scientific Publications
Hope for an accessible ocean: Blue justice and ocean science diplomacy central to the outcome of the UN Decade of Ocean Science
Polejack, A., Coelho, L.F., Harden-Davies, H., Elsler, L., Amon, D.J. & de Vos, A., 2025, Hope for an accessible ocean: Blue justice and ocean science diplomacy central to the outcome of the UN Decade of Ocean Science, Marine Policy, vol. 176, art. no. 106639.
Learn MoreVulnerability of marine megafauna to global at-sea anthropogenic threats
VanCompernolle, M., Morris, J., Calich, H.J., Rodríguez, J.P., Marley, S.A., Pearce, J.R., de Vos, A., et al., 2025. Vulnerability of marine megafauna to global at-sea anthropogenic threats. Conservation Biology, e70147.
Learn MoreNoise from deep‑sea mining in the Clarion‑Clipperton Zone, Pacific Ocean will impact a broad range of marine taxa
Williams, R., Cox, K.D., Amon, D., Ashe, E., Chapuis, L., Erbe, C., de Vos, A., Nielsen, K.A., Salerno Collins, M., Smith, C., Washburn, T.W., Young, K.F. & Clark, C.W., 2025. Noise from deep-sea mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, Pacific Ocean will impact a broad range of marine taxa. Marine Pollution
Learn MoreCrediting non-author contributors in scientific publishing
Emogor, C.A., Burgman, M.A., Cash, N., de Vos, A., Wijesinghe, A. & Sutherland, W.J., 2025. Crediting non-author contributors in scientific publishing. Nature Human Behaviour, 9(5), pp.846–850.
Learn MoreCetaceans and threats of the Ninety East Ridge and high seas of the Indian Ocean
Webber, T., Boisseau, O., Young, K.F., Provost, F. and de Vos, A., 2025. Cetaceans and threats of the Ninety East Ridge and high seas of the Indian Ocean. Marine Environmental Research, p.107290.
Learn MoreOccurrence of delphinids off Egmont Atoll, Chagos Archipelago: Detection, characterisation, and temporal variability of vocalisations
Sampath, U., Embling, C.B., Harris, D.V., Letessier, T.B., Shyam, I., Ingram, S.N., Fairoz, M.F.M., Rouf, S.S. and de Vos, A. (2025). Occurrence of delphinids off Egmont Atoll, Chagos Archipelago: Detection, characterisation, and temporal variability of vocalisations. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, [online] 158(4), pp.3226–3238.
Learn MoreSwim-with-Whales Tours and Their Impact on Whales in Sri Lanka
Oceanswell (2024). Swim-with-Whales Tours and Their Impact on Whales in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka: Oceanswell, p.16.
Learn MoreTalking About the Weather: The Feasibility of Using Very High-Resolution Optical Satellite Imagery to Monitor Live and Stranded Cetaceans Around the UK and UK Overseas Territories
Clarke, P.J., Cubaynes, H.C., Jackson, J.A., Taylor, N.L., Johnston, D.W., de Vos, A., Fretwell, P.T., Skachkova, A. and Jones, G., 2025. Talking About the Weather: The Feasibility of Using Very High‐Resolution Optical Satellite Imagery to Monitor Live and Stranded Cetaceans Around the UK and UK Overseas Territories. Marine Mammal Science,
Learn MoreBurnt Plastic (Pyroplastic) from the M/V X-Press Pearl Ship Fire and Plastic Spill Contain Compounds That Activate Endocrine and Metabolism-Related Human and Fish Transcription Factors
James, BD, Medvedev, AV, Medvedeva, LA, Martsen, E, Gorman, KL, Lin, B, Makarov, SS, Aluwihare, LI, de Vos, A, Reddy, CM & Hahn, ME 2025, 'Burnt Plastic (Pyroplastic) from the M/V X-Press Pearl Ship Fire and Plastic Spill Contain Compounds That Activate Endocrine and Metabolism-Related Human and Fish Transcription Factors',
Learn MoreSmall grants advance global ocean conservation and management equity
Stephenson E.H., Edwards B.-L., Duwan E., Berger B., de Vos A., Forsberg K., Kadagi N.I., Tlusty M.F. and Redfern J.V. (2024)
Learn MoreShip collision risk threatens whales across the world’s oceans
Nisi, A.C., Welch, H., Brodie, S., Leiphardt, C., Rhodes, R., Hazen, E.L., Redfern, J.V., Branch, T.A., Barreto, A.S., Calambokidis, J., Clavelle, T., Dares, L., de Vos, A, Gero, S., Jackson, J.A., Kenney, R.D., Kroodsma, D., Leaper, R., McCauley, D.J. and Moore, S.E. (2024). Ship collision risk threatens whales across the
Learn MoreChanges in illegal fishing dynamics in a large-scale MPA during COVID-19
Collins, C., Kerry C, de Vos, A., Karnad, D., Nuno, A., Letessier, T.B. (2023) Changes in illegal fishing dynamics in a large-scale MPA during COVID-19. Current Biology 33, R851-R852.
Learn MoreFire and Oil Led to Complex Mixtures of PAHs on Burnt and Unburnt Plastic during the M/V X-Press Pearl Disaster
James, B. D., Reddy, C. M., Hahn, M. E., Nelson, R. K., de Vos, A., Aluwihare, L. I., Wade, T.L., Knap, A.H., Bera, G. (2023). Fire and oil led to complex mixtures of PAHs on burnt and unburnt plastic during the M/V X-press Pearl disaster. ACS Environmental Au. 0, 0,
Learn MoreEngaging the Tropical Majority to Make Ocean Governance and Science more Equitable and Effective
Spalding, A. K., Grorud-Colvert, K., Allison, E., Amon, D. J., Collin, R., de Vos, A., Friedlander, A. M., Johnson, S. M., Mayorga, J., Paris, C. B., Scott, C., Suman, D. O., Cisneros-Montemayor, A. M., Estradivari, Giron-Nava, A., Gurney, G. G., Harris, J. M., Hicks, C., Mangubhai, S., Micheli, F., Naggea,
Learn MoreGlobal South leadership towards inclusive tropical ecology and conservation
Ocampo-Ariza, C., Toledo-Hernández, M., Librán-Embid, F., Armenteras, D., Vansynghel, J., Raveloaritiana, E., Arimond, I., Angulo-Rubiano, A., Tscharntke, T., Ramírez-Castañeda, V., Wurz, A., Marcacci, G., Anders, M., Urbina-Cardona, J. N., de Vos, A., Devy, S., Westphal, C., Toomey, A., Sheherazade, Chirango, Y., & Maas, B. (2023). Global South leadership towards inclusive
Learn MoreContrasting ecological information-content in whaling archives with modern cetacean surveys for conservation planning and identification of historical distribution changes
Letessier, T. B., Mannocci, L., Goodwin, B., Embling, C., de Vos, A., Anderson, R. C., Ingram, S. N., Rogan, A., & Turvey, S. T. (2023). Contrasting ecological information-content in whaling archives with modern cetacean surveys for conservation planning and identification of historical distribution changes. Conservation Biology.
Learn MoreConfronting parachute science in conservation
de Vos, A., & Schwartz, M. W. (2022). Confronting parachute science in conservation. Conservation Science and Practice, 4(5).
Learn MoreStowing parachutes, strengthening science
de Vos, A. (2022). Stowing parachutes, strengthening science. Conservation Science and Practice, 4(5).
Learn MoreA note on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the central Indian Ocean
Anderson, C., Isha, Sutaria, D. and de Vos, A. (2022). A note on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the central Indian Ocean. J. Cetacean Res. Manage., 23(1), pp.49–57.
Learn MoreDivergent Forms of Pyroplastic: Lessons Learned from the M/V X‑Press Pearl Ship Fire
James, B. D., de Vos, A., Aluwihare, L.I., Youngs, S., Ward, C.P., Nelson, R.K., Michel, A.P.M., Hahn, M.E. and Reddy, C.M., 2022. Divergent Forms of Pyroplastic: Lessons Learned from the M/V X-Press Pearl Ship Fire. ACS Environmental Au,.
Learn MoreLow-Cost, Deep-Sea Imaging and Analysis Tools for Deep-Sea Exploration
Bell, K. L., Chow, J. S., Hope, A., Quinzin, M. C., Cantner, K. A., Amon, D. J., Cramp, J. E., Rotjan, R. D., Kamalu, L., de Vos, A., Talma, S., Buglass, S., Wade, V., Filander, Z., Noyes, K., Lynch, M., Knight, A., Lourenço, N., Girguis, P. R., de Sousa, J.B.,
Learn MoreThe M/V X‑Press Pearl nurdle spill: contamination of burnt plastic and unburnt nurdles along Sri Lanka’s beaches
de Vos, A., Aluwihare, L., Youngs, S., DiBenedetto, M. H., Ward, C. P., Michel, A. P., Colson, B. C., Mazzotta, M. G., Walsh, A. N., Nelson, R. K., Reddy, C. M., & James, B. D. (2021). The M/V X-press Pearl Nurdle spill: Contamination of burnt plastic and unburnt nurdles along
Learn MoreCetacean Strandings From Space: Challenges and Opportunities of Very High Resolution Satellites for the Remote Monitoring of Cetacean Mass Strandings
Clarke, P.J., Cubaynes, H.C., Stockin, K.A., Olavarría, C., de Vos, A., Fretwell, P.T. and Jackson, J.A. (2021). Cetacean Strandings From Space: Challenges and Opportunities of Very High Resolution Satellites for the Remote Monitoring of Cetacean Mass Strandings. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8.
Learn MoreAdvancing social equity in and through marine conservation
Bennett, N. J., Katz, L., Yadao-Evans, W., Ahmadia, G. N., Atkinson, S., Ban, N. C., Dawson, N.M., de Vos, A., Fitzpatrick, J., Gill, D., Imirizaldu, M., Lewis, N., Mangubhai, S., Meth, L., Muhl, E.K.Advancing social equity in and through marine conservation. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 994.
Learn MoreOcean- scale footprint of a highly mobile fishing fleet: Socialecological drivers of fleet behaviour and evidence of illegal fishing
Collins, C., Nuno, A., Benaragama, A., Broderick, A., Wijesundara, I., Wijetunge, D. and Letessier, T.B. (2021). Ocean‐scale footprint of a highly mobile fishing fleet: Social‐ecological drivers of fleet behaviour and evidence of illegal fishing. People and Nature, 3(3), pp.740–755.
Learn MoreUnderstanding persistent non-compliance in a remote large-scale MPA
Collins, C., Nuno, A., Broderick, A., Curnick, D.J., de Vos, A., Franklin, T., Jacoby, D.M.P, Mees, C., Moir-Clark, J., Pearce, J. & Letessier, T.B. (2021) Understanding persistent non-compliance in a remote large-scale MPA. Frontiers in Marine Science.
Learn MoreFirst record of a southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) in Sri Lankan waters
de Vos, A. (2021). First record of a southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) in Sri Lankan waters. Marine Biodiversity Records, 14(1), 1-4.
Learn MoreMarine and Freshwater Mammal Conservation: Global Evidence for the Effects of Interventions
Berthinussen, A., Smith, R.K.and Sutherland, W.J. (2021). Marine and Freshwater Mammal Conservation: Global Evidence for the Effects of Interventions. Conservation Evidence Series Synopses. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Learn MoreUsing perceptions to examine human responses to blanket bans: The case of the thresher shark landing-ban in Sri Lanka
Collins, C., Letessier, T. B., Broderick, A., Wijesundara, I., & Nuno, A. (2020). Using perceptions to examine human responses to blanket bans: The case of the thresher shark landing-ban in Sri Lanka. Marine Policy, 104198.
Learn MoreThe nourishment of Mount Lavinia beach
Pattiaratchi, C., Azmy, N., & de Vos, A. (2020). Loris, 29(1), 60-63. Coastal areas have attracted people throughout history, developing into major population centres and for trade and economic development through development of ports and associated infrastructure.
Learn MoreFilter feeding
Croll, D.A., Tershy, B.R., Newton, K.M., de Vos, A., Hazen, E. and Goldbogen, J.A. (2018) Filter feeding, In: The encyclopaedia of marine mammals, 3rd Edition, 362-368.
Learn MoreNew Determination of Prey and Parasite Species for Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whales
de Vos, A., Faux, C. E., Marthick, J., Dickinson, J and Jarman, S. N. (2018) New determination of prey and parasite species for Northern Indian Ocean blue whales, Frontiers in Marine Science, 5(104).
Learn MoreFirst record of Omura’s whale, Balaenoptera omurai, in Sri Lankan waters
de Vos, A. (2017) Marine Biodiversity Records, 10:18.
Learn MorePredicting cetacean distributions in data-poor marine ecosystems
Redfern, J. V., Moore, T. J., Fiedler, P. C., de Vos, A., Brownell, R. L., Forney, K. A., Becker, E. A. and Ballance, L. T. (2017) Diversity and Distributions, 23: 394–408.
Learn More27 years: The longest longevity and residency record for northern Indian Ocean blue whales
de Vos A. (2016) 27 years: Taprobanica, 8(1): 21-23.
Learn MoreAnthropogenic threats and conservation needs of blue whales, Balaenoptera musculus, around Sri Lanka
de Vos A., Brownell Jr, R.L., Tershy B.R. and Croll, D.A. (2016) Marine Biology, 2016:12.
Learn MoreSurface circulation and upwelling patterns around Sri Lanka
de Vos A., Pattiaratchi, C.B. and Wijeratne, E.M.S. (2014) Biogeosciences Special Issue: Current biogeochemical and ecosystem research in the Northern Indian Ocean, 11:5909-5930.
Learn MoreInter-Annual Variability in Blue Whale Distribution off Southern Sri Lanka between 2011 and 2012
de Vos A., Pattiaratchi, C.B. and Harcourt R.G. (2014) Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 2: 534-550.
Learn MoreReducing the probability of ship-strike risk to blue whales in Sri Lankan waters
de Vos A., Christiansen, F., Harcourt R.G. and Pattiaratchi C.B. (2013)Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 449: 149-153.
Learn MoreCetacean sightings and acoustic detections in the offshore waters of Sri Lanka: March-June 2003
Perera N. and de Vos A. (2007)Environmental Management, 40:727-737. de Vos A., Clark R., Johnson C., Johnson G., Kerr I., Payne R. and Madsen P. T (2012) Spring 2003, Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, 12(2), 185-193
Learn MoreSightings and acoustic detections of cetaceans in the offshore waters of Sri Lanka – Spring 2003
de Vos A., Clark R., Johnson C., Johnson G., Kerr I., Payne R. and Madsen P. T (2012) Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, 12(2), 185-193
Learn MoreMarine protected areas in Sri Lanka: A review
Perera N. and de Vos A. (2007)Environmental Management, 40:727-737.
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Books and reports
The impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on coastal fisheries in Sri Lanka.
Azmy, N., Giritharan, A., Jamel, H., Mangubhai, S., de Vos, A. (2021). The impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on coastal fisheries in Sri Lanka. Oceanswell, Colombo.
Learn MoreThe tragedy of Mount Lavinia beach
Charitha Pattiaratchi1, Nadiya Azmy2 and Asha de Vos1, 2 1The Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, M470, Crawley WA, 6009, Australia 2Oceanswell, 9 Park Gardens, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka
Learn MoreReducing the probability of ship-strike risk to blue whales in Sri Lankan waters
de Vos, A. (2018) Reducing the probability of ship-strike risk to blue whales in Sri Lankan waters, Oceanswell, Colombo..
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