Studying contaminants with the Institute for Integrated Research on Materials, Environment and Society (IIRMES)
Marine fishes are important sources of protein throughout the world. As fish grow and age, they will accumulate contaminants, such as heavy metals and PCBs, that can be harmful to humans if consumed in high concentrations. Large, slow growing fishes that are at the top of the food web bioaccumulate contaminants over their lifetime, and […]
Partnering for genetic science
Studying the DNA of organisms can reveal more than just their genetic code. We are working with scientists in the US and Australia to determine species identification, patterns of movement and connectivity, biodiversity, population relatedness, and spatial ecology of sharks, rays, and finfish. We collect genetic information by cutting a small piece of fin from […]
Working with the Sawfish Conservation Society
Sawfish, a family of cartilaginous fishes consisting of five species, were recently identified as the most vulnerable of all elasmobranch families. Ecologically extinct throughout most of their ranges due to overexploitation, notably through the expanded use of gillnets, sawfish are now on the brink of extinction. We work with the Sawfish Conservation Society and the […]
Marine protected areas and big fish
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are increasingly used as a management tool and are considered a spatial management unit used to prohibit or restrict fishing or other destructive activities within a defined area. Although selected MPAs are fully protected, prohibiting fishing or any removal of marine wildlife, others enable multiple uses including recreational or artisanal fishing […]
Is Eating Shark and Other Large Fish Healthy for You?
As a top predator on the food chain, sharks and other large predatory fishes are known to accumulate toxins acquired from the fish and other prey they eat throughout the course of their lives. Several published papers indicating that shark meat contains high levels of methyl mercury, which is a potent neurotoxin that is often […]
Public perception assessments
In the quest to better raise public awareness about marine wildlife and notably sharks, we have conducted outreach and education initiatives throughout Belize since 1999. From 2001 onwards, these initiatives were expanded to several other countries including Madagascar, Micronesia, Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, and Honduras. However, we needed to know whether our efforts had been effective […]
Socio-economic assessments
Many tropical countries are data-poor when it comes to fisheries or information on marine megafauna. To fill the data gaps and support precautionary management measures, we have conducted socio-economic assessments of a range of small-scale fisheries including on reef-associated fish, sharks, Goliath grouper and deep-water fishes. Depending on the targeted group and information needed, the […]
Recreational fisheries
Many fishes desired by sport or recreational fishers are large, highly migratory species. These animals are often apex predators and indicators of ocean health. Because they are highly migratory, sport fish may be targeted by fishers in more than one country, complicating management. Belize has a long history of recreational offshore fishing, but the status […]
Deep sea: The last frontier
Sharks and fishes that inhabit waters deeper than 150 m (500 feet) are among the least-studied species in the world’s oceans, and deep-sea fisheries often become established in these depths before any research can be conducted on the biology and ecology of the targeted animals. This is especially problematic for deep-sea species because they tend […]
Sustainable fisheries and the reduction of fishing effort
For coastal developing countries, fishing for a range of species is often important for the livelihood, culture, and health of the human population. However, in many regions, catches are diminishing and the sizes of captured fishes is decreasing. Collecting data from fisheries can allow researchers to identify and address problems to ensure the continued health […]
Spatial ecology of threatened species
Spatial ecology is the study of an organism’s use of habitats and ecosystems throughout its lifetime. A variety of factors influence spatial ecology, including, but not limited to: food availability, habitat type, season, reproductive activity, and predator avoidance. Not surprisingly, as an animal grows and ages, it will often change its pattern of habitat use. […]
Biology of threatened species
Determining a species’ specific growth rate, size and age at maturity, and the rate at which it reproduces tells us a lot about its vulnerability to fishing exploitation. A slow-growing shark species that only produces 4 offspring every other year may not be able to recover from heavy fishing mortality. This is especially important information […]