Sol Lucas

I am a marine ecologist and mechanical engineer with a love of sharks. I am a PhD student studying threats, status and bycatch reduction techniques to promote the conservation of marine megafauna, with a focus on elasmobranchs (sharks and rays).

I investigate the use of sensory deterrents to reduce bycatch of marine megafauna. This involves filming the responses of blue sharks (Prionace glauca) to ferrite magnets using pelagic baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS) and testing magnetic treatments on fishing lines.

I am interested also in how elasmobranchs respond to ecological change, conducting analyses on 35 shark and ray species to predict population responses to environmental variability using dynamic energy budget models. These models require basic life-history information, which is an advantage for often poorly-studied species.

I first got into sharks when I was 8. My mum bought me a pack of Sharks Top Trumps cards - I loved comparing all of the stats and was hooked immediately.

January 2023