Michel Rahajanirina Ratsizafy

Michel Rahajanirina Ratsizafy is a marine scientist trained at the Institute of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (IH.SM) of the University of Toliara, Madagascar. His background focuses on marine habitat mapping, reef ecology, and remote sensing. Before joining the Nippon Foundation / GEBCO training program at CCOM/JHC, he worked as a research assistant at the Madagascar National Oceanographic Data Center (Md-NODC).

At Md-NODC, Michel contributed to key regional projects, including the Large-Scale Seagrass Mapping in the Western Indian Ocean (LASMMI) initiative and the sea-level rise observation program at the Toliara tide gauge station. As part of the ARMS-Restore project, he managed site selection and 3D monitoring of artificial reefs using underwater photogrammetry in Toliara Bay. He also represented the center at national workshops, including the Seabed 2030 workshop. His offshore experience includes receiving the 2025 NF-POGO-OceanQuest-OceanX Shipboard Training Fellowship and participating in scientific cruises aboard the R/V Dr Fridtjof Nansen (EAF-Nansen program). Deeply committed to local preservation, he is a member of the CoRRECT coral conservation team and co-founder of the youth consulting association Mamelo Hara.

At CCOM, Michel is deepening his skills in underwater acoustics, hydrographic standards, and high-resolution bathymetric data processing. His objective is to combine high-resolution bathymetry and oceanography to strengthen benthic habitat mapping, coastal resilience, and sustainable marine resource management.

Beyond his research, he is a certified PADI diver and is passionate about science storytelling, photography, and graphic design.