Grace A. Casselberry
I am currently a postdoctoral research associate in the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I also completed my PhD at UMass where I was co-advised by Dr. Andy Danylchuk and Dr. Greg Skomal. As a National Geographic Explorer and former NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar, my research focuses on applications of acoustic and satellite telemetry to improve our understanding of how sharks use marine protected areas as well as interact with game fish and anglers. My dissertation research focused on shark depredation in the recreational Atlantic tarpon fishery in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and angler responses to shark depredation. Broadly, my research interests rest at the intersection of marine animal movement, conservation, and management, particularly for highly mobile and long-lived fishes.
My interest in fish and marine life started at a young age, growing up fishing every summer on Cape Cod with my mom and grandpa. Nature documentaries from PBS and National Geographic also fostered an interest in large predators. I realized I could make these interests a career during my undergraduate studies. I earned my BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a Marine Biology minor from the University of Connecticut and my MS in Marine Science and Technology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I have contributed to elasmobranch conservation and management work with both NOAA - Fisheries in Panama City, FL and the MA Division of Marine Fisheries in New Bedford, MA. I am proud to have conducted research in both our National Park and National Marine Sanctuary systems.