Understanding how vessels can impact the marine environment is the first step towards mitigation. For many boaters, learning and complying with marine mammal regulations and guidelines can be an obstacle - it’s often challenging to correctly estimate distances on the water, and wildlife can be hard to spot while underway. As a marine educator, I engage with the public to provide in situ education on whales and other wildlife, how vessels can impact, the maritime rules that apply, and how boaters can best share the water. This type of outreach is incredibly valuable for fostering a sense of marine stewardship within communities across the world’s oceans.

Inspiring stewardship of the marine environment starts with effective and accessible education. Through the Be Whale Wise partnership and WAVE Project, I deliver virtual and in-person lectures on the research behind marine mammal regulations, and how to comply with the laws that apply to vessel operations. My goal as a science communicator is aid the conservation and recovery of marine species by providing accessible and engaging content.

Robust, accurate data used to inform regulations and guidelines is the backbone of effective management. I conduct analyses and deliver reports characterizing vessel trends and whale behavior to state, federal, and international policymakers. These data have contributed to improved protections around whales and better understanding of spatial trends within whale habitat.