Clara Obregón

Clara Obregón is a Research Fellow at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) within the University of Wollongong's Faculty of Business and Law. Her work focuses on the human dimensions of fisheries sustainability, particularly in small-scale coastal fisheries. She completed her PhD on the social-ecological dimensions of blue swimmer crab fisheries in Western Australia and has held roles with organizations like WWF (Madagascar), the Zoological Society of London (UK), and Murdoch University (Australia).

Her research emphasizes scaling community-based fisheries management in Vanuatu, integrating local knowledge with adaptive governance strategies. Key interests include governance frameworks, stakeholder collaboration, and post-disaster fisheries resilience. Clara has published extensively on topics like automated monitoring systems, recreational vs. commercial fisher dynamics, and certification impacts.

Her career spans transdisciplinary research, bridging ecological science with socio-economic analysis. While no formal awards are noted, her work demonstrates strong engagement with policy-relevant issues in marine resource management.

Clara’s current research at ANCORS addresses challenges in transboundary fisheries governance and innovative monitoring tools for adaptive management. She collaborates closely with Pacific Island communities to strengthen fisheries resilience against climate and socio-economic pressures.