What is Marine Conservation Biology?

Marine conservation biology is a new science. It draws on a diversity of longstanding scientific disciplines — oceanography, marine ecology, biogeography, veterinary medicine, zoology, botany, genetics, toxicology, fisheries biology, anthropology, economics, political science, ethics and law — to create a new multidisciplinary synthesis aimed at protecting, restoring and sustainably using marine biodiversity.

MCBI believes that the biggest problem we face is ignorance. As Senegalese forest scientist Baba Dioum said, "In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught." MCBI’s answer is to increase understanding of the living sea, why marine life is disappearing, and how we can save it.

We work to advance marine conservation biology because people will not conserve what they don't love and understand.