For 15 years, Patrice Etlin has embarked on expeditions around the world as a freediver and spearfisher — a passion he inherited from his father, a pioneer of spearfishing in Brazil. During these expeditions, Etlin plunged into waters populated by sharks, carpeted with vibrant corals, and swirling with columns of fish. But over time, he noticed these underwater worlds were changing.
Off the coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania, in the Indian Ocean, a location Etlin has visited every year for more than a decade, he saw corals damaged by destructive fishing methods. Sharks, a sign of healthy oceans, became less abundant, fish harder to find. Local fishers had to go further out to sea than ever before. These observations led Etlin, a successful Brazilian private equity investor, to become a conservationist, and in 2024, an Oceana Board Member.
Etlin is struck by how Brazil’s oceans have changed in less than one generation. “I have a picture of my father after just going five to six meters down and catching these amazing giant groupers,” he says.“That kind of spearfishing doesn’t exist anymore. You are forced to go deeper and deeper to find fish, constantly diving below the 70-foot mark.”
Because of the deterioration Etlin has witnessed off Brazil’s coast, Zanzibar, and elsewhere, he decided to take action to preserve fish populations and help them recover. Oceana stood out because of its unique focus on the oceans. “It’s the only international NGO dedicated solely to ocean conservation, and it’s been very effective at scale by prioritizing policies and influencing legislation at the national level. That’s important to me,” says Etlin.
As an investor, Etlin is skilled at identifying good opportunities and promising companies, then helping them grow. “When I transfer these skills to philanthropy and direct my resources there, I look at the impact each dollar can generate for the causes and actions that are meaningful to me,” he explains. “I’m passionate about trying to help scale solutions and create the right initiatives to help us successfully protect and restore the world’s oceans.”
Looking ahead, Etlin says he’s excited to work with and learn from Oceana’s experts. “I’ve been exposed empirically to what’s happening in the oceans, and I enjoy learning about the science behind Oceana’s approach to these problems from the Board and staff,” he says. “We must help solve these issues for the next generation. I’m excited to play my part in that.”
