Selected Research Projects

Recent spikes in humpback whale deaths on the US west coast due to entanglement in commercial crab trap lines prompted scientists and resource managers to address this critical problem. In a collaborative effort between eNGO, academic, and federal government scientists, we produced data-driven management options that maximize catch in the California commercial dungeness crab fishery while minimizing trap entanglement risk for migrating humpback whales. This can help us avoid future mortality of humpback whales while allowing fishing to continue under appropriate regulations.

This was a collaborative research project between Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, and The Nature Conservancy - working together, and with leadership from Brendan Talwar, we performed the most comprehensive synthesis ever for Silky Sharks in the Pacific, integrating genetic, satellite tagging, life history, industrial high-seas fisheries, and small-scale fisheries data sources. All of this information combined led us to a proposed three-stock structure to inform population models and bycatch reduction efforts for this species. 

Marine heatwaves are increasing in scale, intensity, and duration as symptoms of climate change. In 2014-2015, the entire west coast of North America experienced the 'Blob,' the largest marine heatwave in recorded history. This caused fishery delays, closures, and federally declared disasters. We assembled a team of west coast researchers to evaluate the impacts of this extreme environmental event, and found a spectrum of effects ranging from anomalously high productivity for some species on one side to severe degradation of entire ecosystems and fishery closure on the other. This study provided a snapshot of what future warming scenarios might look like, and provided management guidance to mitigate future impacts for several high-value fisheries.

There are currently 124 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) covering 16% of state waters along the California coast. Monitoring of these MPAs is important to understand how ecosystems and people benefit. Working across a consortium of six California universities, we performed a statewide evaluation of MPAs to understand their function and value. We found that MPAs contributed to increased fish catch and biomass, with larger and older MPAs having greater effects. Working together with the fishing industry and community was incredibly valuable for this study and for collaborative work in the future.