Enric Sala

Enric Sala (born November 26, 1968) is a marine ecologist, author, and conservationist. He is known for his work in ocean conservation and his leadership of National Geographic Society Pristine Seas initiative.

Early life and education Sala was born in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. He earned a B.Sc. from the University of Barcelona in 1991 and received a Ph.D. from the Aix-Marseille University in 1996.

Career

Following his academic studies, Sala held positions as a university professor focusing on marine ecology.

In 2008, Sala launched the Pristine Seas initiative with National Geographic Society, a project designed to document and advocate for the protection of marine environments. In 2011, he and filmmaker James Cameron were named National Geographic Explorers in Residence.

Pristine Seas As the director of Pristine Seas, Sala oversees a multidisciplinary team that employs scientific research, media production, and policy analysis to advocate for the establishment of marine protected areas. As of 2026, the project had conducted 50 expeditions and has contributed to the establishment of 31 marine protected areas covering more than 6.9 million square kilometers.

Scientific Research Sala's research interests include marine ecology, specifically the study of human impact on ocean health and the effectiveness of no-take marine reserves.

Notable findings from his research include:

2008 – Contributions to the identification of inverted biomass pyramids in coral reef ecosystems. 2018 – Research on the economic viability of high-seas fishing, which concluded that a significant portion of current activity is dependent on government subsidies. 2021 – Lead author on an international study identifying priority areas in the global ocean for the preservation of biodiversity, food, and climate regulation.

Filmography

2009 – Journey to Shark Eden (National Geographic Channel, 2009) 2010 – Shark Island (NatGeo Wild, 2010) 2011 – Secrets of the Mediterranean: Cousteau's Lost World (NatGeo Wild, 2011) 2012 – Lost Sharks of Easter Island (NatGeo Wild, 2012) 2013 – Sharks of Lost Island (NatGeo Wild, 2013) 2013 – Wild Gabon (NatGeo Wild, 2013) 2014 – Africa's Wild Coast (NatGeo Wild, 2014) 2015 – Russia's Far North (NatGeo Wild, 2015) 2016 – Inn Saei (Hrund Gunnsteinsdottir, 2016) 2016 – Palau: Pristine Paradise (NatGeo Wild, 2016) 2016 – Wild Galapagos: Pristine Seas (NatGeo Wild, 2016) 2016 – Before the Flood (Fisher Stevens, 2016) 2017 – Cape Horn: The sea at the end of the world (National Geographic Channel International, 2017) 2017 – Juan Fernández: The sea forever (National Geographic Channel International, 2017) 2017 – Revillagigedo: Mexico's wildest seas (2017) 2020 – The Last Ice (Disney+, 2020) — Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Nature Documentary (2021) 2025 – Ocean with David Attenborough (Disney+, 2025) — Executive Producer and Scientific Advisor

Publications Sala has authored over 150 publications; a selection is listed here.

Jackson, Jeremy B.C., Alexander, Karen E., Sala, Enric (2011). Shifting Baselines: The Past and Future of Ocean Fisheries. Island Press. Sala, Enric (2015). Pristine Seas: Journeys to the Ocean's Last Wild Places. National Geographic. Sala, Enric (2020). The Nature of Nature. National Geographic.