Research in the Marine Invertebrate Fisheries and Conservation Lab (resident scientist Laura Rogers-Bennett, Center for Wildlife Health and California Department of Fish and Wildlife) focuses on examining processes which impact marine invertebrate populations and communities then applying these findings to fisheries management and marine conservation issues. Marine invertebrates have become the most important fisheries in California in terms of both volume and value. In 2012, four of the top five fisheries were marine invertebrates.
The Shellfish Health Laboratory (SHL) at BML is the State Department of Fish and Wildlife’s shellfish health facility and is also a UCD Vet Med lab through the Principal Investigator, Colleen Burge. Findings from the SHL have been critical to the State of California and these include: