Watch: Pew Marine Fellows in Action
Around the world, scientists and conservationists are working to protect and restore our ocean. The Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation supports these midcareer professionals by funding innovative research and building a vibrant international network of experts dedicated to sustaining marine life and coastal communities. With more than 200 fellows from 40-plus countries, the program fosters collaboration, drives solutions, and helps turn scientific insights into lasting conservation impact.
Watch their stories to see how fellows are making a difference for our ocean.
How Gene Editing Could Help Us Find Corals That Can Withstand Warming Waters | Pew Marine Fellow Phillip Cleves | United States
Reef-building corals rely on a delicate partnership with algae to survive, but as oceans warm, that relationship can break down, leading to coral bleaching and, eventually, to degraded reefs. Pew marine fellow Phillip Cleves uses a gene editing tool to better understand how genetics make some corals resilient to heat. His research could help scientists find and protect the corals that are most likely to survive a changing climate.
Protecting Disappearing Rhino Rays | Pew Marine Fellow Rima Jabado | United Arab Emirates
Rhino rays are disappearing around the world, but scientists still know little about them or where they are most at risk. Pew marine fellow Rima Jabado studies guitarfishes and wedgefishes, two types of sharklike rhino rays facing population declines. By learning more about their distribution, life history, and threats, she’s helping to shape conservation policies to protect these vulnerable species.
The Role of Women in Fiji’s Mud Crab Fisheries | Pew Marine Fellow Sangeeta Mangubhai | Fiji
Mud crabs are vital predators in Fiji’s mangrove ecosystems and a key source of food and income for coastal communities. Pew marine fellow Sangeeta Mangubhai highlights the crucial and often overlooked role that women play in catching mud crabs by hand as well as how to sustain this fishery.
Applying Genetic Tools to Protect Indonesia’s Sharks | Pew Marine Fellow Andrianus Sembiring | Indonesia
Indonesia’s rich diversity of sharks faces major challenges from illegal shark and ray fishing, driven by demand for fins used in luxury foods and traditional medicines. Pew marine fellow Andrianus Sembiring has created an affordable genetic test that can quickly identify a shark’s species from its fins, meat, or skin, which helps authorities to enforce shark protections and prevent the sale of illegally caught species.
The Economics of Sustainability | Pew Marine Fellow Rashid Sumaila | Canada
Understanding the value of the ocean’s resources is key to sustainable management. Pew marine fellow Rashid Sumaila combines biology, ecology, and economics to create models that can better guide governments in making decisions about fisheries and marine conservation by balancing economic needs with ocean health.
Protecting Coastal Habitats to Sustain Fisheries and Communities | Pew Marine Fellow Songlin Wang | China
Vital nearshore habitats such as eelgrass beds support fish and invertebrate populations, absorb and store carbon, and protect shorelines from flooding. Pew marine fellow Songlin Wang works with coastal communities to help conserve these ecosystems and encourage the use of nondestructive fishing methods that improve seafood sustainability, protect marine biodiversity, and boost coastal resilience.
