Dr. Enric Sala is a globally recognized marine ecologist whose transformative work has reshaped ocean conservation worldwide. He currently serves as National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence where he founded and leads the groundbreaking Pristine Seas initiative. Originally from northeastern Spain near the coast, Sala earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Barcelona before completing his doctorate in ecology at the University of Aix-Marseille in France. His academic career as a university professor culminated in a pivotal moment in 2008 when he made the profound decision to abandon academia to pursue full-time conservation, recognizing that scientific research alone was insufficient to address the accelerating degradation of marine ecosystems.
As founder of Pristine Seas, Dr. Sala pioneered an innovative approach that integrates scientific exploration, economic analysis, documentary film production, and policy advocacy to establish marine protected areas of unprecedented scale. His team has conducted over 40 expeditions to remote ocean areas, documenting pristine marine ecosystems that had never been scientifically studied, including the remarkable coral reefs of Kiribati's Southern Line Islands discovered in 2009. Through strategic collaboration with governments, local communities, and Indigenous Peoples, Sala's work has directly contributed to the protection of 27 of the world's largest marine reserves, collectively encompassing more than 6.5 million square kilometers of ocean—an area comparable to the Amazon rainforest. This extraordinary achievement represents one of the most significant conservation successes in marine history, demonstrating the remarkable capacity of marine ecosystems to recover when given protection.
Beyond his conservation achievements, Dr. Sala has profoundly influenced global ocean policy through his extensive scientific publications, acclaimed documentary films, and influential public speaking. His work has earned numerous prestigious accolades including the National Geographic Hubbard Medal, Heinz Award in Public Policy, and a 2021 Emmy Award for Nature Documentary, cementing his position as a leading voice in environmental conservation. Sala continues to advocate for protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, leveraging his platform to inspire global action while demonstrating through scientific evidence the vital connection between ocean health and planetary well-being. His vision of restoring marine biodiversity has reshaped the conservation paradigm, emphasizing not just preservation but active restoration of ocean ecosystems to ensure ecological and human resilience for future generations.
