Jerald Ault, Ph.D., associate professor of marine biology and fisheries, UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, studies fish abundance in the Dry Tortugas. He conducts stock assessments of the fishery reserves in the Dry Tortugas and can discuss the use of modeling of coastal ocean ecosystems both to understand the forces driving the natural system and to improve resource prediction and the prospects for sustainability.
Phone: (305) 361-4884
E-mail: jault@rsmas.miami.edu

Robert Cowen, Ph.D., professor and Maytag chair of marine biology and fisheries, UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, an expert in larval fish ecology, can discuss the ecology and biological development of fishes, particularly during the early stages. He has worked extensively on the biological and physical oceanographic processes affecting the migration of larval fishes. He can discuss specific aspects of the ecology of larval fishes including growth, survival, and feeding.
Phone: (305) 421-4023; (305) 421-4025
E-mail: rcowen@rsmas.miami.edu

Beth Babcock, Ph.D., research assistant professor of marine biology and fisheries and chief scientist of the Pew Institute for Ocean Science at the UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Her research involved quantitative analysis of fisheries data, for various assessments of the status of marine fish populations. She co-developed a model to evaluate the sustainability of a fishery, called a Bayesian surplus production (BSP) model and applied it to large coastal sharks, swordfish, and white marlin. Much of her work focuses on improving the treatment of scientific uncertainty in management decision making, fisheries data analysis and stock assessment, including Bayesian methods and decision analysis, and ecosystem-based fisheries management. Dr. Babcock, is available to discuss fisheries stock assessments and their implication for management.
Phone: (305) 421-4852
Email: bbabcock@rsmas.miami.edu

Daniel Benetti, assistant professor of marine affairs and policy, and director of aquaculture program at UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, is an expert in sustainable aquaculture technology. He has extensive international experience, having conducted fieldwork for the private and government sectors in 17 countries throughout 5 continents over the last 20 years.
Phone: (305) 361-4889
E-mail: dbenetti@rsmas.miami.edu

Ellen Pikitch, Ph.D., executive director of the Pew Institute for Ocean Science and professor in Marine Biology and Fisheries at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. She is an international expert in ocean conservation science and management whose research has focused on the assessment of fish stocks, the management of bycatch, and ecosystem-based fishery management. Dr. Pikitch’s scientific work has informed policy decisions such as passage of the U.S. Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000, the listing of beluga sturgeon as threatened with extinction under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and control of the international trade in great white sharks under the Convention on International trade in Endangered Species. Dr. Pikitch is available to discuss assessment of fish stock and fishery management.
Phone: (212) 756-0042
Email: epikitch@rsmas.miami.edu