Jess Cramp: Shark Researcher and Marine Conservationist

Jess Cramp is a shark researcher who specializes in conservation policy and engaging communities in the management of their ocean. Jess co-championed a grassroots campaign that resulted in the Cook Islands Shark Sanctuary in 2012, an area exceeding 770,000 square miles. Cramp has since advised communities, national governments, and international organizations on conservation policy, led marine research expeditions through various island nations, and mentored local youth interested in science. She is the founder and executive director of Sharks Pacific, a nonprofit organization that conducts research, outreach, and advocacy throughout the Pacific Islands region. Her work focuses on improving fisheries management, human-wildlife conflict prevention, community empowerment, and the development of policies that consider people and the environment in equal measure. Cramp is currently a PhD candidate at James Cook University. An accomplished speaker, Cramp was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2015 and an AAAS If/Then Ambassador in 2019.