Scottish marine science body appoints ocean as trustee with formal board role

The Scottish Association for Marine Science has made the ocean a formal trustee, giving it a voice in decisions affecting the marine environment.

• The Scottish Association for Marine Science (Sams) created a trustee role for the ocean to represent its ecosystem in board decisions.
• Helen Mitcheson, an environmental lawyer, was appointed as the ocean's representative and has a say in all discussions but no veto.
• During the first board meeting with the ocean trustee, Mitcheson intervened after 20 minutes without any reference to the ocean.
• Faith in Nature first gave nature a formal vote on corporate decisions in 2022; about 25 organisations have since adopted similar measures.