Dr. Greg Stunz Presents at TEDxSanAntonio

Press Release
Date
Dr. Greg Stunz

HRI’s Dr. Greg Stunz, Chair for Fisheries and Ocean Health and Director of the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation will challenge listeners’ perceptions of sharks and their conservation status during a talk at the 2016 Spring TEDxSanAntonio Main Event Saturday, March 5 at Rackspace Global Headquarters.

Dr. Stunz’s talk, “Save the… Sharks?!” will challenge listeners’ perceptions of these animals as dangerous predators and discuss their worldwide decline, providing predictions using unique data sets from a long-standing fishing tournament along the northern Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Stunz will also discuss his latest research to improve the state of Gulf fisheries. This will include state-of-the art tagging technology on sharks and other important fisheries in our region.

Dr. Stunz is marine biologist specializing in fisheries ecology and sport-fisheries, and a major goal of his research program is to provide scientific data for sustainable management of our marine fisheries and ocean resources to ensure healthy environments. The diverse program currently focuses on migration patterns marine life using a variety of state-of-the-art electronic tracking devices, diving and ROV studies of artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico, and the understanding the vital role that estuaries and near-shore waters play in sustaining marine populations. Specifically, his research includes understanding how artificial reefs enhance fisheries, the roles of apex predators (i.e., sharks) in Gulf ecosystems and tracking their movement patterns, dolphin-fish migration patterns and life history studies, red snapper ecology and management, several projects dealing with many estuarine fishes such as spotted seatrout and red drum and their sustainable management, and many others.

The event, themed “You Think You Know,” presents a range of topics —from humanitarian aid to sharks and rockets — designed inspire attendees to think and enabling them to know. The goal is to give a global perspective with local relevance, all packaged in an entertaining, fast-paced day of TED-style talks.

The registration opens at 8:30 a.m., and talks begin at 10 a.m. at RackSpace Global Headquarters, 1 Fanatical Place, City of Windcrest, San Antonio, TX 78218.

Tickets are available online at tedxsanantonio.com for $85 through Monday, Feb. 29 and $100 at event.

The event will also be livestreamed and will be available for viewing online. More details to come.

Follow Dr. Stunz on Facebook and Twitter or learn more about the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation at SportfishCenter.org.

Fisheries and Ocean Health laboratory