Join scientists in calling for urgent protection of deep-sea ecosystems.
This open letter to the United Nations (UN) urges States to fully implement existing commitments to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), including seamounts, from destructive fishing practices. In 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 61/105, committing nations to identify and protect VMEs from destructive fishing practices. Nearly two decades later implementation remains incomplete.
As a signatory, you will be joining other scientists in calling for immediate action to fully implement existing commitments to protect deep-sea biodiversity. If you meet the criteria below, we invite you to add your name.
Scientists Proclamation Letter
To the UN Secretary-General,
We, the undersigned scientists, call upon the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to act urgently and decisively to protect seamounts and other vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) from destructive bottom-contact fishing. We urge States to fully implement and enforce their commitments under UNGA 61/105 and its successors to ensure comprehensive, science-based protection of VME features, habitats and taxa in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
In 2004, 1,452 scientists from 69 countries shared a message of profound concern with the United Nations regarding the harmful impacts of bottom-contact fishing, particularly bottom trawling, that was causing unprecedented damage to deep-sea coral and sponge communities on continental slopes, plateaus, seamounts and mid-ocean ridges.
In response to this message, the UNGA adopted resolution 61/105 to identify and protect VMEs:
(Calling) upon States to take action immediately, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, and consistent with the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches, to sustainably manage fish stocks and protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold-water corals, from destructive fishing practices, recognizing the immense importance and value of deep sea ecosystems and the biodiversity they contain;
In the 20 years since the adoption of this resolution, scientific research of the deep sea has dramatically advanced our understanding of these ecosystems, and confirmed their extreme vulnerability to human impacts.
Seamounts are now known to serve as hotspots of deep-sea biodiversity and vaults of discovery, harboring novel and unique communities that are as diverse as they are fragile. Today we know that seamounts consistently sustain thriving populations of cold-water corals and sponges, which provide habitat for a diverse array of fish and invertebrates. Some of these structure-forming corals and sponges are amongst the oldest living creatures on Earth.
And we are just beginning to understand other new and unexpected functional roles that seamounts play. They serve as important spawning and nursery grounds for a diversity of fishes, skates, and octopuses, and as migratory corridors for sharks, whales, and other pelagic species. In many ways, seamounts act as ecological convergence zones, connecting species across all trophic levels, from deep-sea communities to migratory predators and seabirds – bridging the deep seafloor and the open ocean.
As our knowledge of seamounts increases, so too does awareness of the cumulative impacts caused by human activities. Studies show that bottom trawling can severely compromise the ecological integrity of seamount habitats and communities, causing significant declines in the abundance and diversity of ancient, habitat-forming corals, sponges and myriad associated species. Such degradation disrupts ecological connectivity and long-term ecosystem functions, leading to persistent biodiversity loss and the decline of ecological processes and services that directly benefit humanity.
Over the past 20 years we have also witnessed a dramatic escalation in ocean temperatures, acidification, and deoxygenation, alongside growing interest in deep-seabed mining. These additional human-driven pressures can compound the impacts of bottom trawling and threaten to further disrupt vulnerable habitats like seamounts.
Full ecological recovery from bottom trawling can take centuries to millennia. Yet there is hope: signs of species recruitment in previously trawled areas suggest that recovery is possible. If seamounts are protected from destructive practices, restoration can begin within our lifetime.
Concerningly, the integration of scientific evidence into management decisions to identify and protect VMEs by bottom fisheries Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) has been inconsistent. Despite repeated UNGA and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) resolutions, many seamounts and cold-water coral habitats remain unprotected, with bottom-contact fishing continuing to be authorised by flag States and RFMOs.
Persistent gaps in international ocean governance, particularly in areas beyond national jurisdiction prompted the negotiation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ) Agreement. While the Agreement moves toward ratification and entry into force, a process that will inevitably take time, we urge nations to honor their commitments made in 2006 and urgently protect VMEs from destructive fishing practices.
The time for partial or unimplemented measures has passed. We, the undersigned scientists, call on nations to act decisively and without delay to protect seamounts and all VMEs – to restore the health of our ocean, strengthen resilience to climate change, and secure the biodiversity that underpins life on Earth.
(The individuals who have signed this letter have done so in their personal capacities. Institutional affiliations are provided only for identification purposes, and do not imply any institutional position on the issue)
Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue and National Geographic Explorer, USA
Professor Amy Baco-Taylor, Florida State University, USA
Dr. Diva Amon, University of California, USA; SpeSeas, Trinidad and Tobago
Professor Murray Roberts, University of Edinburgh, UK
Professor André Freiwald, Senckenberg am Meer, Germany
Professor Alex Rogers, University of Southampton, UK
Dr. Les Watling, University of Hawai’i, USA
Dr. Peter Auster, University of Connecticut, USA
Dr. Elliott Norse, Marine Conservation Institute, USA
Dr. Lance Morgan, Marine Conservation Institute, USA
Dr. Lissette Victorero, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, Netherlands
Professor Angelika Brandt, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Germany Professor Lisa Levin, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, United States Professor Tracey Sutton, Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center, Nova Southeastern University, United States Professor Erik Cordes, Temple University, United States Dr Beatriz Vinha, University of Barcelona, Spain Dr. Covadonga Orejas Saco del Valle, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Spain Dr. Jesse van der Grient, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Netherlands Dr. Tammy Horton, National Oceanography Centre, United Kingdom Dr. Eva Ramirez-Llodra, REV Ocean, Norway Professor Rashid Sumaila, University of British Columbia, Canada Professor William Cheung, The University of British Columbia, Canada Professor Jason Hall-Spencer, Universities of Plymouth (UK) and Tsukuba (Japan), United Kingdom Professor Rochelle Constantine, University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau, New Zealand Dr. David Bailey, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom Dr. Kelsey Archer Barnhill, Towards IPOS, France Dr Thomas Trnski, Auckland Museum, New Zealand Ms Nina de Villiers, Nekton Foundation, United Kingdom Professor Elva Escobar Briones, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico ICML, Mexico Emeritus Professor George Wolff, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom Dr Andreu Santin Muriel, CIIMAR, Portugal Professor Louise Allcock, University of Galway, Ireland Dr Lucy Woodall, University of Exeter, United Kingdom Dr Geoffroy Lamarche, Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, New Zealand Professor Bhavani Narayanaswamy, Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), United Kingdom Dr. Rosanna Milligan, Nova Southeastern University, United States Miss Carolina Ventura Costa, CIIMAR, Portugal Dr Lydia Koehler, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom Dr Maria Baker, University of Southampton, United Kingdom Professor Crispin Little, University of Leeds, United Kingdom Dr Lynda Goldsworthy, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Australia Adjunct Professor Andrew Constable, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Australia Professor Brendan Godley, University of Exeter, United Kingdom Dr Ian Cresswell, Adjunct Professor, Australia Dr Craig M. Robertson, Bangor University, United Kingdom Dr Abbie Chapman, University College London, United Kingdom Professor Craig Radford, University of Auckland, New Zealand Constance Rambourg, ANCORS University of Wollongong, Australia Dr Amelia Bridges, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom Profesor Paula Andrea Zapata Ramirez, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia Dr Jan Jansen, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Australia Dr Kristine Elfrida Dalaker, Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong, Australia Dr Katharina Teschke, Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany Dr Helena Wiklund, University of Gothenburg, Sweden Dr Nicola Foster, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom Dr Elin Thomas, University of Western Australia, Australia Dr Claire Laguionie, CNAM Intechmer, United Kingdom Lara Beckmann, Gothenburg University, Sweden Dr Franck Lartraud, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer, Sorbonne Université, France Dr Margherita Toma, ISPRA, Italy Dr Narissa Bax, Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Dr. Lauren Rice, Florida State University, United States Professor Sergio Cambronero Solano, Laboratoire d’Oceanographie de Villefranche / Colectivo Internacional Pelagos Okeanos, Costa Rica Dr Joachim Claudet, CNRS, France Miss Kate Fraser, Scottish Association for Marine Science, United Kingdom Professor Heather Koldewey, Zoological Society of London, United Kingdom Dr Alifa Bintha Haque, Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh Dr Marta Ribó, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand Dr David Curnick, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, United Kingdom Dr Subrata Sarker, Department of Oceanography, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh Dr Ana Hilário, University of Aveiro, Portugal Dr David Taylor, Cawthron Institute, New Zealand Professor Gawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh Dr Sabine Keuter, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Germany Professor Amanda Vincent, The University of British Columbia, Canada Dr Caitlin Blain, University of Auckland, New Zealand Professor Andrea Gori, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain Dr Verena Häussermann, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso, Chile Dr Asha de Vos, Oceanswell, Sri Lanka Dr. Kristen Johannes, University of California, Santa Barbara, United States Beatriz Naranjo Elizondo, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica Charlene Erasito, Ifremer, Fiji Dr Riwan Leroux, Ifremer, France Professor Santiago Herrera, Lehigh University, United States Dr Ilysa Iglesias, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, United States Dr Federico Merlin, Syddansk Universitet, Italy Professor Charlotte Havermans, University of Bremen, Germany Leonard Verheyen, DZMB, Germany Dr Melissa Hanafi-Portier, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, France Dr Giuseppe Suaria, CNR-ISMAR - Istituto di Scienze Marine, Italy Professor Alessandro Cau, University of Cagliari, Italy Dr. Melissa J. Betters, Temple University, United States Dr Elena Kupriyanova, Australian Museum, Australia Dr Michael Maia Mincarone, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Professor Anna Metaxas, Dalhousie University, Canada Miss Sierra Lynn Landreth, Florida State University, United States Aaron Benjamin Judah, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, United States Dr. Silvia Oliva Pérez, Oceanographic Center of the Canary Islands, Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Spanish National Research Council (COC-IEO-CSIC), Spain Dr Irene Olive, SZN, Italy Jillian Buckley, Columbia University, United States Dr. João Garcia Rodrigues, CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Portugal Dr Joana Xavier, CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Portugal Dr Ngone Diop, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal, Senegal Nicola Krake, University of Hamburg, Germany Arq. Juan E. Bezaury-Creel, Fundación BDM BioDiversidad Mexicana, Mexico Dr Anna von Rebay, Ocean Vision Legal, Indonesia Dr. Savannah Goode, URI/NOAA, United States Vitali Graf, University of Northumbria, Germany Allison Centeno Chaves, Florida Atlantic University, Costa Rica Neil Nathan, University of California, Santa Barbara, United States PhD Alice Soccodato, European Marine Biological resources centre, France Professor Rasmus Grønfeldt Winther, University of Copenhagen, Denmark Kate Vonderbank, University of Manitoba, Canada Antoine Stöhr, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands Msc William Johnson da Silva, Ifremer, France Professor Helen Bostock, University of Queensland, Australia Dr Cherisse Du Preez, Fisheries and Oceans Canada & University of Victoria, Canada Professor Emma Sheehan, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom Miss Miss Amy Y Cartwright, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom Professor Richard Handy, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom Dr Matthew Holland, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom Dr Llucia Mascorda-Cabre, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom Mr Aaron Barrett, University of Plymouth, UK, United Kingdom Dr Giulia La Bianca, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom Khushboo Rathee, University of Auckland, New Zealand Professor Ana Montalvo, Research, United States Ms Riley Bibaud, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom McKenna Eve Carlson, UC San Diego, United States Erica Calabretta, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria, Italy Professor Martin Attrill, University of Plymouth & Ocean Conservation Trust, United Kingdom MSc Sofia Nogueira, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre - University of Lisbon, Portugal Allison Aplin, Duke University, United States Dr Siddhi Joshi, Umeå Marine Science Centre (UMF), Sweden Dr Charlotte Underwood, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom Dr Lawrence M Dill, Simon Fraser University, Canada Chris De Rosa, Flinders University Museum of Art, Australia Nadia Poddighe, Università di Cagliari, Italy Emma Galbraith, Dalhousie University, Canada Ms. Eugenia Thomas, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago Laura MacColl, University of Melbourne, Australia, Australia Senior Lecturer Katrina Goddard, NorthTec Tai Tokerau Wānanga, Northland, Aotearoa New Zealand, New Zealand Dr Brittany Finucci, University of Tasmania, Australia Professor André Freiwald, Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, Germany Mr Atta ul Haq, Youth Association for Development (YAD) Pakistan, Pakistan Dr Judith S Weis, Rutgers University, United States Stuart Banks, Charles Darwin Research Station, Galapagos, Ecuador Dr. Germán Zapata-Hernández, Charles Darwin Research Station, Puerto Ayora, Ecuador, Ecuador Professor Guy CM Harvey, Nova Southeastern University, United States Professor Paul Dando, Marine Biological Association of the UK, United Kingdom Torsten Thiele, Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), United Kingdom Hannah Newman, University of Sydney and the Australian National Maritime Museum, Australia Dr Gabriel Vianna, Charles Darwuin Foundation, Ecuador Dr. Stefanie Kaiser, University of Łódź, Poland Arq. Juan E. Bezaury-Creel, Fundación BioDiversidad Mexicana, --- Dr Fanny Girard, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, United States Caroline Edmonds, Oregon State University, United States Gerrit Meiners, INES-Solutions, GEOMAR, Senckenberg, Germany Professor Emanuela Fanelli, Polytechnic University of Marche (Ancona), Italy Dr. Silvia Frey, KYMA sea conservation & research, Switzerland Ariane Buckenmeyer, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH); Science for Life Laboratory, Sweden Veronica Rotman, University of Auckland, New Zealand Dr Maria hernandez, Gastrohealth, United States Dr François Thoral, The University of Waikato, New Zealand sofia viotti, ULL, Spain Emily Corcoran, Independent consultant, Sweden Dr Lena Rönn, Lower Saxony Agency for Water Management, Coastal and Nature Protection, Germany Ms Maorine Okeri, Ocean Nurture Network, Kenya Ms Begoña Dorronsoro, CES Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Portugal Professor Danilo García Cáceres, Professor of international law at Central University of Ecuador, Ecuador Professor Glenn Sant, TRAFFIC Senior Advisor Fisheries, HONORARY SENIOR FELLOW – ANCORS, UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG, Australia DR Andrew Chin, James Cook University, Australia Dr Benjamin J Cresswell, James Cook University, Australia Dr Gemma Galbraith, James Cook University, Australia Mr Joseph Bamforth, Professional member of the Marine Biological Association and Full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, United Kingdom Dr Lawrence Dill, Simon Fraser University, Canada Dr Lindsay Porter OBE, Southeast Asia Marine Mammal Research, Hong Kong Russell Moffitt, Marine Conservation Institute, United States Henriette MPEI KOUL epse NANMENI, Nexus Biosphère, Cameroon Dr Bethan O’Leary, University of Exeter, United Kingdom Dr Adriano Hugo Pereira Quintela, Oceano Azul Foundation, Portugal Ms Rachel Downey, Australian National University, Australia Cristina Cedeño-Posso, Marine and Coastal Research Institute – INVEMAR, Colombia Dr. Erik V. Thuesen, Evergreen State College, United States Chandra Deeds Gioiello, IHSC, LLC, United States Dr. Holly Bik, University of Georgia, United States Assistant Professor Jean-Baptiste Thiebot, Hokkaido University, Japan Professor Tim Stephens, University of Sydney, Australia Dr. Richard Brusca, University of Arizona, United States Ms Verónica Iriarte, RedCID (Ibero-American Network for the reduction of Bycatch and Discards), Uruguay Professor Paulo Sumida, University of São Paulo, Brazil Professor Angelo Bernardino, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Brazil Dr Kimberly Warner, Oceana, United States Professor Scott Shaffer, San Jose State University, United States Professor Emeritus Thomas Shirley, Univ. of Alaska Fairbankd, United States Alvaro Gonzalez Rajal, University New south Wales, Australia Dr. Megan N. Dethier, University of Washington, United States Dr Simon Pittman, University of Oxford, United Kingdom Professor Gail Fraser, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Canada Dr. Sarah Hameed, Marine Conservation Institute, United States Mason Weinrich, Center for Coastal Studies, United States Dr Edith-Maria Mertz, Sophia University, Japan Dr Sarah Stewart, none, United States Angela Nardo-Morgan, Marine Conservation Biology Institute, United States Raven Wright, University of Tasmania, Australia Professor Robert Steneck, University of Maine, United States Professor Catherine S. McFadden, Harvey Mudd College, United States Dr. Gary Meffe, University of Florida (retired), United States Professor Richard F. Ambrose, University of California, Los Angeles, United States Dr Eric J Woehler OAM, Australasian Seabird Group, Australia Dr David Ainley, Harvey & Associates Ecological Consultants, United States Professor Dominique Van Der Straeten, Ghent University, Belgium Dr. Geoffrey Shester, Oceana, United States Adjunct Professor Abbott Peter Klimley, University of California, Davis, United States Research professor Paola Batta Lona, University of Connecticut, United States Ms Alix Cockcroft, Royal Society of Biology, United Kingdom Dr Noemie Friscourt, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Australia Professor Michael Weiß, Steinbeis Innovation Center, Organismal Mycology and Microbiology, Germany Dr Judith Weis, Rutgers Univ, United States Dr Jon Day, James Cook University, Australia Professor Mauricio Cantor, Oregon State University, United States Dr. Sonia J Rowley, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, United States Dr. Judith C. Lang, AGRRA (Atlantic & Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment), United States Dr. Judith C. Lang, AGRRA (Atlantic & Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment), United States Professor Peter Abrams, University of Toronto, Canada Profesor Emeritus Christopher Barnes, University of Victoria, Canada Professor Octavio Aburto-Oropeza, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD, United States Heather L Hawk, Université Laval, Canada Lori beraha, Uaf, United States Dr. Ginger A. Rebstock, Retired, United States Dr Jessie Wells, The University of Melbourne, Australia Dr Julian Anthony Koslow, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, S.D., Australia Dr Claire Garrigue, Opération cétacés, New Caledonia Professor Robert Richmond, Research Professor and Director, Kewalo Marine Laboratory, University of Hawaii at Manoa, United States Dr. Samantha B Joye, University of Georgia, United States Emeritus Professor Steven N Murray, California State University Fullerton, United States Professor Josef Ackerman, University of Guelph, Canada Dr. James Byers, University of Georgia, United States Dr Paul A. Broady, Retired from School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, New Zealand PhD Candidate Marjo Suominen, University of Helsinki, Finland Dr. Katie Inderbitzen, NA, United States Dr Asta Audzijonyte, University of Tasmania, Australia Dr Scott Kraus, Emeritus, New England Aquarium, United States Dr. Etienne Rastoin, Curtin University, France Professor Emeritus Gene R. Trapp, Cal State University, Sacramento, United States Dr Carlos Neira, Scripps Intitution of Oceanography, UC San Dievo, United States Dr Angel Borja, AZTI, Marine Research Division, Spain Megan Dalton, University of Manitoba, Canada Dr Alix Willemez, Global Environment Facility, United Kingdom Dr. Katherine Genevieve Sammler, Independent Scholar, United States DR Claire Pusineri, French Office of Biodiversity, France Karina Dracott, Marine Education and Research Society - Research Associate, Canada Dr Sandra Hervías-Parejo, CFE-University of Coimbra, Portugal Dr Cecile Vincent, La Rochelle University, France Professor Adam Sokołowski, University of Gdańsk, Poland Associate Professor Anne Marie Power, University of Galway / Ryan Institute, Ireland Professor Michelle Gaither, University of Central Florida, United States Professor Carlotta Nonnis Marzano, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy Professor Gianfranco D’Onghia, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy Dr Maria Mercurio, University of Bari (Italy), Italy Prof John Patrick Croxall, BirdLife International, United Kingdom Prof. Roman żurek, Institute of Nature Conservation Polisk Academy of Sciences, Poland Professor Krishna Das, University of Liège/FNRS, Belgium Dr. Alberto Baudena, National Research Council - Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), Lerici (SP), Italy, Italy Professor Peter JS Jones, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Governance, University College London, United Kingdom Dr Peter I Miller, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, United Kingdom Chartered Marine Scientist Mr Patrick J Lyne, IWDG, DMAD, MMOA, Ireland Ms. Chloe King, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom Dr David Gordon Dawson, Independent, United Kingdom Professor Bernard Carole, Éducationnel Association, New Caledonia Dr Gaetan Richard, SOMME, France (Director of Research, Vice President) Fabian Ritter, M.E.E.R. e.V., Germany Professor Denis Abessa, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Brazil MSc. Ing. Saskia Tatiana Becker, Central Bank of Aruba, Aruba Professor Callum Roberts, University of Exeter, United Kingdom Professor Mario Tamburri, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, United States Professor Davis Gruber Sansolo, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Brazil Dr. Priscila F. M. Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte & University of Bucharest, Brazil Professor Erik Cordes, Temple University, United States Dr. Luciane Alves Maranho, University of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil Dr Guacira de Figuairedo Eufrasio Pauly, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brazil Professor Brian Nelson Tissot, California Polytechnic University Humboldt, United States Dr. David Eggleston, NC State University, United States Dr. Mary Beth Decker, Yale University, United States Emeritus Professor Antony William Diamond, University of New Brunswick, Canada Mr. GIB CHASE, Retired. Former Federal Employee - Bur. Comm. Fisheries; NAVOCEANO, New England Div. Army Corps of Engineers and USF&W, United States Dr. Richard Cropp, BioF2, Malaysia Dr. Michael S. Rodway, Wildwing Environmental Research, Canada Professor Grosberg Richard, University of California, Davis, United States Dr. Gabriel Izar Mendes, Institut Français Recherche Exploitation de La Mer (IFREMER) - Centre Atlantique, France Dr. Jay Pitocchelli, Saint Anselm College, United States Dr Krystal Rypien, Palomar College, United States Senior Lecturer/Research Scientist Michael Franklin, California State University Northridge, United States Dr. Steve W. Ross, University of North Carilina - Wilmington, United States Dr. Heidi Regehr, Wildwing Environmental Research, Canada Dr Sam McClatchie, NOAA Fisheries (retired), New Zealand Professor Alan Whitfield, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa Kaitlyn Nichols, Marine Conservation Institute, United States Dr Eckart Schumann, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa Professor Emeritus James Hanken, Harvard University, United States Dr. Mark Hixon, University of Hawaii, United States Graduate student Ruth Viveros-Martir, CSUN, United States Dr. Abigail Mary Moore, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia Dr. Marianne Nyegaard, Auckland Museum, Ocean Sunfish Research Trust, New Zealand Mr Jonathan R. Green, Galapagos Whale Shark Project, Costa Rica Pr. Bleuenn Guilloux, La Rochelle University, France Dr. April Stabbins, Temple University, United States Crow White, N/A, United Kingdom Professor DR ROBERT B DUNBAR, Stanford University, United States Dr. Elizabeth Anne Schreiber, Retired, United States Dr Joe Roman, University of Vermont, United States Research Scientist Gary E Davis, George Wright Society, United States Dr Geoffrey W Patton, Retired, United States Dr. Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho, Consultant, Mexico Dr. Antonio D Bolivar III, Aurora State College of Technology, Philippines Dr. Mary M Yang, Princeton University, United States Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart, Senckenberg Research Institute and Museum Frankfurt, Germany Dr Antonio Di Franco, Stazione Zoologic Anton Dohrn, Italy Dr Angela McArthur, UCL, United Kingdom Dr. Rachael Orben, Oregon State University, United States Dr Larissa Faria, Instituto Água e Terra - IAT, Brazil Dr Tabitha Pearmam, South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute, Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Doctoral Researcher Lara Maleen Beckmann, University of Gothenburg, Sweden Professor Emeritus James R. Karr, School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States Professor Ellen Pikitch, Stony Brook University, United States Mr William Johnson da Silva, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, France Professor David Mellinger, Oregon State University, United States Professor Amanda Vincent, The University of British Columbia, Canada Dr. Jana McPherson, University of British Columbia, Canada Dr William Armbruster, University of Alaska Fairbanks, United States Dr Vanessa Yepes Narvaez, INVEMAR, Colombia Dr Annika Mackensen, GIZ, Namibia Dr. Jorge Cortés-Núñez, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica Ms. Sierra Landreth, Florida State University, United States Professor Villy Christensen, The University of British Columbia, Canada Dr. Frederick Whoriskey, Dalhousie University, Adjunct Professor, Canada Professor Sandra Antonio, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico Mrs Maria Aries, School of Ocean Science, Bangor University, United Kingdom Professor Helene Marsh, James Cook University, Australia Ms Nicole, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, United Kingdom Dr Johanna Faure, CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Portugal Dr Antonio Giova, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy Dr Joan Alfaro, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom Miss Lucy Goodwin, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom Dr. Leon Green, University of Gothenburg, Sweden Dr. Esther Guzman, Florida Atlantic University, United States Dr. Sarah Carr, Open Communications for the Ocean (OCTO), United States Dr Pierre Sasal, CNRS, French Polynesia Professor Sally Brinkman, Adelaide University, Australia Dr. Katie Matthews, Oceana, United States Dr Ellycia Harrould-Kolieb, University of Melbourne, Australia Dr Kate Hewett, University of Washington, United States Dr Ulisse Cardini, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy Dr Hoarau Ludovic, University of Reunion Island, Reunion Dr. Natalya Gallo, Norwegian Research Centre, Norway Dr Meri Bilan, Dalhousie University, Canada Dr. Jerry Rivers, North American Climate, Conservation and Environment(NACCE), United States Dr. Johnson Jament, University of Sussex, Department of Anthropology, School of Global Studies,, United Kingdom Professor Biju Kumar A, University of Kerala, India Ms Dieynaba Seck, Centre de Suivi Écologique, Senegal Dr Valeria Cortes Rivas, PUC, Chile Dr Ellen Garland, University of St Andrews, United Kingdom Professor Jean-François Rees, UCLouvain, Belgium Dr Lailah Gifty Akita (PhD), University of Ghana, Ghana Dr. Melissa J. Betters, Smithsonian Institution, United States Dr. Jenny Neuhaus, Senckenberg Society of Nature Research, Germany Dr Marjolaine Matabos, Ifremer, United Kingdom Morgane Le Gall, Ifremar, France Dr Isabel Baker, Johns Hopkins, United States Ms Rachel Downey, Australian National University, Australia Dr S.Kumaralingam, Centre for Ocean Research, Sathyabama Research Park, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, India Professor Dr. Gerhard J. Herndl, University of Vienna, Austria Mrs Raven Wright, University of Tasmania, United States Dr Sarah Foster, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia, Canada Dr Qian Liu, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, China Dr Bruce Quintin Mann, Oceanographic Research Institute, South Africa Christine de Silva, University of Rhode Island, United States Dr. Thomas F. Hourigan, NOAA Deep Sea Coral Research & Technology Program (Retired), United States Professor Dawn J. Wright, Oregon State University, United States Dr Jorge Cortés, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica Mr Deniz Vural, Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany Mr. Gayathra Bandara, Oceans Unmined, Sri Lanka Dr lazarus Obasioneni Ewelu Ikwa, michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike Umuahia Abia state, Nigeria Professor Emanuel Gonçalves, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Center / ISPA-Instituto Universitario, Portugal Mrs Bahia Brady, Marine Sciences Educator at South Peninsula High School, South Africa Dr. Avinash Sharma, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India, India Ms Sarah Gaines, University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, United States Ms. Avery Fenton, Aquafact Ltd., Ireland Dr Laura Kaikkonen, Finnish Environment Institute, Finland Ms Rachel Downey, Australian National University, Australia Dr. Beatriz Mejia-Mercado, Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, United States Dr Susan Lieberman, Wildlife Conservation Society, United States Prof Dr Aline Kühl-Stenzel, HNEE, Germany Dr. Jon Moore, Florida Atlantic University, United States DR. Mari Deinhart, ESNZ, New Zealand Dr Hammoud El Vadhel, IMROP, Mauritania PhD Graduate Student Caroline Edmonds, Oregon State University, United States Ms Rachel Downey, Australian National University, Australia Dr. Stefanie Kaiser, University of Łódź, Poland Dr Daniel Moore, University of Exeter, United Kingdom Mr. Trevor Lindars, Sea Shepherd | ORRCA | Australian Marine Conservation Society, Australia . Olga Esther Marcayata Vaca, Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada Dr Maria Luiza de Carvalho Ferreira, University of Chicago, United States Ms Diana Kerubo Nyakundi, Sea Turtle Biologist at Olive Ridley Project-Kenya, Kenya Dr. Sheryl Murdock, Arizona State University, United States Dr Esra Kocum, Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi, Turkey Dr Sarah Hameed, Marine Conservation Institute, United States Dr Pavanee Annasawmy, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, France M.S. James Lin, University of New Hampshire, United States Ms. Alisha Gill, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand Dr Hélène Thibault, University of Bergen, Norway Dr Hammoud El Vadhel, IMROP, Mauritania Special Educator Nicole Zaloumis O’Reilly, Orton Gillingham certified reading teacher, United States Dr Vanderley Jose Pereira, Embrapa Rondônia, Brazil Mr Adrian McRae, Bangor University, United Kingdom Ms Gioia Egloff, Bangor University, United Kingdom
Coordinated by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition Seamounts Campaign and Marine Conservation Institute
