Islands, and Southeast Asia. HE currently runs a large engagement program alongside Indigenous Traditional Owners across the entire Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. His team's research is also closely aligned with management authorities such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, state governments, and the Australian federal government, ensuring that scientific findings are directly applicable to policy and management frameworks.

A key component of Dr. Cleguer’s work involves developing capacity-building programs to train Indigenous land and sea rangers, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community members to conduct monitoring studies, empowering these groups to contribute directly to marine conservation efforts.

Dr. Cleguer holds a Master of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Auckland and completed his PhD in 2015 through a co-tutelle arrangement between James Cook University and the University of Pierre and Marie Curie (now Sorbonne University), with research conducted at the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) in New Caledonia. His PhD research used aerial surveys, GPS-Argos tracking, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to enhance the conservation and management of dugongs in New Caledonia across various spatial and temporal scales. Following his PhD, Dr. Cleguer conducted pioneering work in Western Australia, using drones to map dugong populations at the local scale. In 2022, he returned to James Cook University to lead the Dugong Program.