The Ross Sea Antarctica is the last ocean frontier not yet irreversibly harmed by human activity. Pollution, invasive species, and overfishing rendered the region under siege. For over 12 years, Boulder artist John Weller, a team of scientists, policy makers and ordinary citizens from around the world worked tirelessly to designate the Ross Sea a protected status in an effort to save species and preserve a significant site of climate research. In 2016 their endurance paid off, and the region is now the world’s largest official Marine Protected Area (MPA)! Visit the BioLounge to learn more about the Ross Sea, its biologically diverse ecosystem, and what is possible when we rally together on behalf of our extraordinary planet.
John Weller is a critically acclaimed photographer, writer, and filmmaker whose work has appeared in Outdoor Photographer, American Photo, and National Geographic, among other publications. He started The Last Ocean project with ecologist Dr. David Ainley in 2004. John lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife, CU Professor Cassandra Brooks and their two children.