Scientific Authority

Dr. Aylin Ulman

Aylin Ulman is a marine scientist, conservationist, and founder of Le Puffer the world's first luxury leather brand made from invasive pufferfish.

Her relationship with the sea began early. Her father was among the first people to use scuba equipment in Türkiye, diving with the Turkish navy around 1955. She grew up near Toronto, moved to Vancouver at twenty entirely on her own, and spent years working underwater across eight countries certifying over a thousand divers, discovering sharks off Australia, and eventually helping run a marine conservation company in Belize. It was there that a question took hold: where was the data actually going?

She returned to university to find out training under Daniel Pauly at UBC, the originator of the Shifting Baselines concept, before completing a PhD across seven Mediterranean countries studying invasive species spread through recreational boating. The silver-cheeked toadfish kept appearing. She decided to do something about it.

Le Puffer was founded in 2020. Every piece is made from a fish that shouldn't be there. Using it is the point.

She is the founder of Mersea Marine Consulting in southern Türkiye and the author of over 60 peer-reviewed scientific papers. She is currently presenting research at Sharks International 2025, identifying for the first time a reproductive habitat for the critically endangered Angelshark in the Eastern Mediterranean.

She describes herself as addicted to sharks and turquoise. Both show up in everything she does.

PhD in Marine Ecosystem Health and Conservation, Sorbonne Université and Università di Pavia

MSc in Fisheries Science

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Editor, Scientific Reports

Board Member, Lionfish University

Member, Angel Shark Conservation Network

Member, SSAP Angel Shark Mediterranean Working Group

Member, EcoLegacy Mediterranean

+20Years Intel

60+Peer-reviewed Articles

22H-Index

4000+Scuba Dives

EditorScientific Reports

Board of DirectorsLionfish University

MemberAngel Shark Conservation Network
SSAP Angel Shark Mediterranean Working Group
EcoLegacy Mediterranean

AlumniMarie Skłodowska-Curie
UBC Institute of Fisheries & Oceans

[ GLOBAL NETWORK ]

Mersea regularly works with a global network of scientists and conservation practitioners. Our collaborators range from ichthyoplankton experts to specialists in elasmobranchs, sharks, and whales.

Together, this network brings science, field experience, and policy insight into a results-driven approach to marine conservation.