Black History Month
Black History Month: Why an understanding of racial disparities is important for marine management
Gurpreet Padda and Victor Owoyomi
Published: Marine Management Organisation. October 2024. Internal blog.
To mark Black History Month, recognising the achievements of Black people/people of colour in the marine sector is no easy feat. Globally, a general search revealed a number of prominent Black marine advocates located mainly in New Zealand and the United States.
In stark contrast, far fewer examples exist closer to home. Though born in Europe and based in the US, fisheries biologist Daniel Pauly could arguably be credited for being one of the greatest fisheries minds in the world. Interestingly, Professor Pauly not only broke through the race and class ceiling, but he also overcame unimaginable traumas by being trafficked as a child to become the most cited fisheries biologist.
In the US, the International African American Museum holds treasures belonging to Ernesto Everett Just, the first recognised African American marine biologist who pioneered research on cell physiology. Following suit was the first Black woman, Roger Arliner Young, earning a doctorate in zoology. More recently, Ayana Johnson Taylor and Diva Amon have made waves breaking new ground in research and advocacy, expanding access to ocean conservation opportunities for under-represented and under-served groups. Their work has integrated science, policy, and community-based action to protect marine ecosystems, specifically supporting coastal communities of colour, which are disproportionately impacted by climate change and ocean degradation.
Further afield, Indigenous Māori researchers in New Zealand have been recognised for contributing to protect marine biodiversity through practices rooted in traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). This TEK approach focuses on centuries-old, place-based knowledge systems transferred down the generations, providing sustainable practices in managing fisheries and preserving marine habitats. Notably, this local knowledge is now being integrated into scientific marine research, where Western methods are strengthened by Indigenous perspectives on marine resource management, ecosystem connectivity, and conservation ethics.
Managing access to woefully scarce marine resources comes with a responsibility to ensure all views are represented equally and fairly to ensure no racial or social group is left behind. With that, as intellectual capacity increases, so will a comprehensive understanding of meaningful sustainable marine management. In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, the need for greater diversity in the sector has never been more important.
