Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara (PhD 1985, U. California, Scripps Institution of Oceanography)

is a marine ecologist who has contributed for over 40 years to advancing knowledge of the

ecology, behaviour and taxonomy of marine mammals and sharks. He is the honorary president of

the Tethys Research Institute, which he founded in 1986. In 1991, he spearheaded the creation of

the Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammals, the world’s first high-seas MPA. From

1996 to 2003, he served as president of ICRAM, a government body tasked to provide scientific

support to national marine conservation policy in Italy. He served from 1999-2004 as the Italian

Commissioner of the International Whaling Commission; from 1991-2022 as Deputy Chair of

IUCN’s Cetacean Specialist Group; from 2002-2010 as Chair of the Scientific Committee of

ACCOBAMS; and from 2014-2022 as the Convention of Migratory Species CoP-appointed

Councillor for aquatic mammals. In 2013, he started the Important Marine Mammal Area program

as an initiative of the IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, which he created and co-

chairs. As a senior advisor, he also supports the Important Shark and Ray Area initiative. He

taught conservation of marine biodiversity at the University Statale of Milan from 2007-2016. He

has authored over 240 scientific works and several books (further information on

www.disciara.org).