I have a broad range of research interests focusing on marine conservation and fisheries. Much of my work has strong spatial themes and I enjoy using both empirical data and simulations to address pertinent questions.
Spawning aggregations
Spawning aggregations of reef fishes have received a lot of attention primarily because fishing that targets aggregations of groupers and snappers has led to massive population declines. I’m interested in spawning aggregations in all their manifestations, from those formed by a few wrasses migrating 10s of meters to spawn daily to those formed by 1000s of groupers migrating 10s or 100s of kilometers to spawn together once a year. more…
Fisheries
Being dynamic socio-ecological systems, we need to understand both the biological and human context of fisheries. Unfortunately, we have been historically very bad at managing fisheries. The global demand for seafood (and freshwater products) is insatiable, but many fishers remain marginalised, poor, and have little power in their industry. My research focuses on small-scale fisheries and seeks to identify viable management strategies that address both fishers’ needs and those of the ecosystems upon which their fisheries depend. more…
Invasive species
The Indo-pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans / miles) has been introduced to the western Atlantic and Caribbean. The species’ invasive range includes the east coast of USA, Gulf of Mexico, Wider Caribbean Region, from Bermuda to Venezuela. It is predicted to spread further south down to Uruguay. One of the traits that has led to the species’ success is that it is a generalist. However, the distribution within sites is patchy and not determined solely by the availability of habitat and 3-dimensional structures for shelter. My research seeks to identify these distribution patterns, the effect on populations of local fishes and other animals, and appropriate management interventions. more…
Connectivity & movement
Many marine animals are mobile: dispersing randomly or moving within well defined home ranges, migrating to feeding and spawning areas, and some have a sequence of habitats they use with different life stages. I am interested in how individuals’ movements affect the distribution of populations, particularly in reef fishes and in the context of marine protected areas and fishing pressure. more…