“The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them.”

(Michel de Montaigne)

The 28th March 2021 was, and remains, a day of great sadness for many marine biologists worldwide who mourn the passing of Professor Brian Morton (Fig. 1), a distinguished marine biologist, an exemplary teacher and a dear friend, after a brave battle with his chronic lung disease over three years. As the pioneer of marine biology in Hong Kong, Brian dedicated his lifetime to ploughing the fields, sowing the seeds, and cultivating marine biological research and marine conservation, achieving an enormous impact in Hong Kong, China, and beyond, which we see and enjoy today. Brian not only enlightened his students intellectually, his positive, energizing attitude changed the outlook on life for many of us. While we deeply grieve the loss of Brian, we also celebrate his life, so full of memories and achievements.