ObituaryPublished: 27 March 2026Lisa A. Levin ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2858-86221 &Cymie R. Payne2 Nature Ecology & Evolution (2026)Cite this articleSubjectsDecision makingEnvironmental social sciencesPolicyScientific communityLawyer who was instrumental in securing protection for the high seas and the deep ocean.ReferencesGjerde, K. M. Int. J. Mar. Coast. Law 27, 839–847 (2012).Article Google Scholar Mengerink, K. J. et al. Science 344, 696–698 (2014).Article PubMed CAS Google Scholar Gjerde, K. M. et al. Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Options for Underpinning a Strong Global BBNJ Agreement through Regional and Sectoral Governance (Strong High Seas Project, 2018).Gjerde, K. M. et al. Aquat. Conserv. 26 (Suppl. 2), 45–60 (2016).Article Google Scholar Jaeckel, A., Ardron, J. & Gjerde, K. M. Mar. Policy 70, 198–204 (2016).Article Google Scholar Gjerde, K. M., Currie, D., Wowk, K. & Sack, K. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 74, 540–551 (2013).Article PubMed CAS Google Scholar Levin, L. A. et al. Mar. Policy 74, 245–259 (2016).Article Google Scholar Gjerde, K. M. et al. npj Ocean Sustain. 1, 6 (2022).Article Google Scholar Maxwell, S. M., Gjerde, K. M., Conners, M. G. & Crowder, L. B. Science 367, 252–254 (2020).Article PubMed CAS Google Scholar Yadav, S. S. & Gjerde, K. M. Mar. Policy 122, 104184 (2020).Article Google Scholar Download referencesAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsScripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USALisa A. LevinRutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USACymie R. PayneAuthorsLisa A. LevinView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCymie R. PayneView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarContributionsL.A.L. was a co-founder and steering committee member of the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative alongside Kristina Gjerde and was her friend, collaborator and fellow deep-sea advocate. C.R.P. and Kristina Gjerde spent many long hours together representing the International Union for the Conservation of Nature at the United Nations, crafting interventions and briefings in support of the BBNJ Agreement negotiations and becoming friends and collaborators.Corresponding authorsCorrespondence to Lisa A. Levin or Cymie R. Payne.Ethics declarationsCompeting interestsThe authors declare no competing interests.Rights and permissionsReprints and permissionsAbout this article