Louisa Ponnampalam of the MareCet Research Organization shares her journey, achievements and vision for the future of the ocean
Growing up in Malaysia, Louisa Ponnampalam had a strong affinity for the sea. At a young age, she was fascinated by sea creatures like dolphins and whales, and it became her dream to see them in the wild. Her passion for the ocean and its inhabitants later inspired her to dedicate her life to studying and finding ways to protect them.
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Upon completing her PhD in marine science in Hawaii, she returned to Malaysia. Back home, she realised there was a lack of scientific knowledge and public awareness about marine mammals. Seeing this gap, she co-founded the MareCet Research Organisation in 2012.
MareCet serves as a platform for developing young Malaysians interested in marine conservation. It offers training opportunities and increases the country’s scientific knowledge and conservation awareness of marine mammals via multiple projects. Their flagship projects include the Langkawi Dolphin Research Project, Matang Dolphin Research Project, Dugong Research and Conservation Project, and Cetacean Bycatch Mitigation Project.
In her own words, Ponnampalam shares her journey as a marine conservationist and what she hopes to achieve with her organisation.
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The name MareCet is a combination of two words. The first is the Latin word “mare”, meaning “ocean”, and the second is “Cet”, a shortened form of “cetacean”. The latter is the collective noun used to describe all 90 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises.
We run multiple projects across Malaysia. We work closely with government agencies to affect policy and regulation. We have a strong focus on training young Malaysians and educating them, and we hope to continue doing so for years to come.
Our work is based on four pillars: research, education, advocacy and community engagement. Field studies are conducted to collect data on marine mammals and identify threats to their survival. This data is then shared with the public, policymakers and local communities to raise awareness and take action.
Marine mammals are not just cute mascots. They are a vital part of the ocean ecosystem and food chain. They reflect the ocean’s health and alert us to the problems of overfishing, pollution and toxins that affect us. We should care about them because they are connected to our well-being and survival.
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