Phaedra Doukakis Ph.D.

Phaedra Doukakis-Leslie, Ph.D. is a science and policy professional with over 20 years of experience. Prior to joining the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Dr. Doukakis worked at universities, non-governmental organizations, and intergovernmental organizations developing genetic and policy tools to control illegal wildlife trade, fisheries management systems in Madagascar, West Africa, and Central Asia, sustainable seafood metrics, and graduate training in marine conservation.

Phaedra joined NMFS in 2010 as a contractor with the NMFS West Coast Region, applying the Endangered Species Act to management and recovery of green sturgeon and creating a fishermen-led research study of post-release mortality and mitigation in a U.S. trawl fishery. She joined the Office of Aquaculture in 2018, focused on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as it applies to aquaculture policies, plans, projects, and decision-making. She has published over 35 papers on biology, conservation, and management.