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Get Involved Saving the oceans with your support The declining health of oceans has wide-ranging impacts on our marine ecosystems, global food supplies, jobs, recreation, and world economies. It also impacts each of us personally. Our communities and our lives are deeply connected to the oceans. Sadly, those connections are increasingly jeopardized by beach closures, seafood health warnings, harmful algal blooms, and collapsed fisheries. ​ There is still time to restore our oceans and safeguard them for future generations if we act quickly. With your generous support, the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science can continue its innovative scientific research that uniquely advances ocean conservation policy and practice. Our work, with your partnership, is integral to restoring and protecting the health of our marine environment – before it is too late. ​ "It's not too late to save the largest, most biologically rich place on earth from the gathering wave of ocean extinctions, but we must act swiftly and strategically.” -Dr. Ellen K. Pikitch How to Give Donate Online Please contribute online by clicking the link below. Enter the desired amount in the box for “Institute for Ocean Conservation Science.” Donate Now Give by Check Please make your check or money order payable to the “Stony Brook Foundation.” In the “for” line, designate the purpose of your donation as the “Institute for Ocean Conservation Science.” ​ Mail to: Institute for Ocean Conservation Science Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook, NY 11794-5000 Your donation is tax deductable ​ The Stony Brook Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) charitable foundation that benefits the University and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. ​ For more information on the Stony Brook Foundation, click here. ​ Thank you! Join our mailing list Email Subscribe Thanks for subscribing! Follow Us Follow us on Social!

Christine Santora, Assistant Director Christine Santora is our Assistant Director and has been with the institute since its inception. She has eighteen years of experience working on a variety of marine science and policy issues and currently focuses on marine protected areas, fisheries management, and estuary restoration. One of her favorite aspects of the job is getting the chance to help build and promote the institute by developing programs, proposals, and strategic relationships. Christine is a Board Member of the Ocean Sanctuary Alliance, an organization affiliated with the United Nations that brings together diplomats and scientists to explore solutions for the oceans and to emphasize the establishment and good management of science-based MPAs. She is also a leading member of the Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program at Stony Brook University’s Southampton campus, which uses shellfish and eelgrass restoration to improve degraded water quality in the bay. Prior to these long-running initiatives, Christine was Project Director of the Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force , a four-year scientific effort that developed recommendations and ecosystem-based standards for the management of forage fish populations worldwide. She has co-authored dozens of peer-reviewed papers and reports over the course of her career, including a flagship paper on Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management published in the journal, Science . She is a proud alumna of the University of Rhode Island Marine Affairs Program, where she earned her graduate degree from 2000-2002. ​ Christine has a passion for travel and a love of nature, qualities she hopes her two sons will inherit. She enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, bocce, and keeps on trying to get better at skiing and tennis.

Conservation Finance MPAs often fall short of conservation goals because of insufficient or unreliable financial resources to support on-the-ground management and enforcement operations, such as staff salaries, equipment, and fuel. Funding challenges are a common thread and persistent problem for MPAs around the world and undermine the success of many marine conservation efforts. Thus, an important area of research is “MPA sustainable finance” – a field of study that seeks to understand why MPAs lack sufficient, reliable funding and then generate strategies and solutions to remedy the problem. IOCS has embraced MPA finance as a central research focus. ​ MPA finance tool and application in Latin America and the Caribbean IOCS’s Dr. John Bohórquez is a globally recognized expert in MPA finance with an interdisciplinary background in finance and economics paired with marine conservation and ecology. For his Ph.D. at IOCS-SoMAS, John developed a replicable tool for MPA practitioners to assess their financial strategies and identify pathways forward to achieve financial sustainability. The tool was created after rigorous research of a subset of MPAs in Latin America and the Caribbean, principally in Colombia, Belize, and the Caribbean Netherlands. Deep investigation of these case studies resulted in a series of practical recommendations for these MPAs including how to make more effective use of current financial resources, how to elevate or strengthen the MPA, and developing ‘best-fit’ alternative financial mechanisms for each site. The work also provided important perspectives for MPA finance at large and has been presented at several conferences in the United States and abroad. Developing a financial sustainability assessment tool for Marine Protected Areas Watch now Other publications and outputs ​ John, Ellen Pikitch, and other colleagues at Stony Brook University, New York University, and the University of British Columbia recently published part of this tool in a peer reviewed journal. The paper includes case study results for an MPA in Colombia, Parque Nacional Natural Corales de Profundidad, that protects deep-water and mesophotic corals in the Caribbean. Prior to that, the IOCS team published a paper comparing financing in marine versus terrestrial protected areas , and another analyzing a global database of MPAs categorizing them by attributes . Several other publications on the financing of MPAs are in progress. Ellen, John, and Christine’s policy work, including the Rome 2016 call to action for MPAs , incorporated MPA finance as a core theme for achieving UN SDG 14.5 to protect 10% of the ocean by 2020. Ellen and John also advised on the expansion of the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Other areas of Conservation Finance IOCS maintains a working relationship with the Conservation Finance Alliance , where John sits on the marine and coastal finance working group. John also worked with CFA on the Global Fund for Coral Reefs , which seeks to invest $625 million in conservation of climate resilient coral reefs over the next decade. John and CFA developed the fund’s investment plan and continue to provide technical support. Publications Bohorquez, J.J., Dvarskas, A., Jacquet, J., Sumaila, U.R., Nye, J., Pikitch, E.K., 2022, A New Tool to Evaluate, Improve, and Sustain Marine Protected Area Financing Built on a Comprehensive Review of Finance Sources and Instruments. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8(742846). Victurine, R., Cripps, S., Meyers, D., Bohorquez, J., (in progress) Sustainable Financing for Coral Reefs. Wildlife Conservation Society, Conservation Finance Alliance. Bohorquez, J.J., Bryce, B., Battacharyya, K., Leone, S.D., Bardoux, P., Philip, M., Grimsditch, G., Meyers, D., An Integrated Blended Finance Fund for Coral Reefs. 2021 YISF Symposium, Yale University. October 29th, 2021. Besancon, C., Marcus, T., Bohorquez, J., Meyers, D., 2021. Protected Area Finance Capacity Needs: Results of a Global Survey . Conservation Finance Alliance, Global Park Solutions. ​ Meyers, D., Battacharyya, K., Bray, B., Bohorquez, J., Leone, S., 2021. The Global Fund for Coral Reefs: Investment Plan 2021 . Conservation Finance Alliance. ​ Meyers, D., Bohorquez, J., Cumming, T., Emerton, L., v.d. Heuvel, O., Riva, M., Swanson, E., and Victurne, R. Conservation Finance: A Framework . Conservation Finance Alliance, March 2020, www.cfalliance.org ​ Bohorquez, J.J., Dvarskas, A., Pikitch, E., 2019. Categorizing Global MPAs: A cluster analysis approach . Marine Policy. 108. Bohorquez, J.J., Dvarskas, A., Pikitch, E., (2019) Filling the data gap – a pressing need for advancing MPA sustainable finance . Frontiers in Marine Science. 6:45. 1-14.

Pioneering eDNA ​Environmental DNA, or eDNA, uses genetic material from the environment – like soil or water—to detect and identify the presence of wildlife. Just as forensic teams look for human DNA to determine who was at the scene of a crime, scientists can use eDNA to see what species are present in a sampled area. Similar to humans shedding hair and skin cells; marine organisms shed DNA into the environment through skin cells, scales, or secretions. What are the benefits of using eDNA in marine science? eDNA provides a valuable window into our underwater world. A simple vial of water is used to determine a wide range of marine life at the time and place where the sample was taken. With continuous sampling, eDNA can show how biodiversity can vary across space and time. Importantly, eDNA is a noninvasive sampling method. Traditionally, many fish biodiversity and abundance surveys utilize invasive methods that can kill or injure fish during sampling. While a valuable and effective methodology for scientific research, such surveys are not always ideal— especially when measuring vulnerable species or studying sensitive habitats such as eelgrass beds. eDNA avoids these risks. In addition, uncommon, large, or fast species can often avoid surveys that use nets, lines, or trawls. Since eDNA is derived from a water sample, those potential biases are eliminated. Our Executive Director, Ellen Pikitch, has written about the benefits of eDNA in a Perspective column published in the journal Science. How are we using eDNA to further our scientific mission? Coastal bays and estuaries are diverse, productive, and complex environments that are subject to a high level of human interference and are often negatively impacted by land-based pollution, overdevelopment, habitat loss, and overfishing. We have been studying and restoring a local Long Island estuary, Shinnecock Bay , for over ten years. Part of our work involves understanding the biological communities within the bay. Through several methodologies, including eDNA, we are creating a baseline dataset of which species live in and use the bay, as well as determining seasonal and habitat utilization patterns. We have seen the benefits of using eDNA already; for example, striped bass and several species of elasmobranchs are known to be abundant in the Shinnecock Bay ecosystem but are seldom caught in survey trawls. eDNA, however, consistently shows the presence of these species so that they are not overlooked in our biodiversity assessments. We are also using eDNA for sampling in highly important, vulnerable environments where we are conducting restoration activities. This includes hard clam spawner sanctuaries, oyster reefs, and eelgrass beds that have all been part of the Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program and that we want to observe with minimal disturbance. How does eDNA work? The process of sampling, extracting, and analyzing eDNA takes several steps. First, we collect a subsurface water sample at a predetermined location using a sterilized and labeled bottle. Each sample is kept on ice before being processed in the lab the following day. In the lab, we filter each water sample through a membrane that catches all of the material suspended in the water. We then extract the DNA from the filters, separating it from the membrane and all the non-DNA material. We also measure concentration and purity to determine if the sample meets optimal standards and is free of contamination. Finally, we send all our eDNA samples to a molecular analysis lab. There, a polymerous chain reaction, or PCR, is used to amplify pieces of DNA— in other words, to make many replicate copies. This amplification allows the biochemist to identify the DNA at the species level. The results reveal which species were present at each sampling location, leading to a “biodiversity snapshot” around Shinnecock Bay over the course of a sampling season. A Tool for Finding Rare Marine Species Written by Ellen K. Pikitch, 2018 Read the Publication How eDNA outperforms other methods Click to view a chart showing a comparing the effectiveness, safety and feasibility of eDNA methods versus other noninvasive methods. Download Chart Gallery 218016975_4514962678523300_5106710980982542879_n 224347946_4519822001370701_7687522077523010895_n 218016975_4514962678523300_5106710980982542879_n 1/11

Fisheries Monitoring Surveys are an important tool to advance understanding of the composition of marine life, as in Shinnecock Bay , or better manage commercial or recreational fisheries, such as forage fish. Fisheries surveys are generally divided into two different categories: fisheries dependent surveys, which are based upon data gathered by commercial and recreational fishermen, and fisheries independent surveys, which are undertaken by scientists for research or monitoring purposes. IOCS scientists and staff have years of experience in fisheries science and have employed a variety of fisheries independent survey techniques to research and assess fish populations around the globe. These have included using a longline survey and acoustic surveys to monitor sharks in Belize, satellite tagging to track Caspian sea sturgeon and Atlantic sturgeon , acoustic tagging to monitor summer flounder in Shinnecock Bay, and estimating groundfish populations in Alaska and along the U.S. west coast. ​ Fisheries monitoring in Shinnecock Bay, NY We have been surveying the fish and invertebrate communities in Shinnecock Bay for over ten years. The surveys provide us with standardized and consistent information on the range of biodiversity in the bay, and the size, abundance, and local distribution of the various species we catch. ​ Our longest running survey method, now in its eleventh year, involves trawling with a small net towed behind our research vessel for several minutes at different sampling stations around the bay. Our staff and volunteers quickly identify, measure, and release organisms back into the water, documenting catch in various bay locations, habitats, and seasons. We have also used Baited Remote Underwater Videos (BRUVs). These are submersible HD video cameras anchored to the bottom in front of a bait bag that attracts nearby marine life. After resting on the bottom for at least an hour, the cameras are retrieved and the videos are downloaded and processed. Trained students and volunteers review the footage in the lab and identify species recorded on video. ​ We began using Environmental DNA, or eDNA , as an additional survey technique in 2019. eDNA allows us to obtain a “biodiversity snapshot” of a particular area by collecting and processing a water sample. We have taken eDNA samples alongside in parallel with trawl tow, so that the two methods can be directly compared. ​ Individually and collectively, these monitoring surveys can identify common or “resident” species, but also reveal how the composition of marine life in the bay might change over seasons or years. By cross-referencing the biodiversity data with temperature and water quality, we can also infer how life in the bay may be impacted by environmental factors. Importantly, we expect that this long term fisheries monitoring work in Shinnecock Bay will help document how our ShiRP restoration efforts over the last decade have had transformative benefits to the wider bay ecosystem. ​ ​ ​ Gallery 1/0

Meet Our Team Leadership Ellen Pikitch, Ph.D. Executive Director Christine Santora, M.M.A. Assistant Director Staff, Students & Affiliates Elizabeth Salzman Research Support Specialist M.S Graduate Natalia Benejam PhD Student Kevin Dowd Field Technician John Bohorquez Affiliate Former Postdoctoral Associate Maria Grima Affiliate Former M.S. Student Yifan Zhang PhD Student Isabella Imbo MCP Student IOCS Communications Assistant Sara Cernadas-Martin, Ph.D. Affiliate Former Research Scientist Dr. Karine Kleinhaus Research Associate Former Team Members ​ ​​ Allison Gallagher Seasonal Field/Lab Technician MCP Graduate ​2023 ​ Yurika Tomita MCP Graduate 2023​ ​ Tyler Bailey MCP Graduate 2023​ ​ Amanda Hanifin Project Aide ​2022 ​ Max Gomez Seasonal Field Technician 2022-2022 ​ Steve Silverman Seasonal Field Technician 2021​ ​ Dr. Paul Tompkins​ Post-Doctoral Associate 2017-2019​ ​ Timothy Frankstone Project collaborator: Evaluating MPAs in China M.S. Graduate 2019 ​ ​​ Gina Marie Greer ​ Marine Conservation and Policy Graduate 2019 ​ ​ Damien Beri​ Marine Conservation and Policy Graduate 2019​ ​ ​ Ashley Wemp​ Marine Conservation and Policy Graduate 2019​ ​ ​ Andrew Glinsky​ Marine Conservation and Policy Graduate 2019​​ ​ ​ Lucy DiBenedetto Undergraduate Intern 2018-2019 ​ ​ Alfredo Esposito Undergraduate Research Assistant 2015-2019 ​ ​ Maria Molina JFEW-SUNY International Relations and Global Affairs Intern 2018 ​ ​ Jason DuMond Marine Conservation and Policy Graduate 2018 ​ ​ Tyler Pritchett Marine Conservation and Policy Graduate 2018 ​ ​ Shannon Davis​ Marine Conservation and Policy Graduate 2018​ Graduate Intern ​ Rachel Silver Project Aide Marine Conservation and Policy Graduate 2017​ ​​ Erin O'Connor JFEW-SUNY International Relations and Global Affairs Intern 2016​​​​ ​ Dr. Demian Chapman​ IOCS Director of Science 2008-2015 Associate Professor ​ Dr. Natasha Gownaris Project Collaborator: Marine Priority Areas 2017-19 Ph.D. Graduate 2015 ​ Mark Bond Ph.D. Graduate 2015​​​ ​ ​ Dr. Konstantine Rountos Project Collaborator: ShiRP, Summer Flounder Post-Doctoral Associate 2014-2016 Ph.D. Graduate 2014 ​ ​ Emily Nocito​ JFEW-SUNY International Relations and Global Affairs Intern 2015​ ​ ​ Jessica Steve M.S. Graduate 2014 ​ ​ Keith Dunton Ph.D. Graduate 2014 ​ ​ Carolyn Sukowski Marine Conservation and Policy Graduate 2014 ​ ​ Shannon O'Leary Ph.D. Graduate 2013 Project Aide ​ ​ Debra Abercrombie Scientific Contractor 2012-2013 ​ ​ Dr. Kristin Broms Scientific Contractor for the Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force, 2011-2013 ​ ​ Tess Geers M.S. Graduate 2012 Project Aide ​ ​ Anna Webb M.S. Graduate 2011 ​ ​ Charles Perretti M.S. Graduate 2011 ​ ​ Leonardo Castello M.S. Graduate 2010 ​ ​ Dr. Joel Rice Scientific Collaborator for the Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force, 2010-2011 ​ ​ Dr. Phaedra Doukakis Member of Founding Team Research Scientist at Stony Brook University, 2008-2010 Research Scientist at University of Miami 2003-2008​ IOCS is grateful to Dr. Beth Babcock, Ted Morton, Dr. Vera Agostini, Dr. Andrew Baker, Dr. Andrew Bakun, Dr. Mandy Karnauskas, Tiffen Baker, and Ciani Mendez, all of whom were fundamental to IOCS’s success while at the University of Miami from 2003-2008 – and to Jesse Bruschini, Kathryn Cervino, Kim Knoll, and Lorraine Rubino who were instrumental in IOCS’s transition from UM to Stony Brook University and to its success thereafter.

Projects Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program (ShiRP) The Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program (ShiRP) was created in 2012 to combat the deterioration of Shinnecock Bay. We're leading an initiative to use research, monitoring, science-based restoration, and public outreach to improve the water quality and fisheries of the Shinnecock Bay. Learn more Marine Protected Areas Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs, protect and conserve ocean ecosystems, species, and habitats -- similar to national parks or forest reserves on land. Learn more Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot In early 2022, IOCS along with The Explorers Club nominated Shinnecock Bay as a Mission Blue Hope Spot, the first in the New York State and one of only a few on the U.S. East Coast. Learn more Marine Conservation in China Together with our team at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, we are investigating China's network of MPAs, of which there is a dearth of information available to the international community. Learn more Marine Areas of Consensus After analyzing the world's MPA network, we discovered that there are several parts of the ocean that the global community agrees on protecting. Learn more 10X20 Initiative The 10x20 Initiative was an effort at the United Nations to encourage effective achievement of protecting 10% of the ocean by the year 2020, one of the most important targets within Sustainable Development Goal 14, "Life Below Water." Learn more Conservation Finance Funding challenges are a common thread and persistent problem for MPAs around the world and undermine the success of many marine conservation efforts. Learn more Pioneering eDNA We are pioneering the eDNA frontier! Upon establishing a standardized protocol for sampling eDNA from marine systems, we hope to use this new tool to monitor fisheries and discover new and cryptic species. Learn more Fisheries Monitoring IOCS scientists and staff have years of experience in fisheries science and have employed a variety of fisheries independent survey techniques to research and assess fish populations around the globe. Learn more Community Outreach Learn more Forage Fish With the Lenfest Ocean Program's support, we have formed a Task Force of diverse scientists that have come together to better understand and conserve one of the world's most underestimated taxa: forage fish. Through landmark publications, we have helped show the global community a better way to manage these valuable animals. Learn more Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force IOCS, with support from the Lenfest Ocean Program, convened the Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force. Learn more

Making an Impact IOCS science has contributed to policy solutions and positive societal change in many ways. Below are selected examples showing our impact on a specific conservation issue, through targeted scientific projects and how they led to tangible and beneficial outcomes. Preventing Extinction The Issue: Protecting Endangered and Threatened Sturgeon Species Our Science: Tagging beluga and Atlantic sturgeon to track migratory routes DNA barcoding to track illegal caviar served in restaurants Conducting population analytics in the Caspian region with Kazahk collaborators Publishing the first-ever global assessment of global sturgeon and paddlefish species Our Impact: Beluga sturgeon listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act U.S. ban on most beluga sturgeon caviar imports CITES international trade bans enacted Consumer campaigns encourage consumption of sustainable, farm-raised sturgeon Improved enforcement of illegal sturgeon fishing 10-year moratorium on sturgeon fishing on Romania beluga and Atlantic sturgeon to track migratory routes Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management The Issue: Moving away from managing fish populations individually and towards recognizing the ecosystem as a whole Our Science: Published EBFM scientific consensus as a Policy Forum in the journal Science Led the Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force in developing ecosystem-based management recommendations for forage fish Published the value of forage fish to marine species and ecosystems ​Our Impact: Shaping new conversations on integrating ecosystems into fisheries management Influencing the ASMFC on EBFM for Atlantic menhaden Uptake of key LFFTF recommendations by several US states and other nations Seafood Watch adopts LFFTF guidelines for sustainability Promoting Conservation Awareness The Issue: Distilling and disseminating scientific concepts to influential groups and the general public for increased marine conservation awareness and stewardship. Our Science: ​Convening high-level symposia on MPAs in Rome, Italy, and at the United Nations Curating hands-on experiences and field trips for UN ambassadors and leading STEM educators in Shinnecock Bay Frequent speaking engagements at public events and scientific conferences. ​ Our Impact: ​Inspiring decision-makers at the global level Training teachers on local water quality issues for implementation into lesson plans Educating residents, groups, and businesses on Long Island

Karine Kleinhaus, Research Associate Dr. Kleinhaus first joined the IOCS team in Fall 2020 as a collaborator on our project to evaluate marine protected areas in China . In May 2020, she earned her Marine Conservation and Policy M.A. from Stony Brook University. She is a strong advocate for transnational cooperation in the study and conservation of the world's marine ecosystems, and focuses her research on reproduction and aging in the uniquely resilient corals of the northern Red Sea. ​ Before becoming an Associate Professor at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University, Dr. Kleinhaus practiced medicine and worked as a senior executive at a publicly-traded biotechnology company. Outside of Stony Brook University and IOCS, she is a Visiting Scientist at the coral lab of Professor Maoz Fine at the InterUniversity Institute of Marine Sciences in Eilat, Israel. She has been awarded grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Association of European Marine Biological Laboratories.

Institute Highlights by Year In the eighteen years since its founding, IOCS scientists have produced an impressive record of peer-reviewed publications and accomplishments, while also frequently working with policymakers at the local, national, and international levels. IOCS has employed and collaborated with many scientists, graduate students, NGOs, foundations, and other key groups to make a difference for the future of our oceans. 2023 IOCS moderated a session on MPA finance in Latin America and the Caribbean at the 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress, submitted a related journal publication, and engaged in discussions on MPAs in China and scaling MPA finance. At the Stony Brook Gala in April, IOCS was highlighted in a tribute honoring Laurie Landeau and Bob Maze for their philanthropic support of the Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program and their impact at Stony Brook University. In May, Dr. Ellen Pikitch presented degrees at the SoMAS Convocation and, along with her sister Susan, awarded the 10th Anniversary Pikitch Family Endowed Research Award to Nathaniel Willse. During World Ocean Week in June, IOCS featured the Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot at The Explorers Club's 'Big Ideas' session and Dr. Pikitch spoke at the United Nations, co-organizing a side event on unmanned technologies in marine environments. On June 9th, IOCS celebrated the Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Stony Brook Southampton, featuring Mission Blue’s founder Dr. Sylvia Earle, and other notable figures, spotlighting advances in underwater robotics and marine conservation. Dr. Ellen Pikitch co-authored a publication in Marine Policy, "Reconciling China’s Domestic Marine Conservation Agenda with the Global 30 × 30 Initiative," contributing significantly to global discussions on marine protected areas. 2022 Shinnecock Bay was designated as a global “Hope Spot” by Mission Blue, recognizing a decade of restoration efforts by Stony Brook University's SoMAS team to revive its biodiversity and health. Our ShiRP team at Stony Brook University published our science-based restoration work in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, showing how implementing successful strategies like spawner sanctuaries and eelgrass seeding enhance marine biodiversity and improve water quality in the bay. Dr. John Bohorquez and Dr. Ellen Pikitch led a study supported by the Lenfest Ocean Program, that created the first-of-its-kind database on China's marine conservation areas. The study was published in Science Advances, and shows China’s progress towards the Convention on Biodiversity’s (CBD) goal of protecting 30% of oceans by 2030. Dr. Ellen Pikitch contributed to a national analysis of MPAs, highlighting the need for expanded marine protection in U.S. waters to meet conservation goals, as published in Frontiers in Marine Science. Dr. Ellen Pikitch spoke at the UN's sixth annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science, focusing on sustainable development and her work on the Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program. IOCS scientists published a letter in Science, highlighting the importance of Egypt's heat-tolerant coral reefs and their conservation needs, coinciding with global climate discussions at COP27. 2021 IOCS initiated and published the first comprehensive study of China’s area-based ocean conservation efforts in Science Advances, released an online map of results, and presented findings on a public webinar. Ellen Pikitch is co-author of The MPA Guide, an authoritative synthesis published in Science and is featured in an article “New MPA Guide Maps Out Ways to Effectively Protect 30 Percent of Ocean by 2030” Stony Brook University highlights the work of the Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program in “SBU Scientists Take a Multi-Faceted Approach to Restoring Shinnecock Bay” published in Stony Brook News. IOCS coauthors publications on the effects of South Africa’s fisheries closures on penguins, and on diet variability of the summer flounder in Shinnecock Bay, NY. 2020 IOCS helps secure over 200,000 oysters for the restoration of Shinnecock Bay as part of the SOAR (Supporting Aquaculture and Restoration) program, an initiative to provide economic relief to oyster farmers during COVID-19 that provides positive environmental benefits. Ellen Pikitch elected a Fellow of The Explorer’s Club and named Director of SoMAS’s Marine Conservation and Policy M.A. Graduate Program. IOCS PhD student gives OCTO webinar describing his dissertation work on financial sustainability of MPAs and co-authors study in Environmental Science and Technology. 2019 Current and former IOCS members publish a global analysis in Frontiers in Marine Science showing important areas of the ocean that are good candidates for marine protection. The results are presented in an online mapping platform, highlighted in Stony Brook news , and presented by the authors in an online webinar. IOCS publishes two scientific papers on global marine protected area categorization and financing in the journals Frontiers in Marine Science and Marine Policy. IOCS leads a 4-day workshop to immerse 20 of New York State’s Master Teachers in estuary science and the Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program, with the goal of integrating local issues and marine science into their curricula. 2018 IOCS organizes session at 5th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC5) in Kuching, Malaysia on “Raising the Bar for Marine Protected Areas,” and attends the 2018 Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Ellen Pikitch publishes a foundational piece on environmental DNA in Science and earns an Endowed Professorship at SoMAS, boosting Stony Brook University’s leadership in marine science and conservation. IOCS members attend expert group meetings including IUCN’s workshop on crafting MPA Standards and the International Symposium on Assessing the Importance of Coastal Wetlands for Marine Ecosystems, Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Local Livelihoods in Shanghai, China. IOCS initiates a shell recycling program to support construction of four oyster reefs in Shinnecock Bay, NY 2017 IOCS attends and presents at the inaugural United Nations Oceans Conference. Ellen Pikitch is appointed by President Tommy Remengesau of the Republic of Palau to be his special advisor on Matters on Oceans and Seas Ellen Pikitch leads effort of over 100 scientists in support of ecosystem-based management of Atlantic Menhaden and reconvenes Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force to “correct the record” after other scientists mischaracterize their work. 2016 IOCS brings science directly to many United Nations Member States in support of SDG 14.5 including at the first “10 x 20” Steering Committee Meeting, at a briefing at UN Headquarters, and by co-hosting an event at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly IOCS co-organizes a high-level, international conference on marine protected areas in Rome, Italy. The conference included developing scientific guidance to achieve effective MPAs as well as a science-policy dialogue with diplomats from 33 UN Member States. IOCS hosts a group of UN ambassadors at Stony Brook Southampton Marine Station, where ten countries tour marine lab and visit local marine protected area, underscoring importance of MPAs to local conservation. Ellen Pikitch receives prestigious Oscar Elton Sette Award from American Fisheries Society for sustained excellence in the areas of research, teaching, and administration 2015 IOCS convenes a panel of world-renowned scientists at the UN for One Ocean: Achieving Sustainability through Sanctuaries symposium, which leads to close working partnership with Ocean Sanctuary Alliance on Sustainable Development Goal 14 IOCS participates in high-level event on MPAs at UN that focuses on regenerating fish stocks to prepare for UN General Assembly vote on adopting 15-year set of Sustainable Development Goals American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) elects Ellen Pikitch as a 2015 fellow, honoring her “for distinguished contributions to the fields of fisheries and conservation science, particularly development and application of quantitative methods to sustainably manage exploited marine fishes” 2014 Dr. Ellen Pikitch receives the 2014 award for Excellence in Public Outreach at the annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society. IOCS leads a study in the journal Fish and Fisheries on the value of forage fish as direct catch, as food for other commercial species, and as prey for higher trophic level species. 2013 IOCS study showed that ocean whitetip sharks travel far from the protected areas of the Bahamas, putting them in danger of exploitation Co-authored a paper showing that over 100 million sharks are killed annually, calling for stronger international conservation measures Developed a shark fin identification guide and app, making it easy to identify fins in a market and determine if they were taken from protected species 2012 The IOCS-led Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force issues its groundbreaking report, “Little Fish, Big Impact: Managing a crucial link in ocean food webs”, with original scientific analyses, case studies, and recommendations for ecologically-based forage fish management. This report immediately began to influence both US and global forage fisheries management and conservation Demonstrated that marine reserves are powerful tools for the conservation of Caribbean Reef Sharks The Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program is founded 2011 Published review paper “Trophic Downgrading of Planet Earth” in Science, confirming that apex predators are vital to marine ecosystem stability Demonstrated a method to trace shark fins by their genetic “zip code”, further refining methods to track shark fins from markets 2010 Found Caspian Sea sturgeon harvest rates to be highly unsustainable - four to five times higher than biologically safe levels Provided the first evidence that Atlantic Sturgeon travel vast distances in the ocean, using pop-up satellite tags Found virgin birth shark pups to be biologically viable, providing the first evidence that parthenogenesis is an alternative method of reproduction for sharks 2009 Showed that unadaptive evolution in fish - a result of overfishing that can weaken a whole species - can be revered with informed fisheries management Developed DNA testing techniques that traced hammerhead shark fins sold in Hong Kong to their geographic origin Demonstrated that lemon sharks stay near their home ranges, highlighting the importance of focused, localized conservation efforts 2008 Co-authored Sharks of the Open Ocean, a compendium focusing on the biology, conservation, and management of pelagic sharks Sponsored research that demonstrated that forage fish constitute a third of global fish catch, leading to the creation of the Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force Authored a Newsday editorial about sharks and the necessity of stronger conservation efforts The Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force begins its 3-year program of work 2007 Documented a virgin birth by a captive hammerhead shark, the first demonstration that female sharks can reproduce without mating Received a Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil Award for “Caviar Emptor: Let the Connoisseur Beware”, a seven-year public education program that spread awareness and understanding of the beluga sturgeon’s critically endangered status Demonstrated the cascading effects of shark overfishing, highlighting their importance for ocean conservation Demonstrated mixing of green sturgeon populations in the Pacific, helping to inform management practices and leading to a 5-year review of the green sturgeon’s status by the National Marine Fisheries Service 2006 Produced the world’s first global estimate of sharks killed, finding that the number of kills is likely three times higher than official estimates and spurring a number of shark conservation measures including the U.S. Shark Finning Prohibition Act and a number of state fishing bans Tracked the movement of the Caspian Sea sturgeon with satellite tags and informed the government of Kazakhstan’s conservation measures for the species. 2005 Published the first global review of sturgeon fisheries, helping influence 175 countries to enact a global, one-year ban on sturgeon trade Authored “The gathering wave of ocean extinctions” for the book State of the Wild Led a field trip to the Bahamas that raised awareness and media coverage of the threat of marine life extinction 2004 Demonstrated that beluga sturgeon were nearing extinction due to the caviar trade, helping to grant the sturgeon “Threatened” status, and leading the USA to ban beluga caviar imports the following year Led the first scientific consensus on ecosystem-based fisheries management, with a publication in Science 2003 Pioneered a new method of forensic DNA identification of great white sharks, giving enforcement agents the tools to fight illegal harvesting and helping to secure international protection for this vital species The Institute is founded in October 2003 at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot “I wish YOU would use all means at your disposal and campaign to ignite public support for a global network of marine protected areas; Hope Spots large enough to save and restore the ocean, the blue heart of the planet.” ​ – Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue Hope Spots In early 2022, IOCS along with The Explorers Club nominated Shinnecock Bay as a Mission Blue Hope Spot , the first in the New York State and one of only a few on the U.S. East Coast. Mission Blue describes how Hope Spots are unique: A Hope Spot is any special place that is critical to the health of the ocean–Earth‘s blue heart. They’re about recognizing, empowering, and supporting individuals and communities around the world in their efforts to protect the ocean . Shinnecock Bay was once severely degraded, facing similar problems as other bays in the region and around the globe: water quality impairments, nitrogen loading, a lack of shellfish, and habitat loss. Now, following a comprehensive restoration and monitoring program begun in 2012 led by Stony Brook University (The Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program (ShiRP)), the health of the bay has improved dramatically. Shinnecock Bay serves as a beacon of hope providing a positive example of successful restoration in an era of negative environmental news. This, along with strong and supportive community involvement, the remarkable variety of species in the bay, and the recreational and commercial opportunities enjoyed there, are among the reasons Mission Blue designated Shinnecock Bay as its newest Hope Spot on June 6, 2022. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ June 9, 2023: Dr. Sylvia Earle visits the Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot for Inaugural Event Photos by Christopher Paparo Goals of the Hope Spot There is still more work to do. ​ The Hope Spot designation provides a platform for further community building and will create new partnerships and opportunities. Goals of the Hope Spot include: Continue and amplify ecological restoration and monitoring efforts in Shinnecock Bay. Broaden the constituency for the restoration of Shinnecock Bay through enhanced engagement and partnerships with government, tribal, industry, NGO, foundation, and other individuals and community organizations. Create awareness of the Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot so that it can instill hope to a broader populace and guide similar efforts elsewhere. Expand science, research and exploration of the bay, using this well studied bay as a “test bed” for new technologies. Secure adequate long term funding to enable the achievement of these goals. ​ ​ To support the Hope Spot and help us meet our goals: donate , follow us on social, and sign up for our newsletter below. Resources Hope Spot Announcement June 9, 2023 Inauguration Event Mission Blue Story Shinnecock Bay Restoration Gallery Sign up for our newsletter Join our mailing list Email Subscribe Thanks for subscribing!

Natalia Benejam, Ph.D. Student We are delighted to announce Natalia Benejam as one of our new PhD students in 2023. Natalia has had a lifelong passion for marine conservation. Her journey in marine science began with a childhood fascination for the ocean, sparked by frequent visits to aquariums and her admiration for marine-themed movies like Finding Nemo . These early interests laid the foundation for her academic pursuits and research in marine biology. ​ ​ ​ Natalia's academic credentials include a B.S. in Marine Biology from Rutgers University. Double minors in ecology, evolution, and natural resources, and women and gender studies complemented her studies. During her time at Rutgers, Natalia engaged in several research projects, notably in the summer of 2022, working alongside a Ph.D. student to explore the role of small pelagic fish in the carbon cycle within the Mid-Atlantic Bight. Additionally, through her coursework, she contributed to analyses of glider data, aiding in the understanding of spatial and temporal changes in water quality parameters. Her undergraduate experience also involved participating in the Challenger Mission at Rutgers, a multi-year initiative to pilot ocean gliders around the world’s ocean basins to spread ocean literacy and educate the general public about our ocean. ​ Before her undergraduate studies, Natalia was involved in her high school's Advanced Science Research Program, where she researched the interactions among different shark species in captivity. She also worked at the Center For The Urban River At Beczak, focusing on urban river ecology and environmental education. ​ Natalia's addition to the IOCS team is a testament to her deep-seated enthusiasm for marine science and her commitment to advancing our understanding of marine ecosystems. She eagerly anticipates delving into her graduate studies and research, contributing significantly to our ongoing projects and the broader goals of the Institute.