Rafid Shidqi
Rafid is an up-and-coming marine conservationist with a great deal of experience working with marine species throughout Indonesia. He especially works to protect endangered shark and sting ray species, while finding sustainable solutions for communities who depend on the sharks for their livelihood.
Rafid worked with several conservation organisations before receiving a Master’s degree in Coastal Science and Policy at the University of California. He has conducted extensive ecological surveys to investigate the critical habitat of sting rays and helped to design and lead a project aiming to educate the local community. Rafid was awarded the Future-Conservationist Award in 2018 which allowed him to lead a project aiming to identify and address drivers of decline for endangered sharks. His project gained the attention of the Alor Regency Government leading them to place regulations on fishing and the research has contributed towards future conservation policy.
Rafid has also received honourable mention for Ocean Discovery in the US and was recently one of the youngest nominees for a Pew Marine Fellowship.