Scripps Scientists Appointed to Ocean Resources Enhancement Advisory Panel

Two Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego scientists were named as the University of California (UC) representatives to the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program advisory panel. Scripps marine biologist Brice Semmens will be the new member representative and marine ecologist Octavio Aburto-Oropeza will serve as an alternate. Scripps associate researcher Lena Gerwick was the previous member representative.

The researchers will offer their expertise to advise and provide recommendations that assist the program’s goals of enhancing wild fish populations, and assessing the impacts of releasing cultured fish into wild populations.

Semmens, an assistant professor in the Scripps Marine Biology Research Division, focuses his research on quantitative ecology, stock assessment, and fisheries management. Semmens was the UC alternate prior to being named the new member representative.

Aburto-Oropeza, also an assistant professor in the Scripps Marine Biology Research Division, studies fish nursery habitats in the Gulf of California and fisheries ecology in Mexico and several Latin American countries.

Established by the California Legislature in 1983, the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program is administered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with the assistance of the 10-member advisory panel to manage the artificial propagation, rearing, and stocking of important marine finfish species in ocean waters off Southern California.