As FishBase marks its 35th anniversary and SeaLifeBase celebrates 20 years, we’ve taken this milestone year to honor the incredible individuals whose expertise, generosity, and passion have helped shape these global biodiversity databases.
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Through our Anniversary Spotlight Series, we’ve shared the stories of 18 remarkable collaborators whose efforts—from data sharing and species identification to technical innovation and advocacy—have supported our mission to make comprehensive, accurate and science-based information accessible to researchers, policymakers, and ocean enthusiasts worldwide.
Here’s a look back at the trailblazers we’ve featured:
- William “Bill” Eschmeyer (1939–2024) – A pioneering ichthyologist whose Catalog of Fishes set the foundation for fish taxonomy and became a cornerstone resource for FishBase. Read more
- John Ernest “Jack” Randall (1924–2020) – Revered as a “friend to FishBase,” Dr. Randall is a renowned fish taxonomist whose vast contributions to marine biodiversity research helped expand global knowledge of reef fishes. Read more
- Chong Chen – A deep-sea scientist and mollusc specialist who’s passionate about documenting the mysterious life of the ocean depths, sharing invaluable data and expertise for deep-sea invertebrates. Read more
- Pauline Walsh Jacobson – A passionate underwater photographer and citizen scientist, Pauline’s meticulously researched images of benthic fishes, crustaceans, and sea slugs from the Tropical Western Atlantic enhance the databases’ visual collection. Read more
- Fra-and Timothy Quimpo – A dive instructor, underwater photographer and marine biologist who uses his lens to showcase marine life — including sea turtles, reef fishes, corals, and invertebrates — while amplifying science and conservation. Read more
- Andreas Volckers – A steadfast contributor focused on reef-associated marine species, Andreas plays a vital role in the continued growth and reliability of not only FishBase and SeaLifeBase but also WoRMS. Read more
- Peter Petersen – Contributes species data gathered through his work at the National Aquarium Denmark. Combined with Johnny Jensen’s photographs, his efforts in validating new species pages help keep FishBase accurate and up to date. Read more
- Todd William Miller – NOAA scientist whose expertise in bioenergetics and stable isotopes has helped enhance FishBase and SeaLifeBase through the integration of new trophic metrics and Arctic biodiversity data. Read more
- Florian Luskow –A marine biologist studying zooplankton ecology, with a special interest in lesser-known and often-overlooked gelatinous species, contributing key data from remote seas. Read more
- Charles ‘Chuck’ Blend – A fish taxonomist and educator whose research on parasites and host relationships added depth to FishBase’s data on fish health and ecology. Read more
- Guido & Philippe Poppe – A father-son duo whose extraordinary collection of seashell imagery has made SeaLifeBase an unmatched resource for mollusk identification. Read more
- Vreni Häussermann – A leading marine scientist studying Chilean fjords, whose data and images enrich SeaLifeBase’s records of cold-water biodiversity. Read more
- Bart Hazes – A FishBase user turned contributor, Bart has spent the past decade adding first-ever species images, expanding ranges, correcting taxonomy, and sharing survey datasets—strengthening FishBase and inspiring citizen science. Read more
- Lucas Brotz – A global expert on jellyfish ecology providing SeaLifeBase with key data and insights into these fascinating, yet often misunderstood, creatures. Read more
- Hiroyuki Motomura – Renowned taxonomist who built one of Japan’s largest fish collections and published thousands of scientific papers, greatly expanding FishBase’s global records with his data and photos. Read more
- Maria Theresa ‘Teri’ Aquino – Dedicated to protecting wildlife great and small, she brings expertise in marine megafauna and crocodiles while contributing vital invertebrate data sharing her photos of cetaceans and seabirds to SeaLifeBase. Read more
- Carol Cox – An purpose-driven underwater photographer who enriches FishBase with images from the northern Gulf of Mexico and beyond, capturing rare and underrepresented species to advance science and education. Read more
- Bertrand Richer de Forges – Known for his groundbreaking deep-sea explorations in the Indo-West Pacific, he contributed high-quality species lists and unique records of marine life from these biodiversity-rich, uncharted depths to SeaLifeBase. Read more
These collaborators have been instrumental in shaping the growth and success of FishBase and SeaLifeBase, fostering a culture of shared knowledge and innovation. Their contributions continue to complement our collective work toward a future where reliable biodiversity data empowers science and sustainable ocean stewardship.
