Margaret Cooney

Margaret Cooney is the campaign manager for Ocean Policy at American Progress, where she is responsible for coordinating the team’s marine monument efforts. Prior to joining American Progress, Cooney led the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s U.S. Shipping and U.S. Ocean Noise Campaigns, which included assisting in the production of the documentary “Sonic Sea,” as well as pushing for the implementation of pragmatic ocean noise and vessel speed reduction policies.

Previously, Cooney worked as an ocean policy and high seas associate at Marine Conservation Institute, where she focused on strengthening surveillance and enforcement of the Central Pacific’s marine monuments against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing as well as supporting the development and implementation of federal management plans for these areas. She has worked with the World Wildlife Fund and Conservation International on Congo Basin conservation and protected area development, and has performed behavioral, nutritional, and reproductive research at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park.

Cooney holds a master’s in sustainable development and conservation biology from the University of Maryland.