Christopher Chin
Executive Director

Christopher Chin is an internationally recognized expert in ocean policy and conservation issues, and has provided valuable and persuasive testimony to various governing and legislative bodies in the U.S. and in Canada, and has addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations with regard to a number of issues concerning the health of our oceans. He has authored, supported, and defended a multitude of laws affecting ocean health and resources, and is considered one of North America's foremost experts in shark fin policy and single-use plastics legislation. He served as a Regional Stakeholder for the implementation of California's Marine Life Protection Act, and was heavily involved in the design of and support for the network of Marine Protected Areas adopted for California's North Central Coast. Christopher is a multi-agency scuba instructor and technical diver whose passion for the ocean stems back to childhood. He first became certified in 1996, and has been teaching since 1999. He is an accomplished underwater videographer and writer who has traveled extensively and speaks several languages.

Jilian Aesir

Jilian Aesir is a science educator on the central coast of California, both inside and outside of the classroom. When she is not teaching high school biology (with a hint of social and ecological justice), she is working actively in the community to spread awareness about human impact on the environment. Her passion for ocean conservation and public awareness has led her to work alongside the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute as well as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Institute for Applied Marine Ecology, and the Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education.

Richard Nelson

Richard Nelson fell in love with the ocean during his childhood, watching far too many Jacques Cousteau television specials. Raised by an avid environmentalist, he decided to become an ecologist after studying about global climate change. After earning his degree in Environmental Science from the University of California at Berkeley, he worked for two Members of Congress in Washington before returning to California, where he works in the software industry. Richard met and befriended Christopher Chin in a SCUBA class in 1996. He has since travelled the world with his wife and daughter, exploring the oceans and learning and teaching about endangered ecosystems. His particular passion is marine mammals.

Christopher Chin

Executive Director

Christopher Chin is an internationally recognized expert in ocean policy and conservation issues, and has provided valuable and persuasive testimony to various governing and legislative bodies in the U.S. and in Canada, and has addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations with regard to a number of issues concerning the health of our oceans. He has authored, supported, and defended a multitude of laws affecting ocean health and resources, and is considered one of North America's foremost experts in shark fin policy and single-use plastics legislation. He served as a Regional Stakeholder for the implementation of California's Marine Life Protection Act, and was heavily involved in the design of and support for the network of Marine Protected Areas adopted for California's North Central Coast. Christopher is a multi-agency scuba instructor and technical diver whose passion for the ocean stems back to childhood. He first became certified in 1996, and has been teaching since 1999. He is an accomplished underwater videographer and writer who has traveled extensively and speaks several languages.

Jilian Aesir

Jilian Aesir is a science educator on the central coast of California, both inside and outside of the classroom. When she is not teaching high school biology (with a hint of social and ecological justice), she is working actively in the community to spread awareness about human impact on the environment. Her passion for ocean conservation and public awareness has led her to work alongside the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute as well as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Institute for Applied Marine Ecology, and COARE.

Richard Nelson

Richard Nelson fell in love with the ocean during his childhood, watching far too many Jacques Cousteau television specials. Raised by an avid environmentalist, he decided to become an ecologist after studying about global climate change. After earning his degree in Environmental Science from the University of California at Berkeley, he worked for two Members of Congress in Washington before returning to California, where he works in the software industry. Richard met and befriended Christopher Chin in a SCUBA class in 1996. He has since travelled the world with his wife and daughter, exploring the oceans and learning and teaching about endangered ecosystems. His particular passion is marine mammals.