Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr. Vera Horigue is a transdisciplinary scientist whose work focuses on spatial planning, environmental governance, and the sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems. Her research integrates approaches from coral reef ecology, fisheries science, social sciences, management sciences, systematic conservation planning, and marine spatial planning. Through this interdisciplinary lens, she examines questions related to sustainability, particularly the design, planning, and institutional effectiveness of environmental governance systems.
Vera is currently the MARCOP Research Fellow at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. This role developed from a proposal she co‑led that secured endorsement of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Conservation Program (MARCOP, ID 2.6) as a UN Ocean Decade Action in August 2024. MARCOP builds on her long‑standing collaboration with the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), which began in January 2020 when she joined as the MQ–WIOMSA Research Fellow. Her work with WIOMSA and A/Prof Joseph Maina spans conservation initiatives in Mozambique, Kenya, and Tanzania; the development of a regional marine spatial planning strategy; and the creation of various stakeholder guidebooks and technical reports for the WIO region.
Since completing her DVCR Co‑funded Fellowship, Vera has also secured additional project funding and continues to work on applied research supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), focusing on coral restoration governance and climate‑smart MPA planning in the Philippines.
Research interests
- Marine protected area design, management, and governance
- Coastal and marine management in decentralised government systems
- Systems thinking
- Social and ecological networks
- Coral reefs
Education/Academic qualification
Marine conservation, PhD, Scaling up to form marine protected area networks: The role of institutional collaborations in the Philippines, James Cook University
Apr 2010 → Apr 2014
Award Date: 4 Dec 2014
External positions
Marine spatial planning specialist, Marine Environment and Resources Fdn., Inc.
Apr 2019 → Dec 2019
Post-doctoral Research Fellow, University of the Philippines - Marine Science Institute
Jul 2014 → Dec 2018
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Projects
- 3 Active
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MARCOP: The Western Indian Ocean’s Marine Conservation Program
Mbui, M. (Primary Chief Investigator), Tuda, A. (Director) & Horigue, V. (Chief Investigator (ECR))
8/05/25 → 8/05/27
Project: Research
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UTS led: Enhancing marine environment and resource governance in Indonesia and the Philippines
McClean , N. (Chief Investigator), Fabinyi, M. (Chief Investigator), Barclay, K. (Chief Investigator), Dambacher, J. (Chief Investigator), Adhuri, D. S. (Co-Investigator), Adrianto, L. (Co-Investigator), Wiryawan, B. (Co-Investigator), Muawanah, U. (Co-Investigator), Farandy, A. (Co-Investigator), Hermwan, I. (Co-Investigator), Horigue, V. (Primary Chief Investigator), Mbui, M. (Chief Investigator), Abesamis, R. A. (Co-Investigator), Baria-Rodriguez, M. V. (Co-Investigator), de Castro, C. (Co-Investigator), Matorres, D. E. (Co-Investigator), Creencia, L. (Co-Investigator), Palla, H. (Co-Investigator), Jontila, J. B. (Co-Investigator), Patiluna, L. (Co-Investigator), Mecha, N. J. M. (Co-Investigator) & Madarcos, J. (Co-Investigator)
20/11/24 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
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Institutional effectiveness and political economy of coral reef restoration in the Philippines
Fabinyi, M. (Chief Investigator), Barclay, K. (Chief Investigator), McClean , N. (Chief Investigator), Horigue, V. (Primary Chief Investigator), Mbui, M. (Chief Investigator), Baria-Rodriguez , M. V. (Chief Investigator), Harrison, P. L. (Chief Investigator) & de la Cruz, D. (Chief Investigator)
1/07/21 → 31/12/26
Project: Research
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Enhancing coral restoration in the Philippines through governance and policy integration
Horigue, V., Fabinyi, M., Baquiran, E. R., Barclay, K., Baria-Rodriguez, M. V., De Castro, R. C., Gatus, J., Harrison, P., Matorres, D. E., Mullany, B., McClean, N., Novilla, C. T. & Quibilan, M. C., May 2026, In: Restoration Ecology. 34, 4, p. 1-8 8 p., e70334.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)12 Downloads (Pure) -
Governance interactions of coral restoration and marine protected areas: lessons from four municipalities in the Philippines
Matorres, D. E., Fabinyi, M. & Horigue, V., Aug 2026, In: Journal of Coastal Conservation. 30, 4, p. 1-16 16 p., 69.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Area-based management tools - Approaches for effective marine conservation in the Western Indian Ocean: Competence Area: Marine conservation - MPAs and other approaches
Horigue, V., 2025, Western Indian Ocean WIO-COMPAS SUPPORT TOOLKIT for Ocean Conservation Areas . Ricci, G., Gaines, S. & Kolwaski, P. (eds.). Zanzibar: Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), p. 24-34 11 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Open AccessFile30 Downloads (Pure) -
Considerations for developing MPA network scenarios
Maina, J., Horigue, V. & Graham, T., 2025, Western Indian Ocean Critical Habitats Outlook: Towards Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Paula, J. (ed.). Nairobi: WIOMSA and Nairobi Convention, p. 395-402 8 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Open AccessFile12 Downloads (Pure) -
Design and management considerations for the Kenya–Tanzania marine transboundary conservation area
Horigue, V., Tuda, A. & Maina, J., Feb 2025, In: Conservation Biology. 39, 1, p. 1-16 16 p., e14342.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)104 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Faculty of Science and Engineering Excellence Award - Excellence in Sustainability Impact
Horigue, V. (Recipient), 4 Dec 2025
Prize
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Macquarie University Faculty of Science and Engineering Executive Dean Award for Leadership Citizenship and Contribution
Schmidt, M. (Recipient), Cain, A. (Recipient) & Horigue, V. (Recipient), 2022
Prize
Activities
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The role of small-scale fisherfolk organisations in reef and fisheries governance and decision-making: A comparison of Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia and Palawan, Philippines
Horigue, V. (Examiner)
20 Mar 2026Activity: Higher degree research activities › Examination
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Kris Esturas
Horigue, V. (Host)
26 Jan 2026 → 8 Feb 2026Activity: Hosting a visitor › Hosting an academic visitor
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Decolonising small scale fisheries
Horigue, V. (Participant)
20 Feb 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participating in a conference, workshop or event series
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WIO RESTORE Project Inception Meeting
Horigue, V. (Organiser)
23 Mar 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference, workshop or event series
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Marine Spatial Planning Workshop
Horigue, V. (Advisor)
4 Mar 2026 → 6 Mar 2026Activity: End user engagement and expertise › Advisory position
Impacts
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Enhancing coastal and marine management through research, stakeholder engagement, and bridging the gap between science and policy
Mbui, J. (Participant), Horigue, V. (Participant), Fontoura, L. (Participant), D'agata, S. (Participant) & Graham, V. (Participant)
Impact: Environment impacts, Economy impacts, Science impacts, Policy impacts
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Strengthening coral reef restoration governance in the Philippines: policy influence, institutional reform and local government capacity
Horigue, V. (Participant)
Impact: Policy impacts, Environment impacts, Society impacts