Loyalty Islands Province (PIL): Comprising the islands of Maré, Tiga, Lifou, and Ouvéa, PIL is governed by 14 elected officials and has a predominantly Kanak population. As part of economic development efforts, this province supports initiatives like the educational coral farm in Lifou. This project, an integral part of the territorial resilience plan, aims to raise public awareness of coral reef conservation, restore ecosystems, and stimulate the local economy through coral aquaculture. Key contacts for MaHeWa in this province are Georges Kakoué, Marjorie Wejieme, and Glwadys Bako from the environmental department.
Northern Province (PN) : Directed by 15 elected officials and comprising 17 municipalities, PN’s Bureau of Aquatic Resources and Environment, led by Ambre Diazabakana with team members Sophie Katrawi and Josina Tiavouane, is involved in MaHeWa. Their role is to identify local managers' needs, participate in co-design workshops, and oversee the development of decision-support tools to improve marine heatwave impact management on ecosystems.
Southern Province (PS) : Covering the southern half of Grande Terre and the Isle of Pines, PS’s Department of Sustainable Territorial Development (DDDT) is responsible for implementing public policies in territorial development, notably ecological transition and natural heritage protection. Led by Emmanuel Coutures, this department plays a key role in MaHeWa by identifying management needs, participating in co-design workshops, and supporting marine biodiversity management strategies. Additional agents (Manina Tehei, Hélène Charpentier, Sandra Sonheimer) will take part in consultations on protected marine area management and biodiversity.
DASS-NC (Health and Social Affairs Department of New Caledonia):Responsible for health policy and social protection in New Caledonia, DASS-NC, under the leadership of Florie Cheilan, participates in MaHeWa to monitor the health impacts of marine heatwaves, notably through public health programs focused on water quality and ciguatera risk prevention.
ADECAL Technopole:Established in 2011, this innovation platform supports technological development in New Caledonia, especially in aquaculture and marine biotechnology. The Marine Division team, including Maelle Thillier (aquaculture) and Pablo Chavance (fisheries management), provides expertise in experimentation and technology transfer for the MaHeWa project.
Météo-France (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna): Provides weather and climate forecasts for the three territories. Led by A. Peltier in New Caledonia and V. Laurent in French Polynesia, this organization contributes to MaHeWa by integrating marine heatwave forecasting bulletins into their services, aiding in climate impact management on health and the environment.
Mercator Ocean International (Toulouse, France): A nonprofit organization transitioning into an intergovernmental entity, Mercator Ocean provides scientific services based on ocean simulation and observation, contributing to marine resource conservation and sustainable use. Mercator Ocean develops complex ocean simulation models that describe and forecast ocean conditions, both at the surface and in-depth. These services are deployed nationally and across Europe under the Copernicus program. Mercator Ocean is involved by providing ocean simulations, forecasts, digital tools, and regional marine heatwave bulletins (WP4.1). Their expertise also contributes to integrating the developed tools into operational infrastructures such as Mercator Ocean, Copernicus Marine Service, or WEkEO.
Biocénose Marine (New Caledonia):A company specializing in scientific and technical expertise in the marine environment, Biocénose Marine’s main activities include coordinating innovative projects related to biodiversity and coral reef health, monitoring natural or human-induced changes to assess disturbance impacts, and transferring research knowledge to applied (R&D) fields. The company provides key expertise to MaHeWa, particularly for reef management and restoration. Marine biologist and director Grégory Lasne, specializing in coral reef health assessment, coral transplantation, and human impact on marine ecosystems, co-directs several aspects of MaHeWa, including WP5.1 and CCT2, and participates in outreach activities (WP0).
Marine Resources Department (DRM) : The DRM is the governmental body in charge of managing pearl, fishing, and aquaculture resources in French Polynesia. Under the leadership of Moana Maamaatuaiahutapu, the DRM participates in MaHeWa by managing marine heatwave alerts, vulnerability mapping, and reef restoration. Their specialized units in lagoon management, aquaculture, and health monitoring provide guidance and infrastructure to the project.
ANCB (Biodiversity Agency of New Caledonia):ANCB plays a key role in managing natural heritage and UNESCO-listed sites, coordinating the "Reefs Resilience" initiative. Although not an official MaHeWa partner, its actions can be promoted within this initiative to preserve reefs and associated ecosystems.
Merveille (New Caledonia):Founded in 2017, Merveille specializes in supporting organizations working in marine environmental fields, focusing on project management, training, outreach, and facilitating collective intelligence. Among its main activities, Merveille organizes the participatory workshop “Ocean Fresk,” which raises awareness about ocean conservation issues and human impact on these ecosystems. For MaHeWa, Merveille will conduct participatory simulation workshops on marine heatwaves.
Pacific Community (SPC): The leading scientific and technical organization in the Pacific region, SPC includes 26 member countries and territories. Known for its work in fisheries science, climate risk management, and food security, SPC plays a crucial role in disseminating MaHeWa’s findings on a regional scale, amplifying the project’s impact across the Pacific region.
TV Calédonia (New Caledonia):A news and cultural television channel in New Caledonia, broadcasting shows, reports, and documentaries on various topics, including environmental issues. The channel supports MaHeWa by producing reports and covering fieldwork and project outcomes.
CORTEX and RORC (New Caledonia):The Coral Reef Observation Network (RORC) in New Caledonia is a participatory monitoring network established in 1997 that annually assesses reef health with trained volunteers. CORTEX, an engineering company specializing in reef preservation, coordinates RORC actions and conducts environmental impact studies, management plans, and reef restoration operations.
Resource Center for Rāhui (French Polynesia) : A French Polynesian association dedicated to promoting local community sovereignty through the rāhui institution, which restricts resource access for conservation. The center provides interdisciplinary, science-based solutions to help communities manage marine resources and adapt to local and global challenges.
Reva Atea (French Polynesia):An educational association in French Polynesia specializing in delivering scientific and environmental content through modular educational programs. The association emphasizes incorporating local examples into its programs to strengthen scientific and environmental education.
Symbiose Association (New Caledonia):Founded in 1994, Symbiose is dedicated to promoting scientific culture and education in sustainable development and experimental sciences. Its mission is to make science accessible to everyone, regardless of geographical, cultural, or social background. The association organizes competitions, supervises educational projects, and runs science clubs throughout New Caledonia with its "Science Vessels." In MaHeWa, Symbiose will design and lead educational tools to raise public awareness, especially among youth, about climate and environmental issues.
Tama no te Tairoto:Meaning “Children of the Lagoon” in Tahitian, this nonprofit association was founded in 2021 to enhance knowledge of Polynesian lagoons and coral reefs through citizen science projects. The association has established a network of observers to study coral reproduction on several islands. Within MaHeWa, Tama no te Tairoto plays a key role in coordinating scientists, NGOs, and administrations to ensure effective reef conservation.
