*** Virtual Speaker ***

Christine O’Sullivan is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Studies at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Ja.) and is currently pursuing a PhD in Marine Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. She has Masters’ degrees in Natural Resource Management and Marine Mammal Science from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, respectively.  Before working for UTech, Ja. she worked for governmental, non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations in the Caribbean to support environmental awareness, research and conservation. 

Christine has worked throughout the Caribbean on environmental issues, including marine mammal and sea turtle conservation and advocacy projects.  She has worked throughout the Caribbean on environmental issues, including marine mammal and sea turtle conservation and advocacy projects.

Since at least 2001 fishers in Jamaica have been complaining about dolphins extracting fish from their fish traps and nets. This has led to some fishers threatening to harm dolphins associated with the behavior.  This presentation will look at the behaviors used by bottlenose dolphins to extract fish from fishers’ traps and the development of possible mitigation measures that will help to reduce conflicts between dolphins and fishers.