Paul Holthus

Founding president and CEO

Paul works with the private sector and market forces to develop practical solutions for achieving sustainable development and addressing environmental concerns, especially for marine areas and resources.

His experience ranges from working with the global industry associations or directors of UN agencies to working with fishermen in small island villages. Paul has been involved in coastal and marine resource sustainable development and conservation work in over 30 countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, Central America and Africa. As a consultant on sustainable development and environmental management, he has worked with companies, industry associations, UN agencies, international NGOs and foundations on sustainability, especially in the areas of oil/gas, fisheries, aquaculture, standards and certification.

Past roles include: Deputy Director for the Global Marine and Coastal Program of IUCN – The World Conservation Union; founding Executive Director of the Marine Aquarium Council (an international standards-setting, certification and capacity-building organization bringing together industry/fishers, conservation and international agencies for sustainability in this global marine fishery, aquaculture and trade); Senior Officer in the Nature Conservancy’s Asia-Pacific Program; Senior Program Officer of the UNEP South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

Paul is a graduate of the University of California and the University of Hawaii, with advanced degrees in coastal/marine resources and international business.

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