From above and below: identification of key areas for pelagic wildlife conservation

Pelagic wildlife species play important functional roles in the ecosystems they inhabit. However, the expansion and intensification of human activities in the ocean are responsible for global population declines of pelagic wildlife. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely recognised as an effective tool for marine biodiversity conservation. However, building effective MPAs requires representative coverage of pelagic habitats and species diversity. My thesis uses non-invasive video methods to characterise key areas for pelagic wildlife conservation in oceanic and coastal MPAs. I provide benchmarks of pelagic wildlife against which future changes can be compared, informing policy, management, and conservation of pelagic species.