Octavio Aburto is an associate professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, a National Geographic Explorer, and a professional photographer associate with the International League of Conservation Photographers. His research and photographs have focused on critical habitats for wildlife, marine reserves, and exploited marine species and their fisheries in Mexico, the U.S., and Latin American. Aburto’s photographs have been part of several conservation projects worldwide. He is the 2017 Artist in Exploration Rolex Fellow through the N.Y. Explorers Club, a grantee of SunLight Time Foundation, and a 2018 PEW Fellow for his work in mangrove conservation.