Tom Hooper, MBE
Awarded his M.B.E in 2004 for services to marine conservation, Tom has been fascinated and enthralled by the sea since he was young. His work has focused on tropical fisheries and in particular working with local communities to improve fishery sustainability.
In recent years, he has developed a particular in interest in the development of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Most of all he has been driven to offer opportunities for young people to experience and understand the sea, in the hope that a stronger duty of care will emerge. With this in mind, he has taught many young people to swim, snorkel and dive, and championed projects that offer a wide variety of opportunities for access, enjoyment and personal development using the sea.
Tom’s work has included stints in Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Madagascar as well as Rodrigues, and he is currently the Project Development Officer for Finding Sanctuary, a partnership project that aims to create a network of MPAs around the coasts and seas of South West England.
