Student Award Winners - Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute

David Die and Steven Saul

Steven holds a bachelor of science in environmental science and music from the University of Richmond, and a masters of arts in marine affairs and policy from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS). During his undergraduate career, Steven worked with various not-for-profit environmental and marine science-related organizations, including the Natural Resource Defense Council, Reef Environmental Education Foundation, and Living Oceans (now Blue Ocean Institute). During the completion of his master’s degree, Steven worked on analysis of the cultural, political and biological state of the yellowtail snapper and Caribbean spiny lobster fisheries in the U.S. Caribbean.

Currently, Steven is a graduate assistant with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and is pursuing a PhD in marine biology and fisheries at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School (RSMAS). Steven is studying under the direction of Dr. David Die, through the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, a partnership between the University of Miami and NOAA Fisheries. With NMFS, Steven has served on two stock assessment panels as part of their Southeast Data Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process. Steven’s present research interests include the development of statistical and mathematical population dynamics models in support of marine conservation in order to offer scientifically sound advise to resource managers. Steven is also interested in the integration of traditional ecological knowledge and stakeholder perception into the quantitative assessment of marine fish populations.

El M. en C. Víctor García es biólogo egresado de la UNAM Campus FES Iztacala, en 2004 obtuvo el grado de Maestría en Ciencias con especialidad en Biología Marina en el Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados Unidad Mérida con la tesis titulada “Influencia de la complejidad estructural de Thalassia testudinum sobre la comunidad íctica juvenil en Laguna Yalahau, Quintana Roo”. Actualmente es candidato a Doctor en Ciencias con especialidad en Ciencias Marinas por el CINVESTAV Unidad Mérida, dentro del Laboratorio de Plancton a cargo del Dr. Uriel Ordóñez López con el que ha participado en diversos trabajos de investigación en los sistemas del Golfo de México y Mar Caribe.

Su línea de investigación ha estado relacionada con la evaluación taxonómica y dinámica ecológica de las comunidades de peces en sistemas costeros, teniendo énfasis en las comunidades juveniles de peces y su relación con los cambios espaciales y temporales de las características del medio, principalmente con la complejidad estructural de las praderas de Thalassia testudinum. Recientemente se ha enfocado al estudio de la influencia del medio hidrológico y de las praderas de pastos marinos sobre la dinámica poblacional de peces juveniles, con la finalidad de determinar áreas de crianza y establecer diferencias entre hábitats esenciales y críticos dentro de un sistema costero lagunar.

Su primera participación en el Gulf and Caribbean Fisherie Institute fue durante la 55 Reunión que se llevo a cabo en Xel-Ha, México. Recientemente fue ganador de una Beca de Viaje otorgada por el Comité de Alumnos del GCFI para participar en la 58 Reunión que se llevó a cabo en San Andrés Colombia.

La M. en C. Falfán, es licenciada en biología, egresada de la U.N.A.M. Campus Iztacala. En mayo de 2003 obtuvo la maestría en Ciencias con especialidad en Biología Marina en el Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional Unidad Mérida (CINVESTAV-IPN), con la tesis “Estudio sobre la fecundidad del mero colorado, Epinephelus guttatus (Linnaeus, 1758) del Banco de Campeche”.

La M. en C. Falfán ha participado en diferentes proyectos de investigación desarrollados en el CINVESTAV. Sus estudios se han enfocado principalmente a las primeras fases del ciclo de vida de los peces de alta importancia comercial, principalmente meros y pargos. Actualmente es candidata a Doctor en Ciencias Marinas en el mismo centro de investigación, bajo la dirección del Dr. Uriel Ordóñez López. El tema central de la investigación doctoral tiene como objetivo “Determinar las variaciones en la abundancia y mecanismos de migración de las larvas de peces de las familias Lutjanidae y Serranidae en la zona de surgencia y área de influencia en el noreste de la Península de Yucatán”. Así como, conocer las diferentes formas de evaluar las pesquerías de estos recursos a través de los primeros estadios de desarrollo de los organismos; y el conjunto de esta información permitirá proponer una explotación racional de estos recursos.

Su primera participación en el GCFI fue durante la 55 reunión celebrada en Xel-Ha, México. Ganadora de la beca de viaje otorgada por el comité de estudiantes del GCFI, con la cual asistió y participó en la 58 reunión que se llevo a cabo en la isla de San Andrés, Colombia; donde fue galardonada con el premio de excelencia académica. Particularmente su asistencia a congresos le ha permitido mantenerse actualizada en el campo en el que se desarrolla, así como intercambiar información y nuevos métodos para el estudio de los recursos de su interés. Así mismo, el acercamiento con investigadores y estudiantes le han permitido reconocer las principales líneas de investigación.

Jessica Beck and Jay Rooker

Jessica graduated cum laude from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1998 with a bachelors of science in biology. As an undergraduate, she attended summer courses at the Wallops Island Marine Science Consortium and completed an internship at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Shortly after graduation, Jessica moved to the Florida Keys where she taught marine biology and ecology courses to grades K-12 at the Newfound Harbor Marine Institute. She then worked as a Project Coordinator with the Marine Resources Council of East Florida before completing a masters of science in marine biology at the Florida Institute of Technology in 2002.

Currently, Jessica is a Ph.D. candidate in the Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Department at Texas A&M University where she is studying under the direction of Dr. Jay Rooker. For her dissertation, entitled ‘Contrasting Survival Strategies of Hatchery and Wild Red Drum: Implications for Stock Enhancement’, Jessica is using high-speed video and other techniques to highlight behavioral differences between red drum from various hatcheries and bay systems in Texas. A large component of her research also involves assessing the impacts of pre-release exposure techniques on the survival success of hatchery red drum. Throughout the course of her Ph.D. tenure, she has had the opportunity to work closely with hatchery managers and biologists from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Stock Enhancement program and has presented findings from her research at various state and national meetings. Jessica is also interested in issues related to fisheries management and policy and plans to pursue a career in these areas after graduation.

Picture coming soon

Anthony received his bachelor of science from Texas A&M University at Galveston. During his undergraduate, he volunteered in the laboratories of Dr. Jay Rooker and Dr. Jaime Alvarado-Bremer, working on projects related to finfish ecology and bigeye tuna population genetics. Following graduation, he briefly worked at the National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) Galveston Laboratory under Dr. Jim Ditty, participating in investigations of salt marsh and seagrass ecology.

Currently, Anthony is a M.S. candidate in the Department of Marine Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico-Recinto de Mayagüez. He is studying under Dr. Richard Appeldoorn, with specialization in Caribbean fisheries biology. He has participated in several projects during his Master’s career, including studies of the distribution of queen conch in Puerto Rico, and the impacts of trap fishing upon coral reef ecosystems. He presented components of these projects at the 57th and 59th GCFI meetings, respectively. Anthony is finishing his M.S. thesis entitled “Evaluation of seasonal closures of red hind, Epinephelus guttatus, spawning aggregations to fishing off the west coast of Puerto Rico”. His research interests include fisheries ecology and stock assessment of coastal and pelagic fishes; investigations into fish community shifts resulting from historical fishing pressure; and spatial analyses of fisheries survey data using GIS. He has plans to pursue a Ph.D., with interest in studying the ecology of large pelagic fishes.

Anthony is the lead singer, guitarist, and musical arranger of the Kingfish Trio. Together with songwriter Richard Appeldoorn and guitarist Dr. Ron Hill, the group made their debut in St. Petersburg, FL at the 57th GCFI meeting.

THE GCFI STUDENT AWARDS ARE SPONSORED BY:

Caribbean Fisheries Management Council	Sea Grant College Programs of Florida, Alabama/Mississippi, Louisiana, and Puerto Rico

2005