Meet the Team Driving Change

The REDUCE project unites a multidisciplinary group of professionals and organizations, each playing a key role in achieving its goals. Meet the team behind the initiative.

Consortium Partners and Associate Partners

Our consortium is composed of 13 partners, including research and academic institutions, NGOs, a private company, and a technology center, all dedicated to reducing bycatch and protecting marine biodiversity in the Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean. In addition, we collaborate with industry stakeholders and conservation organizations to enhance the project’s impact through shared knowledge and innovative practices.

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Project Coordinator
Steering Committee

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee serves as the backbone of REDUCE, providing strategic oversight and ensuring that every decision aligns with the project’s mission. This team of leaders bridges science, policy, and industry to drive results and keep the project on course.

Define strategic priorities

Define strategic priorities

Define strategic priorities

universitat de valencia
Universidad de Coimbra
csic
cetmar
institut recherche
biopolis
usc
ciimar
datafish
prcm
marine
birdlife

Partners

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Our role is to ensure REDUCE's vision turns into action, conserving marine biodiversity for future generations.- Jacob González-Solís
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Research Fellows

Meet Our Research Fellows

Ethics Board

The Ethics Board ensures REDUCE adheres to the highest ethical standards, fostering transparency, fairness, and accountability across all project activities. Its key responsibilities include:

  • Monitoring compliance with ethical requirements in activities such as surveys, workshops, and interviews.
  • Ensuring the protection of personal data, particularly when transferring data between EU and non-EU countries.
  • Overseeing ethical considerations in research involving endangered species, including tagging and GPS tracking.
  • Providing guidance on the use of AI tools and technologies to align with ethical and legal standards.
  • Ensuring activities comply with environmental regulations, including those related to protected areas and CITES-listed species.
  • Advising on actions requiring authorizations, such as the use of acoustics or video recordings in sensitive areas.
Michèle Barbier
Michèle Barbier

ETHICS BOARD COORDINATOR

Ngoné Diop
Ngoné Diop

UCAD SENEGAL

Amalia Grau
Amalia Grau
DIRECCIÓ GENERAL DE PESCA
GOVERN BALEAR, SPAIN

Advisory Board

The Advisory Board is a panel of external experts who bring specialized knowledge and a global perspective to REDUCE. Their role is essential in ensuring the success of the project by:

  • Providing strategic insights to align the activities of REDUCE with international best practices.
  • Reviewing progress and evaluating the effectiveness of key initiatives.
  • Offering actionable recommendations to optimize bycatch reduction efforts and promote sustainable fishing practices.
  • Strengthening connections with global networks to amplify the reach and influence of the project.
Covadonga Orejas
Covadonga Orejas

IEO-CSIC SPAIN

Maria José Juan
Maria José Juan

IEO-CSIC SPAIN

Jean-Noël Druon
Jean-Noël Druon

Joint Research Centre
European Comission

Sarah Dolman
Sarah Dolman

Environment Investigation Agency UK

Andrea Pauly
Andrea Pauly

Convention on Migratory Species International

Manjula Tiwari
Manjula Tiwari

National Oceanic & Atmospheric USA

Maksims Kovsars
Maksims Kovsars

RCG LDF

Fostering Meaningful Collaborations

REDUCE collaborates with diverse stakeholders, including the fishing industry, NGOs, research institutions, and policymakers, to foster sustainable practices, enhance conservation efforts, and build capacity in the ECAO region for long-term resilience.

Job Opportunities

Discover open positions

REDUCE invites you to be part of this transformative initiative. Explore our latest job opportunities and contribute to the future of sustainable oceans.

REDUCE is a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to mitigating bycatch of endangered marine megafauna in the Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean.

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Michèle Barbier
eu_commission

Michèle Barbier

Ethics Board Coordinator

Michèle Barbier, molecular biologist with a PhD from the University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris 6, has built a career in marine sciences across multiple countries. She plays a key role as an ethics advisor for European projects and, since 2017, has been an ethics expert for the European Commission. Currently, she works at Inra Centre of the University Côte d’Azur, overseeing digital health initiatives and managing EU-funded projects.

Ngoné Diop
sigillum

Ngoné Diop

UCAD Senegal

An ecologist and ornithologist at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Ngoné Diop specializes in seabird conservation. Holding a PhD in ecology and ecosystem management, she previously collaborated with BirdLife International on conservation initiatives in West Africa. Now, she leads research projects, supervises students, and directs the Senegalese Bird Atlas Project to enhance knowledge on bird distribution and conservation efforts.

Amalia Grau
conselleria_agricultura

Mª Amalia Grau Jofre

Direcció General de Pesca Govern Balear, Spain

With extensive expertise in aquaculture and fisheries management, Mª Amalia Grau Jofre holds a doctorate from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and advanced training in fish pathology. She leads IRFAP LIMIA, a recognized research center in the Balearic Islands, ensuring compliance with animal welfare regulations. Her research explores reproductive cycles, fish behavior, and the impact of climate change on marine organisms.

Covadonga Orejas
csic

Covadonga Orejas

IEO-CSIC Spain

A senior marine ecologist at IEO-CSIC, Covadonga Orejas has accumulated more than 20 years of experience in marine conservation. She has directed over 50 research projects, secured significant funding, and contributed to conservation policies for marine areas and species listed by the IUCN. Her work extends to collaborations with NGOs and leading research institutions worldwide.

Maria José Juan
csic

Dr. Maria José Juan Jordá

IEO-CSIC Spain

Dr. Maria José Juan Jordá works as a senior researcher at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC). Her expertise lies in fisheries sustainability, particularly in managing highly migratory species such as tuna and sharks. Through international collaborations, she develops ecosystem-based fisheries management tools that assist global conservation efforts.

Jean-Noël Druon
eu_commission

Jean-Noël Druon

Joint Research Centre European Comission

Jean-Noël Druon, a senior scientist in marine ecology and fisheries management, focuses his research on fish habitat monitoring and ecosystem productivity. He plays a pivotal role in EU policies such as the Common Fisheries Policy and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. His expertise supports sustainable fisheries through satellite-based productivity models.

Sarah Dolman
eia

Sarah Dolman

Environment Investigation Agency UK

A fisheries scientist with a Master’s from Aberdeen University, Sarah Dolman brings 30 years of experience in marine mammal conservation. She is a research fellow at the University of Glasgow and works with the Environmental Investigation Agency. She also serves on the International Whaling Commission Bycatch Expert Panel and has published extensively on cetacean welfare and bycatch policy.

Andrea Pauly
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Andrea Pauly

Convention on Migratory Species International

Particularly the reproductive cycles, histology, and histopathology of marine organisms like fish, molluscs, and crustaceans. She also works on fish behaviour, welfare, and diagnostics for epizootic outbreaks. Grau Jofre heads the LIMIA/IMEDEA Associated Unit and contributes to sustainable development initiatives, focusing on fisheries biology, species reintroduction, and mollusc pathologies as indicators of climate change. She is involved in projects that balance artisanal and recreational fishing interests and address the near-extinction of the pen shell. This role marks her first experience as an ethics advisor for European projects.

Manjula Tiwari
noaa

Manjula Tiwari

National Oceanic & Atmospheric USA

Manjula Tiwari, a conservation scientist at NOAA’s Marine Turtle Ecology & Assessment Program, has been dedicated to sea turtle conservation since 1991. Her work focuses on protecting remote nesting sites and mitigating threats from fisheries and habitat loss. She also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the African Sea Turtle Newsletter and advises multiple international conservation organizations.

Maksims Kovsars
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Maksims Kovsars

RCG LDF

Heading the Information and Data Division at the Fish Resources Research Department of “BIOR” in Latvia, Maksims Kovšars oversees fisheries data collection and industry requests. Additionally, he serves as chair of the Regional Coordination Group for Long-Distance Fisheries, contributing to data-driven strategies for fisheries management.