30 years working on Bycatch
The School of Aquatic Fisheries and Sciences (SAFC) was founded in 1919, and is dedicated to the study of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Some topics of focus include, but are not limited to: aquatic biology, sustainable fisheries management, aquatic resource conservation, and resource management.

​Above is a link to the SAFC site featuring a biography of Martin A. Hall (Ph.D.), a school alumnus. 
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2020 -  Founding organizer of the redCID (red para el studio de capturas incidentals y Descartes) an IberoAmerican network for the study of bycatches and discards.

2020 - Guest Professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography – Univ. of California, San Diego of a graduate course titled “Bycatch: problems and solutions” 

2020 - Member of the Working Group on Fish Technology and Fish Bevavior - International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
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2019 - Participated in Fisheries Improvement Projects workshops to improve sustainability for purse seine and longline fisheries

May 2011 - Member of the Steering Committee of the Circle Hook Symposium – Miami

Since 2009, Member of the Scientific Committee on Bycatch – International Seafood Sustainability Foundation

December 2009 - FAO Expert Consultation on "International Guidelines for Bycatch Management and Reduction of Discards"

November 2009 - Chair of the Steering Committee, International Seafood Sustainability Foundation Meeting to reduce bycatch in the tuna purse seine fisheries on Fish Aggregating Devices

2005 - Now       Member of the Jury “Smart Gear” awards
2003 - 2005      Member of the Scientific Advisory Board, Seafood Watch (continued                                   since 2014)
2006 - 2009      Member of the Technical Advisory Board, Marine Stewardship Council 
2002 - 2006      Member of the Scientific, Academic and Resource management section                             of the Stakeholder Council, Marine Stewardship Council (continued                                     since 2011)
2001 - Now       Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Fundacion Vida Silvestre                             Argentina (WWF Partner Org.)

2001 - Member of the Standards Committee, Marine Stewardship Council
Member of the Board of Directors of the National Fisheries Conservation Center

1994 - 1995      Member of the Steering Committee of the Solving Bycatch National                                     Workshop, and Convener of the Management Solutions (International)                                 Session
1989 - 1992      Member of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Reducing                               Porpoise Mortality from Tuna Fishing.

Since 1984, Head of Bycatch Programs and Agreement for the International Dolphin Conservation Program - Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission IATTC

1983 - 1984      Researcher, Centro Nacional Patagónico, Puerto Madryn, Argentina
1977 - 1982      Fulbright Fellowship, Univ. of Washington, Seattle
1973 - 1977      Head of the Seaweed Resources Program, Puerto Madryn, Argentina
1972 - 1973      Fellowship for Advanced Training in Biometry and Biostatistics,                                           Institute   of   Neurobiology, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1970 - 1972      Teaching Assistant, Univ. of Buenos Aires
1970 - 1972      Researcher on Ecology of Seaweeds/Benthic  Communities, Centro de                                 Investigaciones de Biología Marina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
ACHIEVEMENTS                                                         
                                                                                  Tuna-dolphin issue:
  • Expansion of international observer program from 3% to 100% between 1984 and 1992, and adherence of all nations fishing in the region.
  • Management of the second largest observer program in the world.
  • Identification of the major factors causing or increasing dolphin mortality in the fishery.
  • Development and implementation of a fishers training program to improve performance in reducing dolphin mortality.
  • Reduction of dolphin mortality from over 130,000 in 1986 to less than 900 in recent years, while maintaining the fishing operations at a high level.
                                                                             Other fisheries issues:
  • Development of strategies for bycatch reduction programs, and provision of technical and managerial advice to fisheries facing bycatch problems (e.g. bycatches on Fish Aggregating Devices).
  • Initiation of a multinational artisanal fishers program to reduce sea turtle bycatch along the Pacific Coast of America.                                                                        
                                                                                  Management issues:
  • Development and implementation of the first bycatch management system based on individual vessel quotas.
  • Development and implementation of the Agreement for the International Dolphin Conservation Program (AIDCP), a 19-nation treaty.
  • Development and implementation of the first transparent mechanism to monitor compliance with fisheries: the International Review Panel of the AIDCP.