Kristina Maria Gjerde, recognized for her work in marine environmental law, has died from pancreatic cancer on December 26, 2025. Gjerde was the 2024 Laureate of the Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy. She received this honor alongside Singapore Ambassador Rena Lee for their roles in advancing the United Nations Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), a significant development in protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Gjerde’s career spanned nearly four decades and focused on public international law relating to ocean governance, shipping, fishing, and deep seabed mining. Her work emphasized integrating scientific research into policies aimed at conserving marine biodiversity and promoting sustainable use of ocean resources.
She played a key role as Senior High Seas Advisor at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), contributing to the conceptualization and inclusion of new conservation measures in the BBNJ Agreement beginning in the early 2000s. Gjerde also helped establish several initiatives such as the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative, Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative, Sargasso Sea Project, and High Seas Alliance. Additionally, she served on the Executive Planning Group of the UN Decade of Ocean Science.
Her academic contributions included positions as an adjunct professor at Middlebury Institute of International Studies and Honorary Professor at University of Edinburgh. She was also a Pew Marine Fellow and formerly affiliated with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Marine Policy Center. Gjerde sat on the Schmidt Ocean Institute Advisory Board and co-authored more than 200 publications with scientists and legal scholars focusing on conservation issues in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Gjerde’s efforts have influenced developments in marine law and policy, including her early support for what became the BBNJ Agreement. She was committed to supporting early-career scholars globally to contribute to ocean governance discussions.
Among her recognitions are the 2023 IUCN World Commission on Protected Area’s Fred Packard Award for her work securing protections under international law for high seas regions, as well as the 2024 Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy.
To further support future generations interested in ocean stewardship, Gjerde established the Ocean Stewardship Award through Synchronicity Earth USA. The BBNJ Agreement is scheduled to enter into force on January 17, 2026.
“Kristina was a 2024 Laureate of the Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy, presented jointly to her and Singapore Ambassador Rena Lee in recognition of their leadership in advancing the United Nations Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)—a landmark achievement in the protection of marine biodiversity on the high seas.”
“A true champion for the ocean, Kristina dedicated nearly 40 years to the development of public international law governing the marine environment. Her expertise encompassed ocean governance, shipping, fishing, and deep seabed mining, driven by a passion for advancing the role of science and scientists to improve marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.”
“Her commitment for uplifting early career scholars has enabled new voices from around the world to shape the process.”
