Elitza Germanov

Background

About Elitza Germanov

As an environmental consultant and conservation biologist, I am passionate about sustainability and biodiversity conservation, with a focus on marine ecosystems. My career has centred on mitigating anthropogenic pressures and enhancing the conservation of threatened marine megafauna. I have worked extensively on establishing baselines for understudied populations, including manta rays and whale sharks, to aid species management and Marine Protected Area (MPA) strategies. In recent years, my work has expanded into managing complex regional projects and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across Southeast Asia. As Deputy Project Leader for the Southeast Asia Regional Program for Combating Marine Plastics (SEA-MaP) Regional Project, I am currently leading efforts to establish a Regional Baseline Report on plastic pollution in ASEAN countries. This involves conducting high-level consultations with government officials and technical experts, developing monitoring and reporting systems, and supporting a team to produce actionable policy recommendations for plastic pollution reduction. I managed a team on a pilot study for the Minderoo Foundation’s Global Fishing Index (GFI), conducting stock sustainability and fisheries governance analyses across Australia, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste. Additionally, I support the Coral Triangle Center in Indonesia by leading a project on endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) species monitoring, focusing on community-based approaches and developing financial sustainability tools for long-term MPA management. My technical expertise extends to marine debris assessments, population and habit use assessments of marine species, and spatial analyses for marine tourism carrying capacities, among others. Across all these projects, I remain committed to building local scientific capacity, particularly by mentoring young Indonesian scientists, and ensuring that sustainable, science-based solutions drive marine conservation efforts.