Sustaining fisheries through community-led change

About

Blue Transitions is dedicated to equitable ocean governance for sustainable fisheries and a healthy ocean. We specialise in community-driven, place-based solutions that enable fishing groups, coastal communities, and Indigenous peoples to care for their fisheries and oceans.

We recognise that each fishery, community, and place is unique, requiring a tailored approach that reflects local priorities, challenges, and aspirations. Accordingly, the way we work is highly adaptive—partnering closely with communities, fishing groups, governments, scientists, and other stakeholders to co-design strategies that align with local interests, while being practical, equitable, and ecologically sound.

At our core, we believe that sustainable fisheries and ocean stewardship are strongest when rooted in local leadership, draw on diverse knowledge systems, and are driven by collective action.

By fostering meaningful partnerships and inclusive decision-making, we help shape resilient fisheries and ocean policies that safeguard ecosystems, livelihoods and culture for generations to come.

Tropical beach scene with thatched-roof huts, palm trees, boats in the water, and people swimming.

Creating transformative change

Identify your starting point

We work with you to understand your current position and potential challenges in achieving your goals.

Clarify your vision

We help you articulate what you want to achieve and what success looks like.

It could be more sustainable practices, better policies, more equitable governance or management, or eco-certification.

Navigate the gap

We work alongside you to develop a strategy and implement desired changes to keep you moving towards your goals.

This is the most challenging — and rewarding — part of the journey.

Make it stick

We will help you keep from backsliding by ensuring changes are formalised in legislation, codes of conduct, and ongoing practices.

How we can help

  • We work with you to develop comprehensive and adaptive strategies to sustainably manage marine resources and ecosystems. Key areas include:

    • Collaborative envisioning and goal setting processes

    • Gathering and assessing available information to understand your current situation

    • Policy and governance design

    • Assessing risks and uncertainties to inform transition planning

    • Transition strategies and guidance

  • Embarking on a journey of fishery improvement requires a tailored and comprehensive approach. Whether you are entering into a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP), engaging in the In-Transition to MSC (ITM) program, or interested in general improvements, we can support you each step of the way:

    • Fishery performance and sustainability assessments

    • Stakeholder engagement and collaboration

    • Goal setting and objectives

    • Customised Action Plan development and adaptation

    • Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting

  • We will work with you to:

    • Identify science and monitoring priorities, based on your values, knowledge gaps, and management goals;

    • Set shared research agendas, including key questions and design considerations.

    • Work together to produce new knowledge or solve a particular problem.

    • Provide targeted training in social-ecological data collection, analysis and reporting.

    • Identify and connect with other research partners.

    • Support grant applications, project management, and communications.

  • We specialise in crafting and implementing strategic policies to drive sustainable fisheries co-management. Our key services include:

    • Defining fishery objectives and co-management goals

    • Collaborative policy development

    • In-depth policy research to ensure policies are evidence-based and effective for your context

    • Strategic implementation plans with timeframes, responsibilities and communication plans

    • Training and capacity building support for local stakeholders

    • Policy evaluation and recommendations for refinement

    • Stakeholder mapping and analysis

    • Collaborative visioning and strategy workshops

    • Shifts toward more equitable governance, with effective local participation in decision-making processes

    • Capacity building initiatives, including research and monitoring skills

    • Consultation and stakeholder surveys to monitor perceptions and concerns

  • We are passionate about supporting emerging science leaders by creating a supportive environment for skill development and career advancement. This includes:

    • Leadership skill development including effective communication, team leadership and leadership in scientific communities

    • Networking and collaboration support to identify and connect with relevant contacts and opportunities

    • Publication and presentation guidance

    • Strategies for maintaining a healthy work-life balance in this fast-paced world

    • Grant and funding application assistance

    • Professional development workshops, supervisor engagement to project management

Projects

  • Close-up of a person holding a fishing rod, preparing to cast, with a cloudy sky and blurred landscape in the background.

    Navigating the shift to fisheries co-management at Christmas Island

  • Community workshop with Dambeemangaddee

    Co-developing fisheries research for the Buccaneer Archipelago Marine Parks with Aboriginal rights holders

  • Three people at a busy office desk, two men and a woman. The man on the left is wearing a white hat and glasses, the man in the middle with gray eyebrows and a beard is standing, and the woman on the right has a headscarf with a tan pattern and is writing. The desk is cluttered with papers, a calculator, and office supplies.

    Promoting safe and sustainable human-shark interactions at Cocos (Keeling) Islands

  • Person holding an octopus on a boat at sea with two other people in the background, and the ocean under a clear sky during sunset.

    Assessing the ecological sustainability of WA Octopus and Sea Cucumber fisheries for MSC re-certification

  • Aerial view of a coastline with a dirt road, sparse bushes, and trees alongside a blue ocean.

    Exploring fisheries impacts from solar salt production along Western Australia's Pilbara coast

Meet our Director

Dr. Kendra Thomas Travaille is a marine social-ecological scientist, facilitator, and co-management specialist with over 15 years’ experience in fisheries sustainability, marine conservation, and transformative environmental governance. She specialises in bringing together local, scientific, and government perspectives to effectively navigate transitions toward ecological sustainability and equitable ocean governance.

Kendra is passionate about collaborative, context-based solutions and works closely with fishing groups, coastal communities, scientists, and policymakers to develop practical, locally grounded strategies. She has extensive experience in documenting fishery values, evaluating ecological impacts of fishing, addressing knowledge gaps, and shaping policy to improve community and environmental outcomes.

A certified assessor for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) fisheries standard (v2.01), Kendra has worked extensively in Western Australia and Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories, as well as internationally in Indonesia, Honduras, and The Bahamas.

A person standing in front of a mural depicting a boat on water with two people sitting inside, a pier with two people walking, and buildings and trees in the background.

Get in touch!

Get in touch to learn more about our services and to discuss your vision.