SMM2026 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS

Antonio is a Puerto Rican oceanographer and certified aquatic veterinary technician specializing in the health and conservation of aquatic mammals and other marine wildlife. He directs the Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center and has led rescue and research efforts for endangered marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds across the Caribbean and Latin America. With a doctorate in Oceanography and appointments at Inter American and Ross Universities, he has authored over 100 scientific publications and seven books. For nearly four decades, he has advanced science-based, community-driven conservation to protect marine species and their habitats. He is one of the Conference Co-Chairs for the 2026 Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Anamri is a marine biologist and conservationist with over 15 years of experience working with manatees, dolphins, and the coastal communities that share their waters. Originally from Cuba, her passion for marine mammals began early and set her on a path dedicated to their study and conservation.

She currently serves as the Caribbean Program Director at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, where she designs and leads research and conservation projects across the region, focusing on marine megafauna and their critical habitats. She is also the founder and coordinator of the Wider Caribbean Manatee Alliance (WCMA), a network that connects researchers, governments, and communities to support manatee conservation throughout the region. In addition, she serves as Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Sirenia Specialist Group, helping to guide global efforts to protect manatees and dugongs.

Whether in the field tracking manatees, mentoring emerging scientists, or building cross-border partnerships, she brings science, heart, and a splash of Cuban spirit to all aspects of her work.

Daniel is a Uruguayan-born U.S. biologist, National Geographic Explorer, and U.S. Fulbright Scholar specializing in the ecology and conservation of mammals, particularly aquatic species such as manatees and river dolphins. He is currently a professor of biology and curator of the Museum of Nature and Science at Andrews University (USA), where he promotes wildlife conservation through research, education, and international collaboration.

He pioneered the use of side-scan and multibeam sonar to study manatees in dark waters and has conducted field research across the Americas, including in the United States, Cuba, Mexico, Honduras, and Brazil. Holding a doctorate in ecology from Duke University, he has published extensively on manatees and other mammals, including marsupials, cetaceans, and primates.

Daniel is a scientific member of the IUCN Sirenia Specialist Group and has served as Associate and Managing Editor of the Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals for over a decade. He is one of the Scientific Co-Chairs for the 2026 Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Nataly is a Colombian conservation biologist specializing in the ecology and management of aquatic mammals across Latin America and the Caribbean. Her work integrates population ecology, traditional knowledge, and science-based conservation to protect manatees, dolphins, otters, and the freshwater and coastal ecosystems they inhabit. She holds degrees from the National University of Colombia and the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia in Brazil, and earned her Ph.D. in Ecology and Sustainable Development from El Colegio de la Frontera Sur in Mexico.

Nataly has led research and conservation projects throughout Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Belize, Mexico, and French Guiana. She is Co-Chair of the Mesoamerican Chapter of the IUCN SSC Sirenia Specialist Group, co-founder of the nonprofit FINS, and curator of the marine mammal collection at El Colegio de la Frontera Sur. She has also coordinated marine mammal stranding response efforts in the Mexican Caribbean.

With a strong commitment to collaborative, locally grounded conservation, she works to safeguard aquatic species and their habitats. Nataly is one of the Conference Co-Chairs for the 2026 Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.