Chris Clarke leaves Save Our Seas Foundation

Dear friends, colleagues and supporters of the Save Our Seas Foundation,

I would like to convey my upmost gratitude for your support and the tremendous work everyone has contributed to making the Save Our Seas Foundation a world renowned and respected international NGO.

I am so proud to have been part of the creation and development of the Save our Seas Foundation from its inception in 2000 to where it is today. The last 10 years have been an incredibly exhilarating and rewarding experience. Along this journey I have met some remarkable individuals in remote locations who have all championed and pioneered marine conservation around the world. Under the guidance of the Founder we have successfully initiated over 150 marine conservation projects in 42 countries.

There have been some incredible discoveries and revelations along the way, some moments of joy, when we achieved our goals and really made a difference. Winning a Panda Award for our conservation campaign was a moment I will never forget. There have also been moments of sadness, standing helplessly shouting from the bow of our dive vessel at fishermen who were catching and killing silky sharks which we had been studying for over eight years. These majestic creatures were being culled for the price of their fins. I had spent hours underwater with these inspiring creatures, they all had names and their own individual personalities and I considered them my friends. As horrific as this experience was, this is not just an isolated incident. Sharks are being killed in their thousands all over the world – all day every day. We could be soon be living on a planet without sharks and this is why we really need to REACH out and try and make a difference before it is too late.

My passion and devotion for the Save Our Seas mission has taken me to the far reaches of the world. I have worked willingly 14 hours a day 7 days a week to champion the cause and make the organization a success and proud legacy for the Founder. For the last 7 years I have been effectively juggling two jobs, one as the Director of the Foundation and the second running the Founders marine related operations on which I will now concentrate. As the Foundation now enters a new phase in its growth and development it is time to pass on the reigns to a successor who can solely focus their attention on taking the Foundation into the next decade. The decision to leave my role as Executive Director has left me with mixed feelings. It’s always hard to give up something you love and cherish, however, I now feel it is the right time to move on. I will of course be following and supporting in the background where I can.

The organization would not be where it is today without the amazing team around me who were all instrumental in making this journey one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life. Special thanks goes to the Founder, who’s vision and passion for the marine environment inspired me to dedicate my life to creating his legacy for future generations.

I now look positively into the future and welcome the challenges ahead.

Thank you all.
– Chris Clarke

The Save Our Seas Foundation Board has made the announcement today that Executive Director Chris Clarke has decided to step down from his role at the helm of Save Our Seas.
Here is the full announcement:

"The Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) wishes to announce that Mr. Christopher Clarke, after seven years at the helm of the Foundation, has decided to make a change to his career path and to take on new challenges.

The Board of SOSF would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Clarke for his involvement and commitment, throughout those years, which have been praised by all parties.

The Board will, with the continued support of our Founder and sponsors, pursue, grow and increase its fight to save the world’s oceans and the wealth of marine life they contain.

The Board is in initial discussions with potential candidates who will head up and strengthen the Foundation in the future.

Laurent Moser, at the SOSF’s Head Office, 6 rue Bellot, 1206 Geneva, tel 0041 22 7040505, lm(at)depf.ch will be in charge of the operational aspects ad interim."