Mark Peter Simmonds OBE is a marine biologist and environmental scientist who has spent the better part of his career working on threats to marine wildlife. He has worked in both the non-governmental and university sectors and produced scientific papers spanning a wide range of issues, including assessment of animal welfare, the effects of persistent organic pollution, noise pollution, marine debris and climate change. He has also worked on the combined effects of such factors in our rapidly changing oceans.  His published works focus on a wide range of marine taxa, including whales, dolphins, seals, turtles and birds. He is the author/editor of a number of books about marine mammals and the issues affecting them.

Mark’s work was recognised in 2013 in HRH Queen Elizabeth’s birthday honours when he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his work in environmental science and marine mammal conservation.

In 2020, he was honoured to be appointed at the Scientific Councillor for Marine Pollution to the UN Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and in 2019 he convened and chaired the third workshop on marine debris held under the auspices of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). He has successfully run a number of other international workshops for the IWC and others. He also chairs the UK’s Marine Animal Rescue Coalition.

He is a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Bristol.

His publications can be found here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mark_Simmonds