Raimundo Espinoza
he/him Executive Director, Conservación ConCiencia San Juan, Puerto Rico
Raimundo Espinoza founded Conservación ConCiencia to support local fishers with science-driven practices to improve marine ecosystems, food sovereignty and economic resilience in Puerto Rico. Under his leadership, Conservación ConCiencia has trained local fishers in responsible harvesting, reef conservation and species monitoring. These practices will mitigate ecosystem degradation, and they will help ensure the ocean remains a renewable source of food for future generations.
Espinoza’s work became more urgent after Hurricane Maria, which highlighted the vulnerability of food systems in Puerto Rico. Post disaster, he mobilized resources to help rebuild fishing communities and restore their access to marine fisheries. This work included the deployment of solar-powered, cold storage systems to reduce food waste and the creation of rapid-response, conservation strategies to protect damaged marine habitats. This work demonstrated his ability to not only respond to environmental and human crises, but also to create more resilient food systems for Puerto Rico.
With experience in coral reef conservation and sustainable development, Espinoza served as The Nature Conservancy’s founding program director for Cuba and facilitated the first government-to-government action between the US and Cuba at the Everglades National Park. He also held the NOAA Coral Reef Management Fellowship in Puerto Rico and served on NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee.
Espinoza’s practices are rooted in local, cultural knowledge and ensure that on-the-ground reality informs conservation practices. By combining tradition with innovation, he positions small-scale fishers as partners in conservation and honors their generations of fishing knowledge. With participatory research and adaptive management, he encourages fishers to be stewards and ensures their voices are at the forefront of sustainable decision-making. His depth of knowledge and commitment to true shared ecosystem management provide hope for the future of marine food systems in Puerto Rico.
