Protection Leads to Discovery and Connection

The ocean plays an essential role in sustaining life on our planet. It covers nearly three-fourths of the globe and is home to nearly a quarter of the world’s known species, and many more yet to be discovered. The ocean provides tens of billions of dollars in economic benefits to countless stakeholders. But human activities are increasingly threatening its health. Large, fully protected marine reserves have the ability to reverse the many challenges to ocean health.

Fully protected marine reserves benefit people and the planet by:

• Safeguarding biodiversity.
• Improving fish populations.
• Strengthening connections between indigenous communities and the natural resources their cultures depend on.
• Providing ecological benefits to neighboring ecosystems.
• Protecting predators and maintaining ecosystem stability.
• Strengthening the ocean’s resilience to the impacts of a changing climate.

Science Advisory Board

Ocean Legacy benefits from the advice of a Science Advisory Board, composed of esteemed scientists with expertise in marine biology and fisheries disciplines. Board members include Juan Carlos Castilla, Ph.D; Philippe Cury, Ph.D.; Douglas McCauley, Ph.D.; Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D.; Daniel Pauly, Ph.D.; Bob Richmond, Ph.D.; Callum Roberts, Ph.D.; Andrea Sáenz-Arroyo, Ph.D.; Rashid Sumaila, Ph.D.; and Boris Worm, Ph.D.

The Pew Bertarelli Ocean Ambassadors

The Pew Bertarelli Ocean Ambassadors, a group of global leaders with a shared interest in establishing a healthier and more resilient ocean, support the work of the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project. The group consists of John Kerry, former U.S. secretary of state; David Cameron, former prime minister of the United Kingdom; James Alix Michel, former president of Seychelles; Carlotta Leon Guerrero, executive director of the Guam-based Ayuda Foundation; and Heraldo Muñoz, former Chilean minister of foreign affairs.