Sara Stewart

Areas of Expertise

• Gulf marine fisheries
• Coastal sciences
• Public outreach

Professional Summary

Sara Stewart joined the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management as a research assistant through a Sea Grant-funded apprenticeship in the fall of 2022. She is pursuing a Master of Science in Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management under the direction of Todd Sink, Ph.D., and Beth Silvy, Ph.D. Her research aims to test industry-innovated devices that have the potential to reduce shrimp industry bycatch by an additional 10% from the current device standard of 30%. Stewart’s primary duties include performing bycatch characterization on offshore shrimp vessels in the Gulf of Mexico during data collection, as well as the development of these sampling protocols. She is also responsible for the development and management of the project’s database, as well as participating in dockside outreach where the team performs courtesy vessel gear inspections for preseason openings. In 2023, she was awarded a scholarship from the Society for Underwater Technology.

Steward holds 10 years of experience with the Gulf of Mexico fisheries industry. Her expected graduation date is Spring 2025.