Maria Pena Ermida is a Researcher at Católica Research Centre for the Future of Law at Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Her PhD research focuses on the governance of Marine Global Commons, specifically in what concerns the protection and management of the marine environment. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Universidade Católica Portuguesa and a master’s degree from NOVA School of Law in International and European Law where she presented her master’s thesis, ‘The Precautionary Principle Applied to Deep-Sea Mining’. She often works with Ocean focused NGOs in Policy Making and is currently working on projects related to the international protection of underwater cultural heritage as well as the establishment of Marine Protected Areas in Portugal.