Meet the Alliance Team

Throughout 2024, we are sitting down with members of the team to learn about their backgrounds and work for the Blue Nature Alliance. This month, we hear from our teammate Joaquin Labougle, Regional Lead of Americas & Spanish Engagements. 

Tell us about your educational and professional background. What drew you to the field of ocean conservation?

Before joining the Blue Nature Alliance, I worked for the National Parks Administration of Argentina where I oversaw the National Directorate of Marine Protected Areas. During my time with the Argentinian government, I helped to draft and negotiate legislation to amend the legal framework of the Argentinian National System of Marine Protected Areas. I also helped to designate two large offshore marine protected areas within Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone, ‘Namuncurá – Banco Burdwood II’ and ‘Yaganes’. Before working with the Argentinian government, I used to practice natural resources and administrative law at private law firms. I hold a Bachelor of Laws at the Catholic University of Argentina and a Master of Laws at the University of New South Wales of Australia. 

My father, who is also a lawyer and surfer, introduced me to surfing when I was a child and ever since, I have tried to spend as much time as possible in the water. This is what connects me to my everyday work at the Blue Nature Alliance and motivates me to continue working to preserve some of the last wild and pristine areas of the ocean that provide valuable ecosystem services for people.

What is your role in the Blue Nature Alliance and what are you currently working on?

In my role as Regional Program Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, I am in charge of developing and nurturing strong relationships with government staff, community, and civil society leadership. I help to generate ideas for large-scale ocean conservation with our local partners in the region, including the creation of new marine protected areas. I also work to improve the effectiveness of existing marine protected areas and design and pilot innovative models for protected area management. I am currently managing a diverse portfolio of projects in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, and scoping for new opportunities in Brazil and areas beyond national jurisdiction (high seas). I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to build new partnerships and collaborations to advance large-scale ocean conservation across the region. 

Panamanian authorities recently apprehended a vessel illegally fishing in the protected waters of the Cordillera de Coiba Managed Resource Area (ARMCC). This area covers a key swath of ocean in the Eastern Tropical Pacific for highly migratory and protected species. Can you tell us more about the critical role that monitoring and enforcement play in marine management?

In the case of Panama, the Blue Nature Alliance partnered with WildAid Marine, Skylight, MigraMar, and MiAMBIENTE to provide recommendations as part of a Marine Protection System Plan. The seizure of the illegal fishing vessel was aided by initiatives included in the plan — specifically, the call to use new technologies to identify suspicious vessel behavior, alert authorities, and take appropriate action. In this case, NGO partners coordinated with Skylight to provide satellite monitoring to identify unknown vessels within the ARMCC. 

This event shows how effective enforcement and monitoring are integral to securing the biological benefits of marine protected areas, which are established to conserve marine biodiversity, rebuild depleted fish stocks, and protect essential habitats. Proper monitoring allows scientists and managers to assess the MPA's health and evaluate its impact on species and ecosystems. Enforcement — through regulations, policies, satellite technologies, and patrols — ensures that these areas remain sanctuaries where prohibited harmful activities like fishing and habitat degradation are minimized or eliminated, allowing marine life to flourish. Effective and thorough enforcement not only benefits marine life within the protected areas but also promotes spillover effects that can enhance fisheries and ecosystems beyond MPA boundaries, contributing to the resilience of our oceans. 

What makes you hopeful about the field of large-scale ocean conservation? 

I am hopeful about the field of large-scale ocean conservation because of the growing global awareness and commitment to addressing the urgent challenges facing our oceans. Particularly with the new targets set by the Convention on Biological Diversity to protect 30% of the global ocean by 2030, the approval of a final text of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement that will enable the creation of the first generation of MPAs in the high seas, and the strides made in addressing harmful fisheries subsidies through the adoption of a fisheries subsidies agreement at the World Trade Organization. These multilateral agreements underscore the international community's recognition and consensus on the critical role the oceans play in climate regulation, biodiversity preservation, and the livelihoods of millions of people. As we collectively work towards these goals, there is great potential for positive change and the preservation of this vital resource for future generations. 

The integration of innovative technologies, collaborative partnerships, and policy advancements provides hope for a brighter and more resilient future for our planet's vital and interconnected marine environments.