Patricia Davis
Locations:
Mauritius
Roles:
  • Project Manager
  • Project Co-ordinator
  • Researcher
I obtained my BA (Hons) in Biological Sciences from Oxford University and then went on to study for an MSc at James Cook University, Australia, specialising in marine protected area management. In 2002, I established a non-profit organisation, Community Centred Conservation (C3) which focuses on marine and coastal research, conservation and capacity building in developing countries.

C3 has conducted research on dugong population estimates through aerial surveys; diet analysis and habitat mapping around the islands of Palau, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Rodrigues. I am now leading our Indian Ocean Islands programme, based in Mauritius, assimilating information on dugongs from throughout the western Indian Ocean to assist with formulation of management strategies.
Organisation
Community Centred Conservation (C3)
Projects
Creation of a National Conservation Action Plan for the Dugong, Dugong dugon, Union of Comoros: Principal Investigator

The objective of this project is to collect and combine data from habitat mapping, threat assessments and fisher knowledge throughout the archipelago and formulate a National Conservation Action Plan for this species.

Study to confirm the existence or extinction of dugongs, Dugong dugon, in the waters of Mauritius and Rodrigues:

To confirm the existence or extinction of dugongs in Mauritian waters through systematic surveying of fisher communities on Mauritius and Rodrigues to elicit local knowledge, present or historic, in relation to the occurrence and distribution of this species.

Relevant species

Dugongs are sometimes referred to as “sea cows” because they feed almost exclusively on sea grass.

Research interests
Dugongs; research into populations, ecology, habitat and behaviour. Also local fisher knowledge and myths related to the species and community conservation initiatives.
Relevant publications
Alfthan B., Davis P. 2006. Dugong research and conservation on Moheli Island, Union of the Comoros. Sirenews 46 : 13-14.Alfthan B., Davis P. 2006. Dugong research and conservation on Moheli Island, Union of the Comoros. Sirenews 46 : 13-14.

Community Centred Conservation (C3) (2003) Dugong and seagrass in Malakal Harbour, Koror, Republic of Palau : current status and management recommendations. C3 Technical Report series no.3 ISSN1754-5188. Community Centred Conservation (C3), London, UK, 24pp.

Davis, P.Z.R. Current status of dugongs in Palau : a review and project summary report. The Nature Conservancy Pacific Island Countries Report No. 7/04.44p.

Davis, P.Z.R, Kuartei,J. (2005). Sirenian International supports dugongs in Palau. Sirenian Voice November 2005.

Davis, P.Z.R, Poonian C.N.S (2007). Incidental capture of the dugong, Dugong dugon, in gillnets. Moheli, Union of Comoros. In Kizska, J., Muir,C.(eds). Ist Regional Workshop on incidental catches of non-targeted marine species in the western Indian Ocean. Workshop Proceedings 13-15th November 2006, Mayotte, France.

Haskins,G. and Davis,P. (2008) Has the dugong gone the way of the Dodo? Sirenews 49: 16-17.
Contact
Email: Patricia@c-3.org.uk
Website: www.c-3.org.uk
Phone: +230 911 26 26
Skype : patricia.c-3