Abstract: Project Seahorse is a marine conservation organisation committed to the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s coastal marine ecosystems. We generate cutting-edge research and turn our findings into highly effective conservation interventions. We collaborate with other researchers, governments, and local communities.

By working to protect seahorses, Project Seahorse supports marine conservation more broadly. Seahorses suffer from the same pressures and benefit from many of the same interventions as other marine life. They are threatened by overfishing and habitat loss. Action for seahorse conservation directly benefits other marine animals, particularly when it comes in the form of marine protected areas or improved governance.

In her presentation Dr. Foster will explore Project Seahorse’s many research, conservation and outreach efforts – through its "onion world" philosophy towards conservation.

Brief CV: Dr. Foster's research and conservation work spans the areas of trade and bycatch - specifically the implementation of the international trade convention CITES for marine fishes, and finding solutions to the problems caused by destructive fishing practices, specifically trawling. Dr. Foster obtained her PhD in fisheries resource management from The University of British Columbia; her thesis examined bycatch in tropical shrimp fisheries, which are believed to be a major cause of population decline in many species, including seahorses. Dr. Foster is currently the Program Manager at Project Seahorse and a Research Associate at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, UBC. Since 2002, she has been conducting CITES analyses, led on the seahorse NDF framework (then applied it to sharks), coordinated national capacity building workshops, and been active in CITES meetings (NDF workshops and Animals Committee).