Contesting by the Waterfront: Defending the Marine Environment

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a marine biologist, policy expert, and conservation strategist, returned to her alma mater, UC San Diego, as a keynote speaker at the Scripps Student Symposium (S3) on Sept. 26, 2021. Johnson, who earned her MS and PhD from UC San Diego, is now the founder and CEO of Ocean Collectiv, a strategy consulting firm focused on ocean sustainability grounded in social justice.

Johnson's passion for ocean conservation was sparked during a visit to the Florida Keys as a child. This passion led her to co-found the Blue Halo Initiative while working at the Waitt Institute, an organization that partners with governments to empower communities to restore their oceans. In 2017, she opened Ocean Collectiv, comprising a team of experts in various fields.

Johnson's career is now dedicated to providing science-backed tools and strategies for clients, public outreach, and ensuring humans are the solution to a healthy ocean. She has made significant strides in this field, including leading the Caribbean's first successful island-wide ocean zoning effort as executive director of the Waitt Institute.

Johnson's writing has been published in HuffPost, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Scientific American, and more. She encourages students to use their voices to speak up about issues that affect them and to register to vote. Johnson has also become more involved with political activism, volunteering her time to co-lead the March for Science.

Ocean Collectiv's team works collectively to design, build, and implement creative and practical solutions for a healthy ocean. Recently, they worked with Students Rebuild, a program of the Bezos Family Foundation. Johnson hopes to inspire younger folks, particularly women and people of colour, with her experiences in ocean conservation.

Johnson emphasizes that ocean conservation is primarily about people, particularly the poor and minorities along the coast who are disproportionately affected by climate change, overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction. She is an adjunct professor at New York University and mentors next-generation ocean leaders.

Funding for science could be one of the things students should be calling their representatives about. Johnson's talk at the Scripps Student Symposium was titled "The Future of Ocean Conservation: Zoning, Triage, Cities, Inclusion, Culture." After her presentation, she participated in a "Growing up in Science" discussion and Q&A on campus.

The clients of Ocean Collectiv primarily include organizations, governments, and companies seeking expert guidance on ocean conservation and sustainable ocean-related strategies. However, specific high-profile clients or sectors have not been detailed in the available search results.

Through her work, Johnson encourages a holistic approach to ocean conservation, emphasizing the importance of social justice and community empowerment. Her return to UC San Diego serves as a testament to her continued commitment to fostering the next generation of ocean leaders.