Introduction One of the greatest disasters at sea over the past century has been that of overfishing. Overfishing occurs when we remove fish faster than they can reproduce such that their populations cannot replenish and they begin to decline. This has a lasting impact beyond the individual species being fished, as removing one species creates ripple effects throughout the ecosystem. While humans have participated in fishing practices for thousands of years — for subsistence, recreation, or as a cultural tradition — the rapid acceleration of industrial fishing has put great strain on global fish populations and in turn marine ecosystems as a whole. Today we will discuss the history of overfishing, dive into specific case studies to address the repercussions of overfishing, and cover the solutions that are underway. Purse seiner fishing net catching about 400 tons of Jack Mackerel in Peru. Photo Credit: C. Ortiz Rojas The Disaster: Overfishing Fishing provides income for 10-12% of the world’s populations and 3 billion people rely on seafood for their protein. Fishing has become a very lucrative and vital global business, but the cost on our oceans has been incredibly high. Every year, humans catch roughly 90 million tons of fish. It is estimated that up to 37.5% of fish stocks are exploited or overfished. This overfishing also results in up to 38.5 million tonnes of bycatch yearly (animals caught unintentionally in fishing nets). Leatherback turtle as bycatch among tuna in the Atlantic Ocean. Photo Credit: WWF While humans have always fished, global seafood production has quadrupled over the last 50 years. This unprecedented strain on fish populations and marine ecosystems has taken its toll on our oceans, and many fish stocks are near collapse. The fishing industry has demonstrated in real time the Tragedy of the Commons: when everyone, acting in their own short-term self-interest takes from a shared and limited public asset (in this case fish), the end result is a complete depletion of the common good. However, we did not reach this level of overfishing accidentally. Government subsidies have incentivized overfishing, and industrial fishing techniques have made it easier to catch massive quantities of seafood. These techniques include net fishing (such as purse seine fishing or trawling), line fishing, and dredging, which catch massive quantities of fish, result in bycatch, and often destroy the environment in the process. Types of commercial fishing methods. Graphic credits: Marine Stewardship Council Impacts: Specific Case Studies To better understand the impacts of overfishing, we’re going to zoom in on two different species that have been overfished: Atlantic cod and Pacific sardine. In New England, Atlantic cod was once so abundant that Cape Cod got its name from the fish. Early explorers touted the Atlantic cod-filled waters and they quickly became a sought-after fish in both America and Europe. In the 19th century, industrialized fishing techniques accelerated fishing of the Atlantic cod. Longline fishing began with five mile lines and hooks every 3 feet. In the 20th century, steam boats with trawling nets brought in six times as much fish as regular sailing boats. By the 1960s, the invention of the freezer and factory ships increased fishing even further. Between 1962 and 1992, the biomass of Atlantic cod dropped 93%. In the end, the collapse of the Atlantic cod stock destroyed the fishing industry in New England and put 30,000 people out of work. Atlantic cod caught in Newfoundland 1948. Picture Credit: Library and Archives of Canda On the other side of the United States, along the West coast, a different fish faced a similar fate. Pacific sardines (Sardinops sagax caerulea) support a plethora of marine life across mammals, fish, and sea birds. In the 1930s, sardine populations peaked at around 800,000 metric tons, but overfishing (alongside poor ocean conditions) led to their collapse by mid-century. In response, the fishery was closed to allow populations to recover. However, in the 1990s when sardine populations had returned, so did the fisherman. Learning little from their own history, the fisherman once again began fishing sardines excessively. Between 2006 and 2015, sardine biomass declined 95%. This resulted in thousands of malnourished sea lions and starving brown pelicans. Sardine fisheries were eventually closed yet again in 2015 and have remained closed since. Pacific sardines. Photo Credit: EcoWatch The stories of the Atlantic cod and the Pacific sardine are not unique — they are just two of thousands of overfished species — but they demonstrate how overfishing hurts not only the fish being caught, but also the ecosystems they uphold and the people who depend on the fishing economy. When we fish beyond nature’s limits it hurts fish, marine life, and people. Recovery / Conclusion The greatest way to combat overfishing is to limit the amount of fish that can be caught. Permitting and quotas can help regulate how many fish one can legally remove from the ocean. Consistent tracking and measuring of fish populations and health ensures that we don’t place too much pressure on fish populations. Placing moratoriums on overfished species can provide those species with the space to recover. Another effective solution is to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) where fishing is not allowed. Within MPAs, fish populations can thrive and create what is known as spillover. When fish populations inside MPAs grow they may expand beyond the MPA borders and into areas where fishing is allowed. This keeps fish stocks at a healthy level and allows fishing industries to stay in business without fishery collapse. Sustainable fishing practices that allow fish populations to replenish themselves are vital to the continued survival of both marine ecosystems and fishing economies. Citations / Directories Citation No. 1: “Overfishing 101: Everything You Need to Know”, Written by Linnea Harris, Published on August 18th, 2023. Published by NOAA. Retrieval Date: October 9th, 2026. https://www.ecowatch.com/overfishing-facts-ecowatch.html Citation No. 2: “What You Need to Know About Overfishing”, Written by Emily Wong, Published on July 2nd, 2024. Published by Earth.org. Retrieval Date: October 9th, 2026. https://earth.org/facts-overfishing/ Citation No. 3: “Plenty of Fish?”, Written by Unknown, Published on June 10th, 2022. Published by United Nations Climate Change. Retrieval Date: October 10th, 2026. https://unfccc.int/news/plenty-of-fish#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Food%20and,pushed%20beyond%20their%20biological%20limits. Citation No. 4: “Commercial Fishing Methods”, Written by Unknown, Published on Unknown Date. Published by University of Washington. Retrieval Date: October 11th, 2026. https://sustainablefisheries-uw.org/seafood-101/commercial-fishing-methods/ Citation No. 5: “On the Backs of Cod”, Written by Unknown, Published on Unknown Date. Published by Science History Institute. Retrieval Date: October 11th, 2026. https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/a-tragedy-with-no-end/ Citation No. 6: “The Modern Day Pacific Sardine Collapse: How to Prevent a Future Crisis”, Written by Unknown, Published on Unknown Date. Published by Oceana. Retrieval Date: October 11th, 2026. https://usa.oceana.org/responsible-fishing-modern-day-pacific-sardine-collapse-how-prevent-future-crisis/ Citation No. 7: “Pacific Sardines”, Written by Unknown, Published on Unknown Date. Published by Oceana. Retrieval Date: October 11th, 2026. https://usa.oceana.org/responsible-fishing-pacific-sardines/ Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Three J’s Kitchen Presence News Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A photograph of Delta 2, a scientific diver from Rapport Erebus’s The Mirror Without Image, screaming in absolute terror after being accosted by a group of underwater shadow people. Credit to Rapport Erebus. Recently, our head writer interviewed the incredible Oceanic Horror Producer, & Creator of The Mirror Without Image, Rapport Erebus! Rapport Erebus is a French analog horror producer best known for his web series Rapport Erebus, & The Mirror Without Image. The eponymous series Rapport Erebus focuses on a mysterious massive blue hole opening in the middle of the Pacific, leading to scientists discovering a behemoth of mythical proportions. His current series, The Mirror Without Image, focuses on a mysterious city underneath the Timor Sea, leading to the uncovering of a horrifying truth. In today’s interview, we sit down with Erebus to discuss his passion for the ocean, his analog horror journey, his creative process, his eponymous series Rapport Erebus, The Mirror Without Image, & his advice to aspiring oceanic horror storytellers. Before delving into today’s comprehensive 17-question interview, please note that everything said has been edited for clarity, & that the opinions of our interviewee do not necessarily reflect the opinions & values of our organization. With that being said, let us delve into the contents of the interview! The Contents of the Interview Questions About His Career: 1. What sparked your passion for marine biology & all things ocean? Well, it’s kind of a family business. My grandmother was a biologist; she was a teacher of biology at a French college, & my father was in the Navy. I do video stuff, so I’m kind of the synthesis of these 2 ancestors of mine. 2. What sparked your passion for video & motion graphics? It was kind of an accident; at first I studied graphic design. I wanted to do some print work. It was a long time ago; I’m quite old, I’m 36, that’s old for a YouTuber. Video & motion graphics were the hot thing in 2011, & 2012. So, I started; I told myself, okay, let’s go this way, & I’ve been working in video ever since! 3. What sparked your passion for ocean / analog horror? I think I was always a little bit scared of the ocean. There’s something weird about it, about the fact you can’t see underwater. That’s the main contact point with horror. You really can’t see 2 to 3 meters in front of you. That’s a great device for anything horror! I’ve always loved horror movies. I saw a documentary in 2019 called Last Breath. It’s about Chris Lemons who was a saturation diver who got disconnected from his vessel. He survived 30 minutes in the darkness of the abyss. That was really my main media inspiration to start doing underwater horror stuff. A haunting deep sea underwater photograph taken by the fictional Blackwood Petroleum’s ROV 3 in The Mirror Without Image. The photograph features a building at the bottom of the sea, the first sign that something is terribly, terribly wrong. Credit to Rapport Erebus. 4. How did you come up with the name “Rapport Erebus”? Rapport is just report, that’s self-explanatory. Erebus is a Greek deity, but it’s also the passage to the underworld. It’s the gate to Tartarus, & the deeper parts of the underworld. My series was about a hole found in the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. I thought Erebus would be a great name for a gate to the underworld, & there’s a lot of references to Greek mythology throughout the series. The main thing that made me want to add these references is because in France, the last nuclear atomic bomb test was called Project Xouthos, which is a Greek name. I’m really interested in making things sound realistic. For example, I told you my father was in the Navy; I asked him for the ranks of people who would be diving. There’s Capitaine de vaisseau, & ranks like that. I also asked for the vessels used by the French Navy (Marine Nationale) at that time. I tried to make it look realistic, & to link some real elements to the story. 5. What is your favourite marine or terrestrial animal? I’m going to be quite classic; it would be the leatherback turtle. I don’t know if it’s the graphic designer in me, but they are very aqua-dynamic. It’s a really nice design. A gorgeous photograph of a Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in the open blue. Credit to NOAA Fisheries. Questions About His Analog Horror Series: 6. What inspired you to begin creating analog horror? How did you start? It’s very inspired by Lovecraft, & by cosmic horror. I think discovering something & finding out that everything you know might be wrong. All you think about, your history, your preconceived notions you have about how the world works. The cosmic horror angle that Lovecraft has was the main feeling I wanted to convey. Another great reference is the first Alien movie. In the first Alien (1979) movie, when they explore the derelict & find the corpse of an alien, it’s the feeling of “Okay, everything is falling apart”; that’s the kind of dread I wanted to convey. I think Kane Pixel’s Backrooms (2022-) is what made me think I could do it. If you look at the Backrooms, the 3D work is quite simple. It’s the concept that made it work. It’s really endless rooms; it’s just a few polygons of 3D work. I’m not a very good 3D artist, but I told myself, it can be done. I just had to find the time & a good concept, & just do it! All the voices were done by me (in the eponymous Rapport Erebus) but I also used post-production on top. My wife did the female voices in the episode Incident (Episode 4), but apart from that it was just me. I tried to make things quite stiff; they are scientists & navigators, so they should attempt to maintain their composure, not freak out like a civilian. 7. Who are the core characters in Rapport Erebus, both human & non-human? For the human ones, I’m sorry to say, they don’t matter much. I didn’t make it a character-driven story. I focused on the story & the concept. That’s kind of an analog horror trope if you look at Local 58, or several analog horror media. The horror comes from the concept & sound design; the ideas are dreadful. There aren’t any important human characters. All that remains of fictional diver Adrien Fleury after an encounter with Prognathodon kerberos in the Rapport Erebus web series. Credit to Rapport Erebus. The main characters are the monsters. What is that creature at the bottom that is guarding Erebus? What’s below Erebus? What’s the creature behind the door at the bottom of Tartarus, the cave below Erebus? These are the most interesting things, & people ask more questions about those than about what happened to this character or that character. The final thing that fictional diver Adrien Fleury saw before meeting his terrifying fate in the Rapport Erebus web series. Credit to Rapport Erebus. The first character, the Prognathodon, is kind of like Cerberus. In Greek Mythology, it’s the 3-headed-dog that guards the underworld. The thing at the bottom of the hole, the last creature, doesn’t have a name. It’s drawing from Lovecraft at that point. It’s Cthulhu-inspired; it might be Cthulhu. It’s also inspired by the Bloop. The Lovecraftian Entity that Prognathodon kerberos is protecting in the Rapport Erebus Web Series. Credit to Rapport Erebus. One peculiar thing is the last nuclear test, Xouthos, that France did in the Pacific Ocean. Roughly a year after that, the Bloop was heard. That was interesting to me. The 2 events were really close in geography & time. I wanted to link them in a horror story. Both creatures are out there, roaming the Pacific. The end is open. The last episode is the bloop; I wanted people’s imagination to fill in the gap, & continue the story with their own canon & lore. I think it helps people to remember & continue talking about stories after they’re finished if they still have something to talk about. If they still have theories, the analog genre is about the community following the stories, adding on top of the lore, & inventing theories. That’s something I wanted from the get-go. I wanted to have this community-minded project. A spectrogram of The Bloop, a mysterious underwater ultra-low-frequency noise recorded in 1997. The sound sparked speculation of an underwater beast of mythical proportions capable of creating such a noise, but was later proven to be the result of ice breaking. Credit to the NOAA. 8. What is your series “The Mirror Without Image” focused on? I wanted to do something with a city underwater. I think the visual is very uncanny of discovering an underwater history; it’s called submechanophobia. There’s thalassophobia, which is being scared of the depths & creatures of the ocean, but there’s also submechanophobia, which is the feeling you’d get from going to the bottom of the ocean & seeing a chair or car. You know, finding things that shouldn’t be there. I really wanted to go in that direction. I built up from that starting point. A collection of underwater dolls featured in The Mirror Without Image. Credit to Rapport Erebus. The series is about scientists discovering a city underwater in the Timor Sea, a bit north of Australia. That allows me to do it in English. I think the first series (Rapport Erebus) being in French is a deterrent for English-speaking audiences. The second series is in English, English & Japanese because there are 2 timelines that are going to cross over. There’s the Australian point of view, & the Japanese point of view. The Japanese timeline is in the 1940s just before the atomic bomb, & the Australian timeline is in 1995. They explore these underwater cities, & find things which are going to get weirder & weirder. 9. What inspired you to create a series which juxtaposes WW2 & the 1990s? It’s a geometrical thing. I started with the idea that there’s a city that appears in the middle of the Timor Sea. The first timeline is about nuclear things; it’s about the atomic bomb & the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. I looked at the magnetic field lines of Earth at that time, & the Timor Sea was linked to Hiroshima. I told myself, what if there was a weird experiment going on with higher dimensions in Hiroshima? What if the real story is hidden from us? In Rapport Erebus, the final atom bomb of France wasn’t an atomic test; it was to kill a Lovecraftian creature at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. What if the real reason for the atom bomb in Hiroshima was not an accident? Hiroshima wasn’t targeted first; it was weather conditions that made Americans choose Hiroshima at the last minute. I wanted to say, what if the real reason was because of Japanese scientists developing a new kind of weapon? To spoil it, the atomic bomb was the igniting thing that made the Japanese experiment go on, & duplicated Hiroshima at the bottom of the Timor Sea. A bridge at the bottom of the Timor Sea. Credit to Rapport Erebus. The Mirror Without Image is much more written than Rapport Erebus. I started doing Rapport Erebus without knowing how many episodes I would produce. For The Mirror Without Image, I took a really long time writing it. I wanted it to be interesting, & to have conflict. Putting 2 timelines is interesting; I think the OSS versus the Japanese & Blackwood Petroleum versus the Royal Australian Navy & CIA creates conflict, so it’s interesting. 10. Do both of your series take place in the same fictional universe, or do they exist independently of one another? I think it’s the same universe, but they are not related at all. They co-exist in a parallel Earth, & they are both Lovecraftian. For the second series, The Mirror Without Image, Lovecraft wrote a lot stories about higher dimensions that we can’t see, but exist in ways we cannot perceive. It’s the same Lovecraftian universe. 11. Walk us through the process of creating an installment of Rapport Erebus or The Mirror Without Image. What is your creative process? How do you render visuals? How do you find voice actors? For Rapport Erebus, it was easy because it was in French. I did all the voices. You start with the writing; you need to know where you’re going, so you can know which things are going to work & which things to adjust. For Rapport Erebus, I do a mid of motion graphics, like 2D & 3D motion graphics. For The Mirror Without Image, there’s more archive work, but there’s also 2D & 3D motion graphics. I tried to find real archives from archive.org for the 1945 timelines. Mainly, I start writing it, then do the voices, sound effects, & music. After that, I make the visuals. I tweak the music & sound design to see if the rhythm is aligned with the images. After that, I just upload them to YouTube. For voice acting in the new series, it’s text-to-speech, except for the last episode. For the last episode, a YouTuber called Cursed Content contacted me because he wanted to do a video on The Mirror Without Image. He said that if I needed voices, he’d be more than happy to do them. So, he recorded voices for me! I sent him a script, & he did multiple takes which was great. I changed his voice in post-production to differentiate characters. That’s also a trick, & why I got into analog horror, because the visual & the sound is quite degraded. There’s lots of noise over the voice on the radio in atmospheric diving suits, so you can hide the fact that the voices are tweaked in post-production to make different voices. It’s the same thing with visuals; you use VHS filters to make the image more noisy & less high quality. It helps your brain fill the gaps to make it more believable. A photograph of a whale swimming above a submerged apartment complex in Episode 11 of The Mirror Without Image. Credit to Rapport Erebus. 12. How many installments do you currently have in The Mirror Without Image series, & how many do you intend to produce total? What is the future of The Mirror Without Image, & your work as a whole? (Note: This interview was conducted on September 16th, 2026.) The last episode released was episode 17 (as of September 16th, 2026). The last episode of The Mirror Without Image will be episode 18. It should be really short, about 3 minutes. It will tie in the 2 timelines with a neat bow. It was a really big project when I started. I didn’t think it would take so much time; it’s a full-length movie. After episode 18, I will edit all the episodes together like I did for Rapport Erebus. It will be an hour & 12 minutes long movie. I did a full movie! I think I’m going to take a break after that. For the next project, I will have to think about having producers or having people interested in financing it, because it’s a lot of work! I started it in March (2026), doing it in the mornings before work or evenings after work, doing double days almost every day. If it gains traction, people like it, & want more of it, & someone is interested in financing something like that, maybe. I don’t know if I have the courage to do it as a personal project. There’s a question that comes back in a lot of comments about whether I use AI or not. I was surprised that it was such a polarizing thing; I think it’s much less polarizing in France than it is in the US. I use a bit of AI, especially for The Mirror Without Image episodes with shadow people. For the 3D rendering, I use a little bit of DLSS 5 to re-texture the 3D to make it look more realistic. I know people are really polarized on this issue, but I have to say it; I have to be honest, because I don’t want to lie to people. It’s an issue that a lot of people have a problem with, so I wanted to be honest & address it. I think that the thing people need to understand is that it isn’t all there is. It’s not like I push a button, & a movie comes out. It doesn’t work like that at all. That’s not how I used it. I enjoy the comments speaking on the story, on theories, & things like that as opposed to more technical discussions. If people can forget the technical, focus, & be immersed in the world & in the story, that’s the biggest thing for me, to make them forget that they’re watching CGI. That’s my goal. A photograph of Delta 1 in Episode 11, a fictional diver in The Mirror Without Image. Credit Rapport Erebus. 14. Across your work in oceanic horror, what has been your proudest moment or greatest triumph? I think it’s being recognized by people I follow, for example, EmmortalMarcus. He’s an analog horror YouTuber. He does reviews & things like that. He reviewed Rapport Erebus, the first series, & gave a shout-out to the second one a few months ago. Seeing notifications about my work from people I follow on YouTube with my actual personal account, that’s a proud moment. 15. Across your time working in oceanic horror, I’m confident that you have encountered your fair share of hurdles & challenges. What is the largest challenge you’ve faced? How have you overcome it? The challenge is to find time, & courage to do it. We have a lot of other things to do like taking out the trash, cooking, or cleaning your room. Finding time is really the hardest thing. You’ve just got to believe in your idea, & just go through it, even if you’re doubting. Remember that the people seeing your content for the first time might have the same emotion that you had when you had your idea! Even if you’re not satisfied, it’s better to release something than to not do anything at all. At the end of Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995-1996), the hero Shinji doesn’t want to build relationships with people because he doesn’t want to get hurt. If you don’t want to get hurt, or face criticism, you’re paralyzed; you won’t be able to do anything. You need to throw yourself out there, & just do it! Even if some people criticize it, you might have pushback; push through & open yourself to the people. If they like it? Great! If they don’t? Well, too bad, but that’s life. 16. Do you have any advice for aspiring ocean horror authors, video creators, writers, or voice actors? There’s a rapper in France called Orelsan; he had a punchline “If you want to make a film, you just need something to film it with”, That’s kind of the philosophy, especially towards young people. If you have time, if you live with your parents or something, learn Blender or After Effects. Pick up your phone & film a short film with it. Throw yourself, & just do it! 17. Do you have any final words about Rapport Erebus, The Mirror Without Image, analog horror, or the haunting beauty of the sea? Go watch it! If you are scared of the ocean like me, & if you like horror movies, you have some series just for you on YouTube! A photograph of the incomprehensible amalgamation of underwater shadow people featured in The Mirror Without Image in Episode 17. They do not follow the typical rules of geometry, or biological symmetry. Credit to Rapport Erebus. Directories / Credits https://youtube.com/@rapporterebus?si=ytJpU4UcXO2A65Ek Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Three J’s Kitchen Presence News Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A K9 unit & wildlife officer inspecting packages at the Long Beach Sea Port for wildlife trafficking. Credit to Mongabay. California’s Pacific coast is one of the most biodiverse and abundant ecosystems worldwide teaming with almost 2,000 species of microorganisms, plants, fish, marine mammals, turtles, invertebrates, and seabirds supported by a Mediterranean climate. Its famous offshore, underwater, and coastal rock formations date back to the Cretaceous period and help subsidize this special bionetwork making the state’s ocean waters and sea life sacred and unique. Unfortunately, California’s precious coastal ecosystem also faces massive threats in the vein of climate change/global warming, the devastation of kelp forests, ocean acidification, algal blooms, and habitat destruction; sounding the alarm for the time-sensitive need for human intervention, conservation management, and awareness. The Pacific Tide series highlights monthly oceanic events occurring on the California coast and/or portraits important species who call the Pacific coastline waters home emphasizing the importance of conserving this critical ecosystem. In this month’s installment of The Pacific Tide, we expose the dark world of wildlife trafficking and poaching rings with marine and aquatic animals being highly coveted; citing examples of a 500-sea specimen trafficking bust, multiple episodes of abalone poaching, and illegal clamming among others. Learn how this unlawful activity damages the California coastal oceanic ecosystems, causes disease, endangers food web resilience, harms fisheries/ocean farming, undermines marine conservation efforts, and injuriously traumatizes the laundered specimens. We also explore how the state of California is combating wildlife trafficking and poaching with the founding of a statewide confiscations resource network, laws enacted to protect both wild and sea life, and how the general public can get involved to help report trafficking and poaching. 2,000 Marine Animals…Inside a Box Truck?! Mouths taped shut, secured inside everything from toys to food containers to human bodies; multiple plane rides enduring turbulence, temperature changes, and atmospheric elevation alterations, boat trips on choppy waters, and an absence of food, water, or even space to properly move… This might sound like the plot of the next kidnapping/crime documentary to air on Netflix; but it is the traumatic reality of animals laundered in wildlife trafficking rings. Archetypally, wildlife trafficking is associated with exotic animals such as monkeys and tigers; but even more lucrative and statistically significant are the illegal marine/aquatic pet trade and restaurant delicacy trafficking with the endpoint bullseye based in Los Angeles, California. It is here, at either the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or at the world-famous San Pedro and Long Beach Harbor Ports; that trafficked sea life - often traveling from as far as Fiji, Indonesia, the Caribbean, Australia and other far-flung dots on the map - are smuggled into the City of Angels attempting to anonymously slide past wildlife agents tasked with intercepting animal trafficking that can foreseeably damage the California coastal oceanic ecosystems, cause disease, endanger food web resilience, harm fisheries/ocean farming, undermine marine conservation efforts and injuriously traumatize the animals being laundered. On June 19th 2026, Los Angeles-based U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) officials clocked into their work shifts expecting the usual chaos that comes with inspecting endless crates, boxes, products, transportation vehicles, and even the bodies of travelers; watching for illegally trafficked marine/sea wildlife. This particular Friday was unknowingly going to send shock waves into the weekend as a box truck carrying 2,000 endangered and near-threatened species of marine animals was intercepted and seized by wildlife agents. Ocellaris clownfish, rabbitfish, yellow longnose butterflyfish, lemonpeel angelfish, emperor angelfish, Banggai cardinalfish, powder blue tang fish, bamboo sharks, brown-banded sharks, crabs, shrimp, clams, turtles, aquatic invertebrates, corals, sea cucumbers, sea anemones and snails, among a host of other marine species; were smuggled into cramped spaces and inside small, cloudywater-infested tanks/ bags suffering from dehydration, injury, parasites, stress-induced trauma and weight loss resultant from lack of food during their harrowing journey. “These animals are likely from [the] reef, and that means that all animals that live in nature have some level of parasites,” Nate Jaros, Vice President of Animal Care at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California clarified, “And when you bring them into a stressful environment, those parasite loads can start to increase. Those fish are going to need medical treatment to ensure that we can rid them of parasites that are also compromising their health”. Heading to either illegal pet trades or restaurant consumption; this intercepted truck caused an urgent logistical and legal nightmare for the city of Los Angeles. A distinguished photograph of Nate Jaros, Vice President of Animal Care at the Aquarium of the Pacific looking after 500 of the 2,000 seized specimens intercepted in Long Beach on June 19th, 2026. Los Angeles’s Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach) swooped in like superheroes taking on 500 of these trafficked sea creatures and logging/categorizing the entire truckload while triaging physical and medical conditions. Aquarium staff and veterinarians worked into the dawn hours of the early summer weekend, providing intensive care to the hundreds of seized oceanic animals now in their custody and stabilizing them in quarantine tanks hoping to recuperate the confiscated creatures and either send them onwards to other accredited ocean rehabilitation centers or integrate them into their own Aquarium of the Pacific habitats. A quarter of the laundered sea animals were discovered deceased immediately upon intake or shortly after unable to overcome their fast-debilitating medical conditions. Due to the unverifiable origin of trafficked marine life and their weakened immune systems; these precious animals suffer the unfortunate fate of losing their freedom as release into California’s Pacific waters is impossible, attributed to the potential disruption to steady marine ecosystems and food webs. With many of the 2,000 truck-bound smuggled sea specimens being endangered species or on marine conservation lists; this means extra precautions and considerations were legally required. Aquarium of the Pacific President and CEO Jeff Flocken describes, “Wildlife trafficking disrupts national and global ecosystems and puts animals on the path to extinction. We are proud to answer the call to help trafficked wildlife and are committed to providing immediate care and a sanctuary for all of those that we can help”. The June 19th Truck Fiasco may sound unusual and catastrophic but wildlife trafficking specifically of ocean marine animals is commonplace, standing only behind drug and human trafficking with Los Angeles being the epicenter of North American operations. In July, a further 300 marine animals found a home at the Aquarium of the Pacific from an additional trafficking incident. Since 2023, the Aquarium of the Pacific has housed more than 3,000 trafficked ocean specimens with Los Angeles seeing more than a dozen sea life confiscations by August 2026 on track to topple previous records. Corals confiscated as freight at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) comprise a significant portion of trafficked sea life into the United States and are especially problematic as coral species number in the thousands and often require microscopic examination to identify. While the transport and trade of sea animals isn’t entirely illegal; it is a detail-oriented system of permits, regulations, laws, and dotted I’s and crossed T’s; with endangered and threatened species being exceptionally prohibited but in great demand on the black market. However, it isn’t just trans-international animal trafficking threatening harm to California’s oceanic environment but something closer to home: poaching. Leave California’s Abalone, Alone! A striking aerial photograph of Santa Catalina Island featuring the beautiful Avalon Casino. Credit to seattlemet.com. Los Angeles, California may be a premier vacation destination; but Los Angelinos often desire to escape from the bustle and heavy, grey smog. For that end, residents can board an hour-long ferry ride (22 miles) to Santa Catalina Island, one of California’s Channel Islands distinguished for its European resort ambiance, Art Deco architecture, crystal blue bays, and vibrant wildlife. Underneath this tranquil beauty lies the seedy underbelly of Catalina: poaching. Catalina is the home to an enormous natural population of the marine water snail, abalone. Red, black, green, pink, and white abalone varietals are among the highest-demand seafood cuisine delicacies but are heavily protected in California where treasured abalone are critically endangered due to overfishing, their snail-speed growth cycle (pun intended), and disease-related population wipeout. Although it is illegal to take or possess abalone anywhere along the California coast with the exception of approved sustainable fisheries during pre-selected seasons; this doesn’t stop poachers who are more fixated on the $150 average return per abalone on the restaurant black market than California’s wildlife laws. Diabolical poachers often steal abalone from Catalina’s waters under the glow of moonlight alongside cliffs and bluffs that are difficult for policing wildlife officers to monitor even in the brightest sun. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) agents responded to a September 6, 2026 report at Catalina’s Alamitos Harbor involving three suspects seen poaching for green abalone undermining the island’s abalone conservation efforts. Only one suspect freely admitted to the poaching and was released with a lax promise to appear in court. Not all abalone poachers are so lucky when caught by CDFW officials to walk away with a slap on the wrist. Hee Won Chai and Jin Chai Jeong, both from the Los Angeles metropolitan area, pled no contest to the taking of eight pink abalone, three green abalone, and four spiny lobsters (outside of lobster fishing season) off the shores of Catalina and to the tampering and destruction of evidence resulting in the permanent annulment of both men’s fishing licenses and $62,000 fees directed to each suspect with some of the proceeds going to the CDFW’s abalone preservation fund. A photograph of a pink abalone (Haliotis corrugata) in the wild. This species is a favourite among California poachers. Credit to Adam Obaza. Catalina’s poaching rings encroach on other marine life outside of abalone with poachers increasingly targeting rare fish positioned at the illegal exotic aquarium market. David Hornbaker, a convicted poacher with a long list of previous infractions, was spotted by CDFW agents in Catalina’s harbor squirting quinaldine (a chemical anesthetic used to stun marine life before capture) at schools of blue-banded and zebra-banded goby fish – a practice that is illegal in the United States although regularly-practiced in other parts of the world. Hornbaker was caught in the act underwater with squirt bottles and containers while attempting to abandon the evidence and unconvincingly claimed to be unaware of the laws he was already cited for multiple times dating back to 2013. Officials counted 172 gobies in Hornbaker’s possession which, at the going rate of $5,000/fish on the aquarium black market, could have yielded an $860,000 profit had the CDFW not intercepted (the gobies were released back into the Catalina waters after the recorded count). This incident STILL didn’t stop Hornbaker who was caught yet again partaking in his life of poaching crime when Santa Cruz Island officials identified Hornbaker with the possession of rockfish without a license and the failure to list sea cucumbers (also a restaurant black market delicacy) on a dive log. Hornbaker was finally struck down when he pleaded guilty in the California Supreme Court of Law for the Catalina goby fish episode but was only charged with a misdemeanor and a measly $115 fine. However, the CDFW did rescind all of Hornbaker’s fishing licenses and confiscate all of his equipment; since then, Hornbaker hasn’t been seen again. A photograph of a Blue-Banded Goby Fish, the kind poached by David Hornbaker. Please note this exact individual was not poached. Credit to @marine_encylopedia. Poaching isn’t limited to the confines of Catalina Island with criminal activity buzzing up and down the California coast. A recent San Diego, California abalone incident spanned enough twists and turns and characters of interest that a game of ‘Clue’ would be put to shame. San Diego’s upper echelon, private San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC) was caught in a scandalous confrontation when a hot tip was reported of men poaching abalone and lobster from a ship registered to a top SDYC elected commodore. The boat was empty of persons of interest but shucked abalone and scuba gear were strewn about the boat decks. Officials later discovered Kyle Clark and Jesse James, both members of SDYC, on another boat; admitting to the abalone and lobster poaching. Both suspects faced $164,000 in fines and darkened the reputation of the SDYC. An abalone poaching incident was also documented off the Mendocino, California coast in the early months of 2026 when CDFW wardens spotted a male and female duo poaching purple sea urchins with the female suspect then concealing abalone down her pants in what seemed almost like a comedic bit in a cartoon. The woman was cited for abalone poaching and faced a potential sentence of $40,000 in monetary fees and a year in prison. Just a month prior, a poacher was intercepted by the CDFW with 15 abalone in the same Mendocino location. Mendocino is a hot spot for abalone poachers with a notable incident of 11 poachers intercepted taking 400 abalone in under 72 hours resulting in several of the apprehended poachers fleeing the country and the rest charged with $71,400 fines. Seized poached abalone in Monterey, CA. Credit to KQEDQuest. As 2026 draws to a close; poaching hasn’t slowed down with an October 3rd incident occurring overnight at Pismo Beach (12 miles from San Luis Obispo, California) with CDFW wildlife officers spotting four poachers in possession of 494 clams with two of the clam-jackers fleeing the scene (one of these two returned). Pismo clams suffer from over-harvesting leading to state conservation protections hoping to recover species population numbers. Only 16 of the 494 clams were of legal harvesting-size and none of the poachers were able to present valid fishing licenses or lawfully-mandated clamming tools/devices. The three poachers (the runaway poacher never returned) all hail from the San Francisco Bay area and were arrested and booked for multiple violations including clamming after hours (clamming is only permissible during daytime), absence of fishing licenses and clamming tools/measuring devices, the possession of clams exceeding the bag limit of 10, and the possession of undersized clams below 4 ½ -inches with the failure to return immature clams. CDFW agents successfully re-buried the clams under the 2-inch depth requirement and expect the clams to fully recover from their ordeal. Government officials hope that criminal charges will deter future poachers as the unlawful activity has been on a steady incline in California. CDFW Assistant Chief Mike Stefanak affirms, “Successful prosecutions such as these will hopefully serve as a deterrent for anyone considering committing these crimes against the environment”. It isn’t just the law that poaching and trafficking violate; they also debilitate California’s marine ecosystems. The Crushing Consequences of Marine Trafficking and Poaching in California Marine poaching and trafficking might be a financially-lucrative incentivized way to land your face on a wanted poster; but it is also devastating to California’s Pacific biodiversity. Delicate ecosystems are unended, disease can grow rampant, food web resilience is threatened, conservation efforts towards native species are undermined, and existing regulated fisheries are economically impacted in the short and long term by poaching and trafficking. The widespread poaching of abalone destroys California’s marine food webs even potentially risking the entire extinction of kelp forests which would be ruinous for the Pacific. Existing marine habitats are also faced with destruction from poaching and disease spread through oceanic ecosystems by discarded trafficked sea life. Often, non-native species are detected to be released into California’s coastal waters which can be invasive to existing sea life. California boasts ecosystems unseen elsewhere in the world with 7,500 species found solely in the Golden State making it critical to maintain the intricate balances at all times. Authorized fisheries also face loss of income as poachers illegally sell sea delicacies to restaurants, which in turn can be devastating to the entire state’s economic hard line. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) reported that illegal wildlife trafficking into California continues to escalate with live corals holding the top spot in demand. Some of these corals are dumped into coastal waters and become invasive to coral species already calling California home. The marine trafficking statistics are hard to ignore with 48,793 laundered animals at the California border confiscated between 2015 and 2019, comprising these corals plus crustaceans, mollusks, turtles, and fish largely due to the high demand from restaurants on the black market. These numbers have been doubling with each five-year data set with the 2020-2025 period finding 72,989 trafficked animals seized at the California border with 26,296 being endangered and protected species. Poaching and trafficking is a $20 billion a year enterprise which makes the only viable solution to nullify the demand. A photograph of seized invasive Chinese Mitten Crabs (Eriocheir sinensis). Credit to the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. California is also seeing an exponential upsurge in protected sea cucumber trafficking (100 tons confiscated between 2011-2021) bringing in a high profit as the restaurant delicacy is valued at $29.5 million. Chinese Mitten Crabs, so called for their furry claws that resemble Russian hand muffs, are consistently trafficked into California during the Chinese New Year season and have caused overwhelming damage to California freshwater ecosystems and estuarine infrastructure. Chinese Mitten Crabs that either escape or are purposely released into California’s coastal oceanic waters devastate existing marine species by pilfering food sources, consuming fish eggs, spreading marine diseases, and burrowing into infrastructure causing architectural damage. Caulerpa algae, a non-native alga trafficked for aquarium filtration systems, has overtaken native seagrass in both the San Diego and Newport Beach (Orange County) bays harming the California fish species that use the existing algal ocean carpeting as nurseries. This marine invasion not only caused environmental destruction but had a profound financial impact on California costing millions to ‘clean’ with divers having to uproot the algae by hand. Trafficking and poaching can also impact human health with zoonotic disease (illnesses that jump from animals to humans) being prevalent in illegal trade. Trafficked turtles often carry a highly-infectious form of Salmonella that radically sickens humans upon contact. A photograph of trafficked turtles. Turtles are one of the most popularly trafficked aquatic animals. Credit to the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. California’s Response to Marine Poaching and Trafficking California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), California Fish and Game Commission (CFGC) and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials can often be found collectively seated behind hundreds of computer monitors in warehouse-sized rooms in what might look like a telemarketing call center operation but this is actually an undertaking aimed at scouring internet websites, private forums, and public online groups for the potential sale of any trafficked and poached marine specimens and any ‘viral trends’ fueling the demand for these animals. At the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 12 warehouses of incoming cargo are inspected all day, every day, by wildlife officials and canines trained to ‘sniff out’ illegally trafficked animals including marine species from corals to sea turtles and sharks to seahorses. Meanwhile, wildlife officials patrol California’s 1,954-mile-long Mexico border, coastal waters bays, and more than 100 million tons of cargo that collectively enters California’s airports and harbors; but this is a behemoth task shouldered by too few staff members for the scope of the job. Wildlife inspectors were already severely understaffed; but with the current presidential administration’s piercing of funding budgets toward wildlife protections and federal layoffs of agents in the field: an additional 33% reduction in the USFWS workforce has caused a further strain. In early 2026, 5% of wildlife agencies were terminated with a further 420 layoffs pending. It is vital to find ways to counteract these weaknesses and continue to battle California’s trafficking and poaching crisis. One of the principal holes in tackling California’s marine life trafficking and poaching; is the burden of where these animals will ‘go’ after being confiscated. Wildlife inspectors and agents intercepting traffickers and poachers heavily pursue the legal ramifications but their job description ends within these boundaries and they are often at a loss as to who to call during the critical time bomb of these animals needing immediate medical care and resources. Launched in 2023, California established a pilot program intended to solve this dire need with the Southern California Wildlife Confiscations Network. The Southern California Wildlife Confiscations Network is a unified collaboration between the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) streamlining the placement of seized animals with accredited zoos, sanctuaries, aquariums, universities, and permit-approved animal facilities on their roster. With this program, wildlife agents can quickly access vetted network members through one point of contact department; shortening the downtime between law enforcement seizures and necessitating animal care to increase the chance for survival. “Across the country, it’s always a challenge with humanely placing animals,” expressed Dan Crum, a USFWS Office of Law Enforcement Pacific Southwest Region official, “Most agents deal at the local level and do their networking within the vicinity of their points of entry. And these may not be the best places for the animals. We decided we needed a cleaner, simpler way of placing confiscated animals”. The initiative’s ocean species resource care members already include the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Aquarium of the Pacific, San Diego Zoo, Oakland Zoo and the Turtle Survival Alliance with additional partners added regularly. Beth Schaefer, Director of Animal Programs at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Los Angeles, California explained the zoo’s Southern California Wildlife Confiscations Network participation, “One of the biggest problems for the agents is looking down at an animal they confiscated and thinking, ‘I don’t know what to do with this.’ They’re stressed out about how to take care of the animals because their job is law enforcement, and I realized that we could seriously help with this issue”. Even in its infancy, the Southern California Confiscations Network has been a massive success already placing nearly 5,000 trafficked live specimens into coordinated care with state government officials hoping to expand the program nationally. California state officials also work on the legal side to dampen the demand for trafficked and poached animals with the passing of a wave of wildlife protection laws and an increase in felonious charges. California hopes that strengthening state penalties for animal trafficking and poaching making them equal to that of drug and human trafficking, money laundering, and racketeering with sentences of 20 or more years in prison and fines of $250,000 fines; will send a clear message and potentially deter criminals. California has already enacted House Bill 96 and the California Endangered Species Act (CESA), both prohibiting the sale of trafficked and poached animals and animal parts while California Governor Gavin Newsom recently authorized Assembly Bill 1319 that allocates California state funding and protections to endangered and threatened animal species after the recent federal defunding of the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The Golden State moreover bans the taking, possession, trade, and sale of shark fins. The general public is also encouraged to mitigate poaching and trafficking through identifiable and easily-accessed methods. California urges residents not to ‘like’ or interact with social media accounts that possess exotic trafficked and poached animals, as this increases demand for endangered animals. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) advises residents to use CALTIP (Californians Turn in Poachers and Polluters) where anonymous and confidential reports of trafficked or poached animals can be directed either via an 800-number manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through text message, or a downloadable CALTIP smartphone app. As an incentive, any reports that lead to a verifiable arrest of poachers, animal traffickers, or environmental polluters result in the eligibility of a $3,500 reward to the informing individual. With the state of California and caring citizens working together; we can prevent the future trafficking and poaching of marine animals, escape further damage to California’s oceanic native species and food webs, bypass economic devastation, and obviate the suffering of laundered animals. If you believe you have witnessed animal poaching and trafficking in the state of California, you can report the incident to authorities by using CALTIP: • Call CALTIP at 1-888-334-CALTIP (888 334-2258) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Be prepared to provide any and all details regarding the alleged incident. You do not have to provide your name and may remain anonymous. • Send a text message to tip411 (847411) from your smartphone with the subject of ‘CALTIP’ followed by a space and the body of your message. You do not have to provide your name and may remain anonymous. • Download the free CALTIP app from any iPhone or Android device where reports can be made with live two-way chat capabilities to wildlife authorities. A group of wildlife officers preparing to board a commercial fisherman’s vessel to inspect their catch, & ensure proper compliance. Credit to California Department of Fish & Wildlife. Directories/Credits 1: “Long Beach Aquarium Takes in Nearly 500 Trafficked Animals After Massive Seizure”, Written by Lily Dallow. Published on August 28, 2026 by KTLA 5 Los Angeles News https://ktla.com/news/local-news/long-beach-aquarium-takes-in-nearly-500-trafficked-animals-after-massive-seizure/ 2: “Long Beach Aquarium Nurses Nearly 500 Trafficked Fish Back from the Brink”. Written by Sarah Kim. Published on September 20, 2026, by Hoodline Los Angeles https://hoodline.com/2026/09/long-beach-aquarium-nurses-nearly-500-trafficked-fish-back-from-the-brink/ 3: “How the Aquarium of the Pacific Scrambled to Save Hundreds of Sea Creatures After 2 Massive Smuggling Busts”, Written by Long Beach Post. Published on August 28, 2026, by The LA Local https://thelalocal.org/neighborhoods/long-beach/how-the-aquarium-of-the-pacific-scrambled-to-save-hundreds-of-sea-creatures-after-2-massive-smuggling-busts/ 4: “Suspect Caught Poaching Abalone Near Catalina Island, Wildlife Officials Say”, Written by John Ross Ferrara. Published on September 18, 2026, by KTLA 5 Los Angeles News https://ktla.com/news/local-news/suspect-caught-poaching-abalone-near-catalina-island-wildlife-officials-say/ 5: “Poachers Fined More than $120,000 for Taking Abalone and Lobsters Off Catalina Island”, Written by Debbi Baker. Published on September 15, 2016, by The Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-abalone-poaching-20160915-snap-story.html 6: “A Poaching Scandal Made Waves in San Diego’s Yacht Club Community”, Written by Ry Rivard. Published on October 18, 2018, by Voice of San Diego https://voiceofsandiego.org/2018/10/18/a-poaching-scandal-made-waves-in-san-diegos-yacht-club-community/ 7: “California Poacher Busted After Hiding Two Abalone…in Her Pants”, Written by Sage Marshall. Published on February 9, 2026 by Meat Eater https://www.themeateater.com/conservation/wildlife-management/california-poacher-busted-after-hiding-two-abalone-in-her-pants 8: “Poacher Busted with $5,000 Worth of Fish by Snorkeling Calif. Officer Loses License”. Written by Ashley Harrell. Published on April 23, 2021, by San Francisco Gate News https://www.sfgate.com/news/editorspicks/article/2021-04-poacher-busted-california-channel-islands-16118401.php?IPID=SFGate-HP-CP-Spotlight 9: “Illegal Wildlife Trafficking Affects California Animals, Too”, Written by Chris Clarke. Published on February 11, 2014, by PBS SoCal https://www.pbssocal.org/redefine/illegal-wildlife-trafficking-affects-california-animals-too 10: “It’s ‘whack-a-mole’: Alarming Rise in Pet Trade Fuels Wildlife Trafficking into California”, Written by Spoorthy Raman. Published on November 25, 2025, by Mongabay https://news.mongabay.com/2025/11/its-whack-a-mole-alarming-rise-in-pet-trade-fuels-wildlife-trafficking-into-california/ 11: “Five Ways Illegal Wildlife Trade Endangers Our Oceans”, Written by Unknown. Published on April 12, 2024, by Oceana https://oceana.org/blog/five-ways-illegal-wildlife-trade-endangers-our-oceans/ 12: “The Southern California Wildlife Confiscations Network”, Written by Mary Ellen Collins. Published on October 19, 2022, by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums https://www.aza.org/connect-stories/stories/southern-california-wildlife-confiscations-network-wildlife-trafficking-alliance 13: “Pilot Wildlife Confiscations Network Is Launched in Southern California”, Written by Reuters. Published on October 31, 2023, by Times of San Diego https://timesofsandiego.com/life/2023/10/31/pilot-wildlife-confiscations-network-is-launched-in-southern-california/ 14: “New SoCal Network Helps Save Animals Rescued from Illegal Wildlife Trade”, Written by Jovana Lara and Lisa Bartley. Published on October 28, 2023, by ABC7 Los Angeles News https://abc7.com/post/southern-california-wildlife-confiscations-network-animal-trafficking-zoos-aquariums/13985392/ 15: “New Network Gives Hope to Animals Trafficked Through Illegal Wildlife Trade”, Written by Public Affairs HQ. Published on October 27, 2023 by United States Fish and Wildlife Services https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2023-10/new-network-gives-hope-animals-trafficked-through-illegal-wildlife-trade 16: “CALTIP - Californians Turn in Poachers and Polluters”, Written by Unknown. Published on Unknown Date by the State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife https://wildlife.ca.gov/Enforcement/CalTIP 17: “AB 1319: Protected species: California Endangered Species Act”, Written by Nick Schutlz and Tasha Boerner. Published on October 11, 2025, by Cal Matters Digital Democracy https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab1319 18: “Pismo Beach Police Seize 494 Illegal Pismo Clams”, Written by Pismo Beach Police Department. Published on October 7, 2026, on Facebook by Pismo Beach Police Department https://www.facebook.com/PismoPolice/posts/over-the-weekend-a-vigilant-officer-observed-a-group-of-individuals-in-possessio/1435563525367120/

The Persaud Foundation is always looking for partnerships with other scientific organizations, student organziations, volunteer groups, nonprofit organizations, & newsletters. To discuss a potential collaboration, please email thepersaudfoundation@gmail.com. Partnerships & Partnership Opportunities The Persaud Foundation is always looking for partnerships with other scientific organizations, student organizations, volunteer groups, & newsletters. These organizations or groups assist us in a variety of ways, & support, as well as assist us in our mission to protect the ocean through conservation, education & public involvement. To discuss a potential collaboration, please email us at thepersaudfoundation@gmail.com . A few of our current partner organizations, groups, or podcasts are listed below, & at the end of all of our articles. We also partner with businesses such as restaurants & bookstores who are looking to find ways to support the planet.

Our Wonderful Staff Gwenevere Persaud - Executive Director Gwenevere Persaud is our faithful, dedicated, & extraordinarily industrious Executive Director. She has written the majority of our articles, oversees operations, hosts every event, & coordinates our volunteers. In December of 2022, she founded The Persaud Foundation with the goal of protecting the ocean through conservation, education, & public involvement. Her favourite marine organism is the gorgeous Wolf Eel (Anarrichthys ocellatus). Jaela Balugo - Board Member Jaela Balugo is one of our amazing members of the dedicated Board of Directors. She is one of the most enthusiastic people about the ocean, about ocean education, & about marine science who has ever graced this planet. Jaela assists with overseeing our programs as a board member, votes on important issues, & assists with advising our science communication programs. Her favourite marine animal is the Baluga Whale for its intellect (and after her last name!). Our Wonderful Volunteers Jasper - Science Communication Volunteer Jasper is one of our delightful, passionate science communication volunteers, dedicated to sharks! Jasper adores sharks, & is currently assisting us in our online course program. Jasper's favourite shark is the Epaulette shark, pictured above! Kapish - Science Communication Volunteer Kapish is an intelligent, devoted science communication volunteer of ours, dedicated to the ocean. Kapish is currently assisting us in our Online Course program, working to create free micro-courses to educate the public on various issues plaguing our oceans. One of Kapish's favourite animals is the Sea Turtle, photographed above! August - Social Media Volunteer August is one of our lovely Social Media Volunteers, in charge of designing graphics for our social media & ensuring that our message gets heard by as many people as possible. He is one of the most passionate people about the ocean to ever grace this earth, & is the self-proclaimed biggest Squid Enthusiast in Europe. In addition to assisting with our social media endeavours, August also contributes to the newsletter with his Tales From The Baltic article series. His favourite animal is the beloved Magnapinna Squid, photographed above in all of its eerie glory! Peyton - Science Communication Volunteer Peyton is one of our newest volunteers, with her work primarily focused on science communication through Social Media. She is incredibly passionate, affable, & one of the friendliest as well as most affable people we have had the pleasure of volunteering with. Her favourite marine animal is the gorgeous & gargantuan Whale Shark! Micah - Science Communication Volunteer Micah is one of our esteemed volunteers, with his work primarily focused on science communication through our newsletter, The Persaud Catalog. He is determined, rises to the challenge. & one of our most disciplined volunteers. One of his favourite marine animals is the Sunfish, also known as the Mola Mola, featured above in its sun-kissed glory! Credit to Leonardo Patrizi. Orsolya - Science Communication Volunteer Orsolya is one of our extraordinary science communication volunteers who contributes to the newsletter, enabling us to publish as often as we do. She is our primary writer on our The Pacific Tide article series. She is a freelance historian, model, former goat wrangler, & ocean enthusiast. She is detail-oriented & extremely industrious. Her favourite animal is the horse, & she is represented by the Slender Seahorse pictured above. Kathia - Social Media Volunteer Kathia is one of our esteemed Social Media Volunteers. She primarily focuses on our informational graphic series on social media. Apart from volunteering with our organization, she enjoys listening to music, gaming, & playing basketball. Her favourite marine animal is the seal, photographed above in its adorable glory. Pilar - Science Communication Volunteer Pilar is one of our esteemed science communication volunteers. She contributes to the Disasters at Sea article series. Apart from volunteering with us, she is a sustainability journalist. She enjoys nature, learning, & reading. Her favourite marine animal is the Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis ), photographed above in its majestic glory.

Our Volunteer Program Our organization operates a dedicated volunteer program for individuals aspiring to make an impact, possessing a profound appreciation & admiration for marine life, and who enjoy the oceanic environment. We value every one of our volunteers, regardless of whether their commitment is long-term or limited to a single afternoon spent participating in one of our beach cleanups. We kindly request that you complete this form if you are interested in volunteering with our organization in a long-term capacity. Upon completion, you will receive an email within fourteen business days either accepting you into the organization or politely declining your services. Each new volunteer will receive a complimentary sticker & pin upon joining the organization. The two principal categories of long-term volunteers are Science Communication Volunteers and Social Media Volunteers. Each role, along with its associated responsibilities, is detailed below. Science Communication Volunteers: Science Communication Volunteers take on a variety of responsibilities within the organization. Typically, Science Communication Volunteers will design educational graphics for our social media accounts, as well as our online courses, assist with designing courses, & assist in writing guest articles. The responsibilities are relatively fleshed out; however, they can be tailored to the individual strengths of the Volunteer. These individuals are integral to our educational programs & are imperative to the organization. For this role, we are requesting a time commitment of 3 to 9 hours per week, depending on what exactly the Volunteer can do. Social Media Volunteers: Social Media volunteers also take on a variety of roles within our organization. Their primary responsibilities are to maintain our social media accounts, such as our Facebook & Eventbrite pages. They work closely with our Science Communication team to design valuable educational graphics. These individuals are integral to promoting our organization, as without their valuable contributions, our organization would not be able to promote our programs & message. For this role, we are requesting a time commitment of 3 to 7 hours per week, depending on what exactly each volunteer can do. Volunteer Now!