Born in 1972, Robin Davies grew up with a fascination of all things aquatic, but a family move in 1982 to the beautiful coastline of south-west England heralded his formative years. From that moment on, he spent all his spare time by the sea, often for days on end, learning about marine biology, the rhythms of the tides, how to catch his dinner, and surfing the Atlantic swells. These experiences galvanised his love of all things marine and served as the bedrock for his studies that culminated in 2001 with a PhD in Marine Biology from the National University of Ireland.
After graduating, Robin conducted research on fishing vessels off the south and west coast of Ireland, learning about the migratory patterns of commercially exploited fish stocks, and researching the effectiveness of conservation oriented fishing gear. Then, in an unexpected twist for a man with a love of the ocean, he turned his back on academia and moved to a landlocked country. Switzerland beckoned because of the opportunity to work for WWF International managing a global marine conservation initiative – a move that, ironically, only deepened his connection with the sea. Now working as the Deputy Leader of WWFs Smart Fishing global initiative, his work is dedicated to finding solutions to ensure the ocean are harvested in a more sustainable way.
Duration: 17’30
