Do sharks and rays have bones?
Sharks and rays, both in the Class Chondrichthyes, belong to a distinct category of vertebrates characterized by their unique skeletal composition. In the world of marine biology, distinguishing these cartilaginous creatures from their bony counterparts, such as snappers and groupers (Class Osteichthyes), helps to form the basis of our understanding of aquatic life. Absence of […]
Cabo Verde
The status of sharks and rays in the Eastern Atlantic is poorly known, as is their connectivity with the Western Atlantic. Working with traditional fishers and institutional partners, we are conducting the first fisheries-dependent and independent assessments and long-term monitoring of sharks and rays in Cabo Verde, including critical nursery areas. This work gives us […]
Restoring Science, Community Engagement, and Marine Tourism at the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve
This MarAlliance led project aims to establish contemporary knowledge of large and commercially important fish, and develop a basis for scientifically informed and community-based marine wildlife encounter tourism in Belize by focusing on one of Belize’s iconic fish spawning aggregations (FSA) sites, Gladden Spit. The project will focus on four components that include inclusive monitoring, […]
What happened to Gladden Spit’s whale sharks and spawning fish? A new project seeks to answer the communities’ questions.
Whale sharks and large aggregations of spawning reef fish were once the stars of Gladden Spit, attracting tourists from around the world and providing a lucrative source of income for at least six dependent communities. However, the predictable seasonal aggregations of whale sharks, which were studied from 1998 to 2004 as they fed on the […]
Deepwater Fisheries of the Caribbean: Balancing Sustainability and Demand
When we think of the Caribbean, we often imagine clear turquoise waters and shallow coral reefs. Lobster and queen conch are not only economically important as prized fishery products, but also have deep cultural roots in local communities. However, the tides have shifted. Over recent years, as coastal finfish, lobster, and conch stocks have declined, […]
How Climate Change Plays a Role in Shaping Sea Turtle Generations
Sea turtles are among the most emblematic and charismatic marine species, which contributes to their widespread popularity. Moreover, they provide a range of ecosystem services, such as maintaining the productivity of coral reef and seagrass habitats, balancing the food chain, and transporting nutrients from the ocean to the coast. These factors make sea turtles incredibly […]