Nicolas Marin
Award-winning underwater photographer, National Geographic explorer, United Nations Ambassador, activist, and journalist. He was selected as Environmental Photographer of the Year 2023.
Nicolas has had the opportunity to document both the beauty and the challenges of the ocean. He has covered expeditions such as the great migration of hammerhead sharks in the Galápagos Islands, the effects of Atlantification in waters near the North Pole—passing through Norway, Iceland, and Svalbard—and the issue of illegal fisheries in Senegal. Additionally, he has documented the vast coral reefs of Aruba and Baja California Sur.
Now, with Darwin 200, he feels he is living the opportunity of a lifetime to promote ocean conservation on a global scale.
| LOCATION: | Puerto Madryn | AREA OF STUDY: | Steamer ducks |
| NATIONALITY: | Argentina | SPONSOR: | CENPAT-CONICET |
| FILMMAKER: | Josh Clarke |
| START DATE: | 13th December |
| END DATE: | 20th December |
| LOCATION: | Puerto Madryn |
| END POINT: | Argentina |
| AREA OF STUDY: | Steamer ducks |
| SPONSOR: | CENPAT-CONICET |
| FILMMAKER: | Josh Clarke |
Area of Study: Steamer Ducks
This project took place in Camarones, Chubut Province, Argentina, requiring a 320 km road trip from Puerto Madryn. Guided by biologist and wildlife expert Dr. María Laura Agüero, I observed and conducted a census of the steamer duck both on land and at sea. We identified nests, new groupings of juveniles, and general differences between males and females. Through our observations and my interaction with Dr. Agüero, I realized that the steamer duck is an extremely important species for the Patagonian ecosystem.
I also learned that up until ten years ago, no studies had been conducted, and no information was available about the species. However, thanks to Dr. Agüero’s work, there is now a monitoring program within the National Park and Marine Protected Area. This program collaborates with park rangers, who conduct censuses and then send the collected data and statistics to Dr. Agüero.
This week’s experience had a profound personal impact on me. The introduction to citizen science inspired me to spread awareness of steamer duck research to broader audiences.
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