Dr. Prachi Hatkar is a marine conservationist who works to protect coastal and marine ecosystems through research, policy work, and community involvement. She focuses on understanding marine biodiversity and finding practical ways to conserve it.
                   She is currently a Senior Project Officer at DES Pune University and was previously associated with the Wildlife Institute of India, where she worked on the national CAMPA-funded dugong recovery programme. Her work includes studying dugong habitats, as well as research on sea turtles, sea snakes, and seagrass ecosystems. She is especially interested in conservation approaches that involve local communities and stakeholders.
                    She is also involved in conservation-related advisory work and new technologies used in marine research. She is a member of the IMO GloNoise Research Committee, where she contributes to work on understanding how underwater noise affects marine mammals.
                

Her Key Achievements

1. Senior Project Officer, DES Pune University

2. Formerly associated with Wildlife Institute of India (Dugong Recovery Programme)

3. Member, IMO GloNoise Research Committee

4. Advisory Committee Member, Diu–Daman Forest Department

5. 21+ research publications and 24 technical reports

6. Recipient of international grant from Women Divers Hall of Fame

7. Awarded Bharat Gaurav Puraskar

8. Recipient of Dhaval Smruti Wildlife Savior Award