Stephanie J. Rousso

Stephanie J. Rousso is an ecologist with more than two decades of experience in cocreating conservation strategies for migratory endangered species. Most of her work has focused on sea turtles; however, she has experience with other endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) species including the arroyo toad, Quino checkerspot butterfly, and Florida sand skink.

More recently, Rousso moved into marine spatial planning related to international small-scale fisheries (SSF) ecosystem management. Specifically, her focus is on reducing and mitigating SSF bycatch of ETP species with artisanal fishers in Pacific México. Quickly realizing that grant-funded research was not enough for small, on the ground strategic collaborations between scientists and fishers, her interest evolved into becoming an "oceanpreneur." She is passionate about creating community-based, conservation-positive solutions through a sustainable blue economy lens by involving the seafood consumer to support wild, traceable, and responsibly caught seafood.

Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols. As the founder of the Mexican Sea Turtle Network, "J" was a mentor for my PhD and inspiration for my business venture: Blue Turtle Sustainable, LLC. While his passing in 2024 left many with a deep grief, his Blue Mind philosophy leaves us with a timeless legacy of how all water that flows into our one shared ocean holds a connection to our happiness, creativity and wellness.