The waters of New England are home to some of the largest fisheries in the country, and understanding the connectivity between marine species, their environments, and the fisheries in which fish are caught is crucial to maintaining healthy socioecological systems. Our lab has conducted several New England-based research projects studying the habitat use and fishery interactions of important marine species. Among these species, our lab is especially interested in the porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) which is historically overfished and an apex predator in New England. Our largest research project on porbeagle sharks is studying various aspects of habitat use in the region, particularly for the pups and pregnant females. One main goal of this project is to identify New England waters as an important pupping and nursery ground for the porbeagle shark. To do this, we are collaborating with partners at the Atlantic Shark Institute, Beneath the Waves, and the University of Miami Shark Research & Conservation Lab to deploy a combination of finmount and pop-off satellite tags on porbeagle sharks in New England, as well as using a portable ultrasound to assess reproductive stage in mature females. With this tagging data we will be able to better understand why and how different life stages are able to occupy their environments within New England. These studies are useful for creating effective management protections and bycatch avoidance strategies for the species. This work is in collaboration with the Atlantic Shark Institute.
