Enric Sala

Enric Sala
Born (1968-11-26) November 26, 1968 (age 57)
Girona, Catalonia, Spain
EducationPh.D. University of Aix-Marseille II, France, 1996
B.Sc. University of Barcelona, 1991
Scientific career
FieldsMarine ecology
Ocean conservation
Media
WorkplacesNational Geographic

Enric Sala (born November 26, 1968) is a marine ecologist, author, and conservationist. He is known for his work in ocean conservation and his leadership of National Geographic Society Pristine Seas initiative.

Early life and education

Sala was born in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. He earned a B.Sc. from the University of Barcelona in 1991 and received a Ph.D. from the Aix-Marseille University in 1996.

Career

Following his academic studies, Sala held positions as a university professor focusing on marine ecology.

In 2008, Sala launched the Pristine Seas initiative with National Geographic Society, a project designed to document and advocate for the protection of marine environments. In 2011, he and filmmaker James Cameron were named National Geographic Explorers in Residence.

Pristine Seas

As the director of Pristine Seas, Sala oversees a multidisciplinary team that employs scientific research, media production, and policy analysis to advocate for the establishment of marine protected areas. As of 2026, the project had conducted 50 expeditions and has contributed to the establishment of 31 marine protected areas covering more than 6.9 million square kilometers.

Scientific Research

Sala's research interests include marine ecology, specifically the study of human impact on ocean health and the effectiveness of no-take marine reserves.

Notable findings from his research include:

Filmography

Publications

Sala has authored over 150 publications; a selection is listed here.

References

  1. ↑ "Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and Author of The Nature of Nature". Re:Wild. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Explorer in Residence Enric Sala". National Geographic Explorer Home. Retrieved 9 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ "Explorer in Residence Enric Sala". National Geographic Explorer Home. Retrieved 9 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "National Geographic names newest Explorers-in-Residence". Media Update. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ "Pristine Seas". National Geographic Society. Retrieved 9 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ "Enric Sala". Google Scholar. Retrieved 9 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ↑ "Baselines and Degradation of Coral Reefs in the Northern Line Islands". PLOS One. 27 February 2008.
  8. ↑ "The economics of fishing the high seas". Science Advances. 6 June 2018.
  9. ↑ "Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food and climate" (PDF). Nature (journal). 15 April 2021.
  10. ↑ "Before the Flood - Doctor Enric Sala". Before the Flood. Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  11. ↑ "Enric Sala - Google Scholar Citations". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2020-04-30.