Profile
Specifically I focus on how large pelagic fish utilize the open ocean around the Chagos Archipelago. My team and I have pioneered the successful development and deployment of electronic tags on tunas, billfishes and sharks in BIOT and around the world.
Our team studies bluefin and yellowfin tunas from a whole organism to genome perspective with interests in physiology of migrations, thermogenesis, cardiac biology, energetics and reproduction. The combination of lab and field research has led us to increase our understanding of movement patterns, population structure, physiology and behaviors of pelagic fish and sharks, enabling us to better inform conservation management actions.
Human technology has made it to Mars. We are transmitting gorgeous pictures from it. Yet we have not explored our own planet. Two-thirds of it is covered with oceans that are still mysterious places.
Biography
My Projects
Other interests
I am the Founder of the Tag-A-Giant Foundation which aims to inspire the conservation of bluefin tuna while supporting scientific research informing fisheries management. Additionally I am running the Dr. Barbara Block Lab at the Hopkins Marine Station in Monterey Bay, where my team of researchers and I are involved in several projects such as the Blue Serengeti Initiative, the Animal Telemetry Network, the management of the Tuna Research and Conservation Center as well as the aforementioned Tag-A-Giant project.
My Publications
Behavior and Ecology of Silky Sharks Around the Chagos Archipelago and Evidence of Indian Ocean Wide Movement
Curnick, D.J., Andrzejaczek, S., Jacoby, D.M.P., Coffey, D.M., Carlisle, A.B., Chapple, T.K., Ferretti, F., Schallert, R.J., White, T., Block, B.A., Koldewey, H.J. and Collen, B. (2020) Behavior and Ecology of Silky Sharks Around the Chagos Archipelago and Evidence of Indian Ocean Wide Movement. Frontiers in Marine Science.
A Review of a Decade of Lessons From One of the World’s Largest MPAs: Conservation Gains and Key Challenges
Hays, G.C., Koldewey, H.J., Andrzejaczek, S., Attrill, M.J., Barley, S., Bayley, D.T.I., Benkwitt, C.E., Block, B., Schallert, R.J., Carlisle, A., Carr, P., Chapple, T.K., Collins, C., Diaz, C., Dunn, N., Dunbar, R.B., Eager, D.S., Engel, J., Embling, C.B., Esteban, N., Ferretti, F., Foster, N.L., Freeman, R., Gollock, M., Graham, N.A.J., Harris, J.L., Head, C.E.I, Hosegood, P., Howell, K.L., Hussey, N.E., Jacoby, D.M.P., Jones, R., Pilly, J.S., Lange, I.D., Letessier, T.B., Levy, E., Lindhart, M., McDevitt-Irwin, J.M., Meekan, M., Meeuwig, J.J., Micheli, F., Mogg, A., Mortimer, J.A., Mucciarone, D.A., Nicoll, M.A., Nuno, A., Perry, C., Preston, S.G., Rattray, A.J., Robinson, E., Roche, R., Schiele, M., Sheehan, E.V., Sheppard, A., Sheppard, C., Smith, A.L., Soule, B., Spalding, M., Stevens, G.M.W., Steyaert, M., Stiffel, S., Taylor, B.M., Tickler, D., Trevail, A.M., Trueba, P., Turner, J., Votier, S., Wilson, B., Williams, G., Williamson, B., Williamson, M.J., Wood, H. and Curnick, D.J. (2020) A review of a decade of lessons from one of the world’s largest MPAs: conservation gains and key challenges. Marine Biology.
Mitochondrial Genome of the Silky Shark Carcharhinus falciformis From the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area
Johri, S., Chapple, T.K., Dinsdale, E.A., Schallert, R. and Block, B.A., (2020) Mitochondrial genome of the silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis from the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area. Mitochondrial DNA Part B.
Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Whitetip Reef Shark Triaenodon obesus From the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area
Johri, S., Chapple, T.K., Schallert, R., Dinsdale, E.A. and Block, B.A., (2020) Complete mitochondrial genome of the whitetip reef shark Triaenodon obesus from the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area. Mitochondrial DNA Part B.
Tracking the Response of Industrial Fishing Fleets to Large Marine Protected Areas in the Pacific Ocean
White, T.D., Ong, T., Ferretti, F., Block, B.A., McCauley, D.J., Micheli, F. and De Leo, G.A.(2020) Tracking the response of industrial fishing fleets to large marine protected areas in the Pacific Ocean. Conservation Biology.
Mitochondrial Genome of the Silvertip Shark, Carcharhinus albimarginatus, From the British Indian Ocean Territory
Johri, S., Dunn, N., Chapple, T.K., Curnick, D.J., Savolainen, V., Dinsdale, E.A. and Block, B.A. (2020) Mitochondrial genome of the Silvertip Shark, Carcharhinus albimarginatus, from the British Indian Ocean Territory. Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources.
Shark Movement Strategies Influence Poaching Risk and Enforcement Decisions in a Large, Remote Marine Protected Area
Jacoby, D.M.J., Ferretti, F., Freeman, R., Carlisle, A.B., Chapple, T.K., Curnick, D.J., Dale, J.J., Schallert, R.J., Tickler, D. and Block, B.A. (2020) Shark movement strategies influence poaching risk and enforcement decisions in a large, remote Marine Protected Area. Journal of Applied Biology.
Shark Fin Trade Bans and Sustainable Shark Fisheries
Ferretti, F., Jacoby, D.M.P., Pfleger, M.O., White, T.D., Dent, F., Micheli, F., Rosenberg, A.A., Crowder, L.B. and Block, B.A. (2020) Shark fin trade bans and sustainable shark fisheries. Conservation Letters.
Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Grey Reef Shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae)
Dunn, N., Johri, S., Curnick, D.J., Carbone, C., Dinsdale, E.A., Chapple, T.K., Block, B.A. and Savolainen, V. (2020) Complete mitochondrial genome of the grey reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources.
Individual Variation in Residency and Regional Movements of Reef Manta Rays Mobula aldredi in a Large Marine Protected Area
Andrzejaczek, S., Chapple, T.K., Curnick, D.J., Carlisle, A.B., Castleton, M., Jacoby, D.M.P., Peel, L.R., Schallert, R., Tickler, D.M. and Block, B.A. (2020) Individual variation in residency and regional movements of reef manta rays Mobula alfredi in a large Marine Protected Area. Marine Ecology Progress Series.
Global Spatial Risk Assessment of Sharks Under the Footprint of Fisheries
Queiroz, N., Humphries, N.E., Cuoto, A., et al. (2019) Global spatial risk assessment of sharks under the footprint of fisheries. Nature. 572,461-466
Tracking the Global Footprint of Fisheries
Kroodsma, D. A., Mayorga, J., Hochberg, T., Miller, N. A., Boerder, K., Ferretti, F., … & Woods, P. (2018). Tracking the global footprint of fisheries. Science, 359(6378), 904-908.
Shark Baselines and the Conservation Role of Remote Coral Reef Ecosystems
Ferretti, F., Curnick, D., Liu, K., Romanov, E. V., & Block, B. A. (2018). Shark baselines and the conservation role of remote coral reef ecosystems. Science advances, 4(3), eaaq0333.