Expert Profile

Susan Lieberman

Senior Director, International Environmental Policy
The Pew Charitable Trusts

Susan Lieberman joined Pew in August 2009 and serves as deputy director of international environment policy. She leads an integrated program focused on treaties, regional fisheries management organizations and other intergovernmental organizations to achieve Pew’s marine conservation goals.

Lieberman has worked in international conservation for more than 20 years. Before joining Pew, she worked in Europe from 2001 to 2009 as director of the Species Programme of World Wildlife Fund-International (WWF), leading programmatic and communications work on endangered species conservation.
She directed efforts by WWF to conserve flagship species of international concern, including whales, marine turtles, tigers, giant pandas, polar bears, African and Asian elephants, rhinos and great apes, as well as other endangered and threatened species and those subject to international trade.

She also has experience with conservation policy issues in several intergovernmental forums, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, the International Whaling Commission, the Convention on Migratory Species and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Lieberman conducted postdoctoral research on reptiles in Mexico and on prosimians (primitive primates). She holds a doctorate from the University of Southern California, where her research focused on tropical ecology and amphibians and reptiles in Costa Rica.

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News Room

June 20, 2012

Pew Reacts to Rio+20 Document

Negotiators meeting in Rio, Brazil at the Earth Summit known as Rio+20 have finalized a 49-page document which will now go to Heads of State.

May 31, 2012

Pew Applauds New EU International Trade Protection for Porbeagle Shark

The Pew Environment Group today applauded the European Union for its action to protect the porbeagle shark—which is critically endangered in parts of the North Atlantic—from being killed for its fins and meat.

May 15, 2012

Governments Take Weak Stance on the Ocean

Susan Lieberman, director of international policy at the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in response to the lack of necessary action on high seas biodiversity conservation at the United Nations BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) meeting, which concluded Friday.

February 13, 2012

Ocean Life in the Balance: Will Science Overcome Politics at Rio+20 Conference?

The United Nations has sought to promote the "peaceful use of the seas and ocean, the equitable utilization of their resources, and the study, protection, and preservation of the marine environment," for decades.

January 11, 2012

Pew Encouraged that Ocean Protection is on Rio+20 Agenda

High seas recognized as critical for sustainable development in UN process.

November 19, 2011

Conservation Body Agrees to Protect Silky Sharks

An Associated Press story on ICCAT quotes Sue Lieberman, director of international Policy at the Pew Environment Group, and highlights Pew's role in the effort to enact the electronic tracking system for bluefin tuna.

November 19, 2011

ICCAT: Progress, Yes. Success, No.

Governments at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) have adopted several important provisions that will conserve threatened fish species—such as bluefin tuna and silky sharks, but failed to act on several pressing matters. ICCAT is the international body that manages tuna fisheries across a quarter of the ocean’s surface, including the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

July 7, 2011

New Global Assessment Confirms Threat to Tuna

Dr. Susan Lieberman, director of International Policy for the Pew Environment Group, released the following statement in response to the first-ever global species assessment of tuna and billfish.

November 27, 2010

Bluefin Tuna: Who's to Blame?

Agence France-Presse reports on the failure of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna to enact new protections for the bluefin tuna.

November 27, 2010

Group Votes to Keep Fishing Levels of Bluefin Tuna Stable

The New York Times quotes Susan Lieberman on the lack of progrees made to protect tuna at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

November 27, 2010

Pew: Governments Incapable of Managing Tuna; Shark Protections Important, But Not Enough

Shark protections important, but not enough.

November 22, 2010

Migratory Sharks Face Intense Fishing Pressure

The Washington Post reports on the plight of sharks and includes a quote from Sue Lieberman of the Pew Environment Group.

November 19, 2010

Bad News for Bluefin Tuna Keeps on Coming

A post on Time's Ecocentric blog quotes the Pew Environment Group's Sue Lieberman on developments at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

November 19, 2010

Japan Takes Lead in Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Battle

Sue Lieberman of the Pew Environment Group is quoted in this story from Agence France Presse on Japan's calls for stricter limits on bluefin tuna fishing.

November 19, 2010

Time to Save the Tuna

Atlantic bluefin tuna are one of the most remarkable fish in the sea. Their amazing biology allows them to dive down to 1,000m and race through the water at extraordinary speeds, migrating thousands of kilometres across the ocean each year. Yet, today, overfishing – some of it illegal, unregulated and unreported – has taken an enormous toll.

November 18, 2010

Eleventh Hour for Tuna and Sharks

It's nor or never for the bluefin tuna, an iconic ocean predator prized as a sashimi delicacy--and being overfished to the edge of extinction. "If we take action now, a thriving and sustainable bluefin fishery may be possible once again in both the western and eastern Atlantic," says Susan Lieberman, director of International Policy at the Pew Environment Group and former chief of the Division of Scientific Authority with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

November 17, 2010

Tuna Tussle: How Much Fishing is Too Much?

Susan Lieberman is interviewed by the Associated Press for a story about the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas meeting in Paris, France.

November 15, 2010

Fishing Nations Gear Up for Tuna Quota Talks

A Reuters article on the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas features a quote from the Pew Environment Group's Sue Lieberman.

October 27, 2010

With UN Nature Talks Stalling, Japan Offers $2 Billion

An Associated Press article on the U.N. Convention on Biodiversity features a quote from the Pew Environment Group's Sue Lieberman.

June 23, 2010

Talks to Reduce Whale Hunting Collapse

Talks have broken down which would have cut back on whale hunting by Japan, Norway and Iceland, in large part because whaling in Antarctica would have been severely curtailed.

June 23, 2010

Whaling Moratorium Talks Break Down

Talks aimed at moving international whaling from a moratorium to a controlled hunt have broken down and will not resume until next year. 

June 23, 2010

International Whaling Commission Fails to Find a Way Forward for Whales

Susan Lieberman, director of international policy for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement in response to the International Whaling Commission’s Annual Meeting concluding without any results from the three-year effort to reconcile the impasse between pro-whaling and anti-whaling countries.

June 21, 2010

Whaling Commission Ponders Suspending Hunting Ban

The deputy chairman of the International Whaling Commission suspended talks about ending the 25 year moratorium on hunting in favor of restricted and monitored hunts by Japan, Norway and Iceland.

June 18, 2010

Future of Commercial Whaling Ban Rests with Japan

An Associated Press article on commercial whaling features a comment by Susan Lieberman of the Pew Environment Group.

June 16, 2010

Pew Seeks Landmark Conservation Solutions at Historic International Whaling Commission Meeting

Efforts to finally bring an end to the impasse between pro-whaling and anti-whaling countries in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) will be the focus of the IWC’s Annual Meeting, opening in Agadir, Morocco, on Monday, June 21.

May 29, 2010

UN Fish Stocks Review

A weeklong review by governments from around the world of high seas fisheries policy ended Friday with an agreement to work at stronger actions on shark conservation, overfishing and climate change.

May 27, 2010

Latest Twist in Decades-Long Battle to Save the Whales

The International Whaling Commission is considering allowing Japan, Iceland and Norway to hunt whales, with limitations, a move being protested by environmentalists in California.

May 25, 2010

UN Fish Stocks Review Opens with Dire Outlook

The nation of Palau as well as scientists and environmentalists sounded a warning about collapsing fish stocks and shark finning as a weeklong review of high seas fisheries begins.

May 24, 2010

Two Studies Show Loopholes and Gaps in High Seas Fisheries Management

As the United Nations meets to discuss the state of high seas fisheries management, two independent, peer-reviewed studies reveal that ineffective international management is undermining the future of high seas fisheries, fish populations and the health of marine ecosystems.

April 24, 2010

International Whaling Commission Proposes Compromise on Ban

The Washington Post reports on a proposal by the International Whaling Commission to lift a moratorium on commercial whale hunting.

April 22, 2010

Pew Says Adjusted Compromise on Whaling Falls Short

Susan Lieberman, director of international policy for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement in response to the proposal released by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the International Whaling Commission.

April 9, 2010

Urgent Effort to Protect Bluefin Tuna

This video press conference features speakers discussing the international failure to protect bluefin tuna.

March 26, 2010

Pew Launches Urgent Effort to Protect Bluefin Tuna in the Gulf of Mexico

Need for safeguards intensifies following failed global attempt to prohibit commercial trade in bluefin.

March 26, 2010

Commerce Trumps Science at CITES, Threatened Sharks and Bluefin Tuna Still at Risk

Pew calls conference on global trade in endangered species a major disappointment.

March 23, 2010

Pew Launches Urgent Effort to Protect Bluefin Tuna in Gulf of Mexico

Need for protection intensifies after failed global attempt to prohibit commercial bluefin trade.

March 19, 2010

Global Conference Rejects Bans on Trade in Bluefin Tuna, Polar Bear

Coverage of CITES from The Washington Post, including a comment from Susan Lieberman of the Pew Environment Group.

March 18, 2010

CITES Fails to Protect Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Pew Urges ICCAT to Learn its Lesson in Doha and Act to Save This Fish

March 16, 2010

Bluefin Tuna - Fisher

A segment from The Current about proposls to extend protections for the Atlantic bluefin tuna.  The piece includes a comment from Sue Lieberman of the Pew Environment Group.

March 12, 2010

Battle Over Ivory, Tuna Expected At Wildlife Meeting

A Morning Edition clip on efforts to increase protection of endangered species at CITES.

March 11, 2010

Sushi Wars: Battle Looms Over Bluefin Tuna

The Independent reports on the critical decision facing participants at CITES regarding the Atlantic bluefin tuna.

March 5, 2010

Sharks: From Hunters to Hunted, and Overfished

An article from The Atlantic on the plight of overfished sharks and effort to extend protection of a number of species as part of the CITES conference.

March 4, 2010

A Move to Save the Bluefin Tuna

An article from Time magazine about efforts to save the Bluefin tuna as part of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

March 4, 2010

Clashing with Japan, US Seeks to Protect Tuna

An Agence France Presse article on the Atlantic bluefin tuna that features a quote from Sue Lieberman, Deputy Director, International Policy for the Pew Environment Group.

March 3, 2010

Pew Applauds the Obama Administration for Backing Global Trade Prohibition of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Urges International Support

Ground-breaking CITES meeting will focus on marine wildlife, including eight species of sharks.

March 3, 2010

U.S. Backs Efforts to Ban International Trade of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

The Washington Post reports that the U.S. government will announce Wednesday that it supports prohibiting international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna. The piece quotes Susan Lieberman, director of international policy at the Pew Environment Group.

March 3, 2010

U.S. Supports Ban on Popular Sushi Fish, the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

An article from USA Today about the United States' support for an effort to ban the international trade of bluefin tuna.

February 22, 2010

Tuna at Risk? Sushi Chefs Find Other Fish in the Sea

An article from the Boston Globe about sushi chefs looking for an alternative to bluefin tuna.

February 22, 2010

Statement: European Commission Sidesteps Major Decision on Bluefin Tuna

Susan Lieberman, director of international policy for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement in response to the European Commission’s failure to reach an unqualified decision on the proposal to prohibit international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna at the upcoming meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

February 22, 2010

Pew Says Proposed International Whaling Commission Compromise Fails to Secure a Future for Whales

Susan Lieberman, director of international policy for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement in response to recent efforts to resolve the impasse at the International Whaling Commission.

February 22, 2010

Brussels Call for Bluefin Tuna Ban

The Financial Times reports on the European Commission's position on a delayed bluefin tuna ban, quoting Sue Lieberman of the Pew Environment Group.

February 18, 2010

Bluefin Tuna May Hit the Critical List

An article from the Gulf News about bluefin tuna and the CITES convention being held in Doha, Qatar.

February 3, 2010

France Supports Bluefin Tuna Trade Prohibition Proposal, Unfortunately with Delayed Implementation

Susan Lieberman, director of international policy for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement in response to a declaration from France of support for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) proposal to prohibit international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna. 

February 1, 2010

Spotlight on Marine Species at Doha Meet

An article from The Peninsula about the 15th Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species being held in Doha, Qatar.

January 31, 2010

Doha CITES Meeting a ‘Landmark Event’

An article from the Gulf Times about the CITES conference being held in Doha, Qatar.

January 26, 2010

Italy Backs Ban on Bluefin Tuna Trade

An article by the Financial Times about Italy's decision to back a ban on the fishing of bluefin tuna.

November 15, 2009

Bluefin Tuna Quota Cut Not Enough: Environmentalists

AFP reports on the meetings of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, which refused to end fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna.

November 15, 2009

Fishing Body Agrees to Cut in Atlantic Tuna Quota

Reuters reports on an international agreement to cut by about a third the quota for Atlantic bluefin tuna.

November 13, 2009

The Last of the Bluefin Tuna?

The Atlantic reports on the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas meetings in Brazil. The piece quotes Susan Lieberman of the Pew Environment Group.

November 6, 2009

Pew Environment Group’s Opening Statement - ICCAT

Opening statement at the 21st Regular Meeting of The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna.

November 6, 2009

Pew Environment Group Press Call (Audio) - ICCAT

 Listen to a press briefing about what to expect from the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas meetings November 6 – 15 in Recife, Brazil.

More from the News Room

Events & Appearances

March 19, 2012

A Roadmap for Ocean Sustainability

New York, New York

Learn about how the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development can ensure the long term conservation and sustainable use of high seas marine biodiversity.

November 9, 2010

Pew to Host Press Call Previewing Crucial Meeting on Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Sharks

Washington, DC

On Thursday, November 11 at 10 a.m. EST, the Pew Environment Group will host a tele-briefing to discuss how illegal fishing, “crystal ball” management and chronic overfishing continue to threaten the sustainability of Atlantic bluefin and several species of sharks.

March 1, 2010

Press Call: Pew to Call for International Protections for Bluefin Tuna, Eight Species of Sharks

Washington, DC

On Wednesday, March 3 at 11 a.m. EST, the Pew Environment Group hosted a press call to discuss international trade restrictions proposed for iconic marine species at the upcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference.

More Events & Appearances

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