Zoology, Marine mammal population demography, distribution and conservation status

Prof. Ken Findlay, Specialist Consultant / Researcher, AfriSeas

Prof. Findlay leads specialist consultation in ocean governance, blue economy, and ocean inclusive and sustainable development at AfriSeas, in Cape Town, South Africa. With a prior background in marine mammal science, he has played a substantive role in marine mammal research across the Southern Hemisphere.

He occupied the Research Chair: Oceans Economy at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology from 2016, and started AfriSeas in April 2023 to consult in African blue economy, ocean governance and ocean sustainable development.

Research interest

Prof. Findlay has a strong interest in polar and marine mammal sciences, particularly the population demography, distribution, migration and conservation of large whales.

His work also includes comprehensive population assessments, catch histories, historical abundance and distribution, and the recovery of whale populations following severe whaling pressure. Such recoveries require understanding of current anthropogenic impacts of climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and blue economy expansions.