Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS): the ocean on the board

Summary

In September 2024, the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), a marine science research charity established over 140 years ago, elected “the Ocean” to its Board of Trustees. SAMS described the decision as one of the most significant in its history, reflecting an effort to reconsider governance models in light of ecological interdependence. Helen Mitcheson (2025-2028) is currently representing the Ocean on the board.

The decision followed several months of internal discussion. The trustees concluded that, despite their expertise in marine conservation, decision-making within the organization remained anthropocentric, with human interests taking precedence over those of the Ocean itself. The election of an Ocean trustee was intended to formalize the notion that the Ocean should be considered as more than a resource, but as an entity with interests to be represented in governance.

With over 160 staff and approximately 200 students, SAMS emphasized that it must balance its commercial and institutional responsibilities with its broader mission to advance marine science. By granting the Ocean a formal role in governance, SAMS seeks to integrate ecological perspectives into organizational decision-making, alongside these responsibilities.

The initiative aligns with wider developments in environmental governance, including similar corporate governance innovations, such as the election of Nature to the Board of Faith in Nature, a UK-based natural products company. These initiatives reflect a broader trend toward challenging anthropocentric governance models and incorporating ecological entities into decision-making processes.

The election of the Ocean as a trustee remains a novel experiment within the environmental charity sector, with potential implications for the integration of ecological considerations into governance more broadly.

Involved Organizations

Related Initiatives