2023-01-30

Associate Professor Lindsay Porter of the Institute of Marine Ecology and Conservation of National Sun Yat-sen University was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). The Order was issued by the British Government to acknowledge Dr. Lindsay Porter’s long-term overseas commitment to the conservation of cetaceans and oceans around the world.

Dr. Lindsay Porter has been an Associate Professor at NSYSU Institute of Marine Ecology and Conservation since 2021. Dr. Lindsay Porter has been a member of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) for 20 years and was elected as its Vice-chair in 2021. The “International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling” was established in 1946 to manage and supervise the development of the global whaling industry, including the conservation of all populations of cetaceans (https://iwc.int/en/).

Dr. Lindsay Porter has spent 20 years working throughout Asia’s oceans and rivers. Her research footprints have spread across Austral-Asia, the Indian Ocean, the northeast Atlantic and the Western Pacific area, in addition to Asia’s great rivers. She has provided cetacean management and conservation advice to both industry and management authorities, and has assisted non-governmental organisations to promote cetacean conservation to the general public.

In December 2022, in light of Lindsay Porter's long-term efforts in cetacean conservation, the Office of His Majesty King Charles of Great Britain made Dr. Porter an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. This honour is to recognise British citizens for their global social contributions. In the same year, there were 35 awardees, including those in the field of diplomats, international economics, UN ambassadors, directors of news and media. Dr. Porter is the only person to receive an honour for marine conservation research. The British Government hopes the award will highlight marine conservation globally.

Regarding this award, Lindsay Porter said, “I am so very honoured to receive this recognition. It was completely unexpected, and I have only been able to do the work that I do with the support of my family and colleagues and a multitude of other volunteers who work so hard to conserve our oceans.” She is very grateful to Professor Meng-Hsien Chen at IMEC, all her colleagues at the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee, her research team, and her parents, who have supported her always. “When I was a little girl, my father told me I could be whatever I wanted to be. I know if he was still with us today, he would be so proud of this honour.”

Lindsay Porter emphasized that everyone can contribute to marine conservation. “It may sound simple, but it is hard to be consistent! Do try and stop wasting resources; recycle and reuse whatever you can so that waste does not end up in our oceans. Avoid using anything that is ‘single use’ - particularly plastics - as nothing ever ‘goes away’ and these throw-away items are making our seas and lands toxic. Let’s all strive to be more mindful of the impact of our activities.”

Lindsay Porter is now based in the NSYSU Institute of Marine Ecology and Conservation and will expand cetacean research within Taiwan as well as continuing research within the region. She will conduct research on species occurrence, distribution and migration routes of cetaceans in the eastern waters of Taiwan and Dongsha Islands, expand the scope of the research on cetaceans of the Indo-Pacific waters to the east and shine a spotlight on the global importance of cetaceans in Taiwan and surrounding waters.

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British government announcement: New Year Honours 2023 Overseas and International List: Order of the Bath and Order of the British Empire - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)