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The Marine Biodiversity Unit (MBU) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Programme was formed to expand the representation of marine species on the Red List, and is headquartered at the Department of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University<\/a>, USA, with additional unit members based at Arizona State University<\/a>, the Deep Aquarium<\/a> (UK), and the Ocean\u00e1rio de Lisboa<\/a> (Portugal). Our global, interdisciplinary team<\/a> and network of volunteer scientific experts include specialists in taxonomy and systematics, marine biology, spatial analysis, resource management, science communication, and marine conservation planning.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The principal mandate of the MBU is the completion of the <\/span><\/a> Global Marine Species Assessment (GMSA)<\/u> <\/a> the first global review of the threat of extinction for approximately 20,000 marine species assessed using the<\/span> IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria<\/a>.<\/span><\/span> This ongoing initiative has contributed broadly to global, regional, and national marine conservation priority setting, planning, and action. Assessments are made publicly and freely available on the IUCN Red List<\/a>.<\/p>\n The MBU team also initiates and contributes broadly to Global<\/a> and Regional<\/a> marine conservation initiatives, including Key Biodiveristy Areas<\/a>, and serves as the Marine Fishes Red List Authority<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0The MBU proudly acknowledges the role of our sponsors and partners<\/a> in supporting our work.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”rgba(178,178,178,0.64)” _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_margin=”||-15px||false|false”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”rgba(178,178,178,0.64)” _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_margin=”||-15px||false|false”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”rgba(178,178,178,0.64)” _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_margin=”||-15px||false|false”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”rgba(178,178,178,0.64)” _builder_version=”4.2.1″ custom_margin=”||-15px||false|false”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.2.1″ hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Laying the Foundation for Marine Conservation The Marine Biodiversity Unit (MBU) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Programme was formed to expand the representation of marine species on the Red List, and is headquartered at the Department of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University, USA, with additional unit members based at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16787,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" The <\/span>Global Marine Species Assessment<\/a> is the first global review of the threat of extinction for approximately 20,000 marine species assessed using the<\/span> IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria<\/a>.<\/span><\/span> This ongoing initiative has contributed broadly to global, regional, and national marine conservation priority setting, planning, and action. Assessments are made publicly and freely available on the IUCN Red List<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Global Marine Species Assessment is managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Programme Marine Biodiversity Unit (MBU). The MBU was formed to expand the representation of marine species on the Red List, and is headquartered at the Department of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University<\/a>, USA, with additional unit members based at Arizona State University<\/a>, the Deep Aquarium<\/a> (UK), and the Ocean\u00e1rio de Lisboa<\/a> (Portugal). Our global, interdisciplinary staff<\/a> and network of volunteer scientific experts include specialists in taxonomy and systematics, marine biology, spatial analysis, resource management, science communication, and marine conservation planning.<\/p>\n In addition to the Global Marine Species Assessment initiative, the MBU initiates and contributes to global, regional and national marine conservation initiatives<\/a>. MBU contributors also serve, through the IUCN Species Survival Commission, as the Marine Fishes Red List Authority<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
Since its inception, the MBU has emerged as a key contributor to world marine conservation, and has been called upon to engage in direct conservation effort at global policy levels, as well as to enhance organizational and institutional capacity for marine conservation effort.<\/span><\/span><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
MBU Initiatives<\/h1>\n
<\/span><\/span>Global Marine Species Assessment (GMSA)<\/a><\/h4>\n
Global Initiatives<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n
Regional Initiatives<\/a><\/h4>\n
Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)<\/a><\/h4>\n