Dr. Chris Clarke
As Executive Director of Coexist Projects, Dr. Clarke works closely with founder Sarah Geron to unite scientists, educators, and partner institutions in advancing marine conservation. Together, they cultivate global awareness, strengthen community engagement, and inspire the next generation of ocean advocates.
With more than three decades of experience, Dr. Clarke brings a distinguished record of international scientific collaboration. A seasoned expedition leader and published researcher, he has led innovative marine studies and contributed to award-winning conservation initiatives across the world’s oceans.
Driven by a lifelong commitment to understanding and protecting marine ecosystems, Dr. Clarke holds a double honours degree in Oceanography with Geology and a PhD in Marine Biology, specialising in shark movement and behaviour. His scientific expertise informs the development, implementation, and long-term success of sustainable Marine Protected Areas worldwide.
Dr. Clarke is a Certified Senior Ecologist with the Ecological Society of America; a Senior Research Fellow at NSU’s SOS Shark Research Center; a Chartered Environmentalist with the Society for the Environment; a Chartered Biologist with the Royal Society of Biology; a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society; a Fellow of the British Ecological Society and a Life Fellow of the Explorers Club. As the founding CEO of the Save Our Seas Foundation, he established more than 400 research and education projects in 90 countries, creating measurable conservation impact across every continent and ocean.
In his role at Coexist Projects, Dr. Clarke drives initiatives that illuminate the escalating human pressures on marine ecosystems. Through scientific research, purposeful storytelling, and expansive educational outreach, he champions practical, science-based solutions to safeguard marine life and cultivate responsible ocean stewardship.
His recent work in the Indian Ocean—particularly in the Seychelles Archipelago—highlights the urgent need to protect apex predators and preserve the habitats on which they depend. Collaborating with an extensive international research network, he continues to support the creation of major Marine Protected Areas and the development of sustainable fishery management pathways for migratory species, helping secure a healthier ocean for generations to come.
