Honouring Kristina Gjerde
Kristina Gjerde was an extraordinary person, marine conservationist, and a true grande dame of ocean protection.
We first met Kristina in 2004 at the United Nations in New York, and from that very first encounter has been deeply impressed — not only by her exceptional expertise, but also by her humanity, integrity, and unwavering passion and strength.
Kristina was a one-in-a-generation ocean advocate – her kindness knew no limits. And no matter how busy she was, she always shared her time, provided support to the common goal, as well as moderated several OceanCare side events over the years. Kristina combined intellectual rigor with moral clarity, and she never lost sight of what truly mattered: safeguarding the ocean for present and future generations and protecting it as the habitat on which marine wildlife depends. She led by example, empowering those around her, fostering trust, respect, and lasting commitment among all who had the opportunity to work with her. Kristina was a role model in the fullest sense of the word. She was an ocean legend whose passion, wisdom, and humility consistently lifted others up. Her light will continue to guide our way, and we will work tirelessly to uphold the legacy that she has built.
Her passing is a profound and irreplaceable loss. We can only seek to honour her by carrying forward her dedication, her values, and her legacy. By continuing the work, she cared so deeply about, we honour her life and ensure that her impact endures, with love, respect and gratitude.
We express our deepest condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.