Nicolas

Pilcher

I am a British marine biologist based in Sabah (Malaysia), where I established and run my own research and conservation agency – the Marine Research Foundation. I have worked extensively on conservation projects across the Indo-Pacific region, focusing my energies on saving endangered sea turtles, dugongs, and other marine species. I also work extensively with major industries to design and deliver solutions to environmental challenges they face. One of our flagship projects is introducing Turtle Excluder Devices to Malaysian trawl fisheries, which became a legal requirement in 2017. In recent years I have also studied impacts of climate change on sea turtles in Iran, tracked turtles across the middle eastern region, and investigated turtle use and trade in part of Africa. At present I am heading up a sea turtle risk extinction project on behalf of SPREP, linking in climate change, traditional take, bycatch, and other threats. In my (copious) spare time I am a diver, a boat captain, and even a small airplane pilot.