Dr. Octavio Aburto – Assistant Professor, Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Protecting Mexican Seas

In Mexico, there is a tremendous opportunity to integrate a network of Marine Protected Areas. By taking advantage of the significant scientific knowledge and monetary investment to date, the time is now to move forward with marine reserves implementation. Using Cabo Pulmo as a model for success, it is known that it takes two key factors to implement MPAs throughout Mexico: community involvement to better protect marine ecosystems, and communication efforts to inspire the public to protect the special places in Mexican seas. In this presentation, you will see the work that Dr. Aburto has been doing leading scientific groups, social-media campaigns, and video and photography expeditions to protect mangrove forests, coral and rocky reefs, coastal lagoons and seamounts all along Mexico.

Dr. Aburto is the Director of the Gulf of California Marine Program and is an Assistant Professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) and a professional photographer associate with the International League of Conservation Photographers. Dr. Aburto obtained his PhD at the Center of Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at SIO and was honored with the Jean Fort Award by the University of California, San Diego for his significant contribution to an issue of public concern through his doctoral research. As a Kathryn Fuller and Hellman Fellow, his research and photographs have focused on marine protected areas and commercially exploited marine species in Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador and the U.S. His photographs have been part of several conservation projects worldwide and have won international photography contests including a gold place in the Our World Underwater 2016.