Jenna

Contuchio

I am a PhD student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a Designated Emphasis in Coastal Science and Policy. My research focuses on protecting critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles in Jumby Bay, Antigua, and endangered and threatened sea turtles in U.S. West Coast National Marine Sanctuary waters—areas where climate change and human activities intersect. By combining community science with advanced remote sensing methods, including novel researcher-designed tags and small unoccupied aerial systems (sUAS), I aim to enhance our understanding of sea turtle hatchling movement, initial survival rates, and distribution. Partnering closely with the Jumby Bay Hawksbill Project and local fisheries officials, I will provide training in sUAS operation to build lasting regional capacity for marine conservation. My long-term goal is to integrate emerging technologies into adaptive, science-based community governance, ultimately fostering more resilient marine habitats and safeguarding these iconic species for the future.