I am interested in a suite of questions in fisheries management and conservation. My thesis focused on the reduction of bycatch in tuna fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean while trying to minimize the simultaneous impacts to the fishers themselves. Based on our analyses we identified regions that may pose good potential sites for management restrictions - conserving sharks caught as bycatch while having little impact on the catch of tunas.

I am also interested in more local questions of conservation. Pinto abalone in Washington State continue to decline despite 15 years of fishery closures. Low population densities may be responsible for recruitment failures. I am part of an inter-disciplinary team that is focusing on conservation of abalone stocks in the wild, as well as hatchery based supplementation of these stocks.

While I am passionate about those charismatic little abalone, I am also very excited to help scientists to visualize and to communicate their science. Check out my website for examples and details - www.theeighthcontinent.com

jordan.t.watson ("a t") gmail.com