Heather Bolnit

Marine Stewardship and Monitoring Specialist

heather@marinesanctuary.org

Having spent much of her life living near the sea—from the rocky coast of Maine, to the beaches of Florida, to the cliffs of the Pacific Northwest—Heather Bolnit has developed a deep connection to the ocean and a passion for protecting its communities. She obtained a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from Eckerd College and a master's in environmental studies from Antioch University of New England, with a concentration in advocacy for social justice and sustainability.

Bolnit has followed her passion professionally in a variety of roles, including grassroots director for a farm animal protection organization in Seattle, manager of a treehouse hostel in Georgia, and sea turtle conservationist in the Seychelles Islands. Her favorite activities are hiking and paddling, as evidenced by thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, completing a 400-mile solo kayak trip along Florida's Intracoastal Waterway, and trekking 1,100 miles around Florida's coastline in which she picked up 3 tons of trash to raise awareness about plastic pollution.

Through her advocacy, education, and lifestyle, Heather strives to protect the planet while inspiring others to do the same.