Daniel Pauly

Daniel Pauly is a Professor at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia. Holding a doctorate (1979) and habilitation (1985) in Fisheries Biology from the University of Kiel, Germany, he has led the Sea Around Us project since 1999, focusing on global fisheries trends and sustainability solutions.

• Education: Master (1974), Doctorate (1979), Habilitation (1985) in Fisheries Biology, University of Kiel

His research spans overfishing, climate change impacts on marine life, and ecosystem modeling, particularly through the development of the Gill-Oxygen Limitation Theory (GOLT) explaining fish growth constraints under warming oceans. Recent work emphasizes the urgent need to ban high seas fishing and improve marine protected area effectiveness.

Key article trends include: global fisheries reconstruction (2016 Nature Communications paper), nutrient cycle disruption from biomass extraction, temperature-size relationships in aquatic organisms, and historical ecology applications for modern conservation. His 2023-2025 publications address fisheries subsidies, invasive species, and equitable marine resource distribution.

Scientific Awards

• Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (2023)
• BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2019)
• Chevalier de la Légion D'Honneur (2017)
• Albert Ier Grand Medal in Science (2016)
• Volvo Environmental Prize (2006)
• International Cosmos Prize (2005)
• 7 Honorary Doctorates

Pauly co-founded FishBase.org and the Ecopath modeling software, revolutionizing fisheries research. His extensive advising role has shaped generations of marine scientists across five continents.

Leading research teams at UBC's Sea Around Us project and collaborating globally with institutions like the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Pauly's work continues to influence UN FAO guidelines and WTO fisheries subsidy negotiations.