Dr. Chris Rohner — Marine Megafauna Foundation

Research Interests

Dr. Chris Rohner is a renowned marine biologist who completed his PhD on whale sharks in 2012, becoming the first to conduct doctoral research on the species in Africa. As an international expert in satellite tracking, population modeling, and shark ecology, Chris is an integral part of the Global Whale Shark Program.

With a primary research goal of gathering ecological information on threatened species to aid their conservation, Chris has explored various scientific topics. His main research themes involve movement ecology and feeding ecology of marine megafauna. To address these topics, Chris employs methods such as telemetry using satellite, acoustic, and behavioral tags, tissue sample biochemistry, oceanography, and plankton microscopy. His work spans projects focusing on whale sharks, manta and mobula rays, billfishes, and turtles.

Chris leads MMF’s work in Tanzania on whale sharks and, since 2024, on blacktip reef sharks. He led the completed Kenya Marlin project and the 2025 study of Mayotte’s reef manta rays, part of Florida International University’s project there, wrote up the Galápagos yellowfin tuna study as lead author, and is part of the whale shark teams in Mozambique, Madagascar, Oman, Qatar, and the Galápagos. He also works with the IUCN Shark Specialist Group on Important Shark and Ray Areas, the habitats critical to the survival of sharks and rays, and co-authored the 2026 regional compendium for the North American Caribbean and Atlantic (opens in a new tab). His recent papers include the first study of the reef manta rays of Mayotte (opens in a new tab) (2025), which he led; a stable-isotope study of the feeding ecology of Mafia Island’s whale sharks (opens in a new tab) (2025); a 2026 acoustic-telemetry study of reef manta rays crossing between Mozambique and South Africa (opens in a new tab); and a 2026 synthesis of migratory connectivity for Australian sharks and rays (opens in a new tab) listed under the Convention on Migratory Species.

A true fieldwork enthusiast, Chris enjoys collecting data and immersing himself in hands-on research. He also relishes analyzing data and spends much of his time back at the computer, crunching numbers to advance the understanding and conservation of these incredible marine species.

Education

2013 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The University of Queensland, Australia
Thesis: A global whale shark hotspot in southern Mozambique: population structure, feeding ecology, movements and environmental drivers.

2007 Honours (1st Class, University Medal)
The University of Queensland, Australia

2006 Bachelor of Marine Studies
The University of Queensland, Australia

Biography

When Chris first put his head underwater in the Red Sea on a family snorkeling trip in the 1990s he knew he was going to become a marine biologist. He wanted to work where others go on holidays, and do something useful for the natural world in the process. It has worked out nicely so far; since those early days on the coral reefs of Egypt he has conducted field research around the world from the Galapagos Islands to the Great Barrier Reef and from Mexico to the Philippines. Chris started his PhD research with MMF in Mozambique in 2009 and continues to work with MMF, now as a principal scientist.

Snorkeling and diving in some of the most amazing places on earth as part of the job also lends itself to visually documenting the underwater world and Chris has particularly dabbled into videography. He also likes swinging in the hammock and playing ukulele. He lives with his family in Australia where he has an ever-growing flock of chickens and ducks and cultivates subtropical fruit trees.

MMF work

Leads

Galapagos Silky Shark ProjectProject leader
Open Ocean GiantsProject leader
Tanzania Blacktip Reef Shark ProjectProject leader
Tanzania Whale Shark ProjectProject leader

Team member

Galapagos Whale Shark ProjectTeam
Global Whale Shark ProgramTeam
Madagascar Whale Shark ProjectTeam
Mozambique Acoustic Telemetry NetworkTeam
Mozambique Bull Shark Research ProjectTeam
Mozambique Marlin Research ProjectTeam
Mozambique Whale Shark ProjectTeam
Oman Whale Shark ProjectTeam
Yucatan Whale Shark ResearchMexicoTeam

Past

Galápagos Yellowfin Tuna ProjectProject leader
Kenya Marlin ProjectProject leader
Mayotte Manta Ray ProjectProject leader
Philippines Manta and Devil RaysProject leader
Coral Sea Whale Shark ProjectAustraliaTeam
Philippines Whale Shark ProjectTeam
Qatar Whale Shark ProjectTeam
Tubbataha Shark MonitoringPhilippinesTeam
UAE Sea Turtle Rescue and RecoveryTeam

Media

Global Whale Shark Program

Whale sharks are Endangered: the Red List estimates their numbers have fallen by more than half over the past three generations. Our Global Whale Shark Research & Conservation Program works to safeguard them and help their populations recover, with long-term monitoring in Mozambique, Tanzania, the Galápagos, and Oman, and research with the Madagascar Whale Shark Project. Photos from our surveys, dive operators and visiting divers are matched by spot pattern in the global database on Sharkbook.ai.Explore the Global Whale Shark Program →