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The Marine Mammal Protection Act is Under Grave Threat

Since 1972, this groundbreaking law has shielded marine mammals from harm. We need your help to save it.

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California sea lion, Pinger
Cecily Majerus

Cecily Majerus, M.A.

Chief Executive Officer

Cecily comes to the CEO position after serving on the Board of Directors for the Center for 11 years. Prior to assuming the CEO position, she was Chair of the Board. Cecily brings decades of experience in ocean policy and program implementation. Her focus has been translating scientific findings and turning them into effective policy to provide protection for our environment.

Cecily’s environmental policy career began at the international level working on the drafting of the United Nations Law of the Sea Treaty. Her work was to provide protection for the ocean and its resources, as well as support nations who had never been members of an international agreement be actively engaged in the technical solutions.

From the International level, Cecily’s focus narrowed to the state and regional through her work to restore the Chesapeake Bay. Serving two Maryland governors as their Chesapeake Bay Coordinator, she managed Maryland’s efforts to restore the Bay as well as working with the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the states of Virginia, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia on joint policies and programs.

While serving as the lead for the Principal Staff Committee during Maryland’s Chairmanship of the Chesapeake Bay Council, Cecily was able to help establish the goal of significantly reducing nutrients flowing into the Bay from both point and nonpoint sources, thus creating a path toward a healthier bay.

When Cecily moved to California, her landscape focused on the watershed level where she was the Executive Director for the Tuolumne Trust, one of California’s Wild and Scenic Rivers, but still a watershed in need of active management. This included working with diverse stakeholders to develop a protection plan for the Clavey river, California’s longest undammed tributary.

Cecily’s constant through this path has always been the protection of the ocean. In addition, Cecily also served on the Board of Ocean Conservancy, twice as Board Chair, to again work toward developing and implementing policies that will provide long-term and effective protection of our ocean and all who live in it and depend on it.


Areas of Expertise

  • Environmental Policy
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Nonprofit Organization and Board Management
  • Fundraising
  • Education
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