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
Coordinated by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition Seamounts Campaign and Marine Conservation Institute
