Research explores recreational shark fishing's impact on protected species

Nov 3, 2023

2 min

Aaron Carlisle


In Delaware, recreational shark fishing is popular, with anglers taking part in half- and full-day shark fishing trips. However, they are prohibited from keeping protected species of sharks.


A University of Delaware research team led by Aaron Carlisle, assistant professor in UD's School of Marine Science and Policy (SMSP), is studying the impact of releasing these sharks, aiming to understand their post-release survival and how fishing operations handle them. Carlisle, graduate student Bethany Brodbeck and Ed Hale, assistant professor and aquaculture specialist for Delaware Sea Grant, are conducting the field research for the study, riding along with recreational fishing vessels to better understand what happens to sharks when they are caught and released.


Another component to the research is being led by George Parsons, E.I. du Pont Professor at UD’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment, who is looking at the economic aspect, using survey-based research to value the shark fishery and study anglers’ perceptions and attitudes toward sharks and their management.


Carlisle said the two concurrent studies will help gauge the biological and economic impacts of the shark fishery in Delaware.


“We want to find out how much money the fishery is actually drawing to the economy,” Carlisle said. “We also want to find out how the fishery is actually impacting the populations of sharks in Delaware, especially the protected ones.”


The research was funded by Delaware Sea Grant, which helps communities wisely use, manage and conserve coastal resources.


To arrange an interview with Carlisle, simply click on the link to his profile. Pressing the contact button and using the form will send your request directly to him and a member of UD's media relations team.

Connect with:
Aaron Carlisle

Aaron Carlisle

Assistant Professor, Marine Science and Policy

Prof. Carlisle research focuses on how the environment and organismal biology interact to influence the ecology of species.

Stable Isotope EcologyEvolutionary BiologyPhysiological EcologyMarine FishesBiological Sciences

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from University of Delaware

1 min

Food is medicine, and this professor has the research to prove it

For more than 20 years, Dr. Allison Karpyn has worked to understand and address food insecurity in America and beyond — studying how communities access healthy food, how policy shapes those opportunities and how local partnerships can make meaningful change. A professor in the University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development and co-director of its Center for Research in Education and Social Policy, Karpyn has published extensively on topics including food deserts, healthy corner store initiatives, school nutrition programs and strategies to bring farmer’s markets to underserved areas. Her work, which blends rigorous research with community-based implementation, has appeared in leading journals such as Pediatrics, Preventive Medicine and Health Affairs. Karpyn has also worked directly with nonprofit organizations, government agencies and retailers to pilot and evaluate programs designed to increase access to high-quality food in low-income neighborhoods. Her focus is on actionable, data-informed solutions to persistent challenges — from childhood hunger to structural barriers in the food supply system. Now, Karpyn’s expertise is being tapped as part of Delaware’s new Food is Medicine Committee, a statewide initiative under the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy. The committee seeks to connect nutrition and health care to improve outcomes, lower costs and strengthen local food systems — goals that align closely with Karpyn’s career-spanning mission. For journalists exploring food policy, hunger, public health and the future of food access, Karpyn is a key source of insight, research and real-world perspective. She can be contacted by clicking her profile. 

2 min

Mental health risks spike for young LGBTQ+ men of color, new study shows

As Pride Month shines a spotlight on the progress and resilience of LGBTQ+ communities, it also serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges — especially the toll that stigma continues to take on mental health. A new in Developmental Psychology study from the University of Delaware’s Eric Layland, assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Development, reveals just how urgent the need for tailored mental health support is — particularly for Black, Latinx and Afro-Latinx gay, bisexual and other sexual minority young men. Published during a time when national attention turns toward LGBTQ+ visibility, the study tracks the mental health trajectories of over 400 cisgender men between the ages of 18 and 29, focusing on how experiences of racism, heterosexism, or both — what Layland terms compound stigma — influence patterns of depression and anxiety. The results are stark: participants who experienced frequent racism and heterosexism across relationships and settings showed the earliest and most severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, with mental health challenges peaking during late adolescence and early adulthood. While symptoms tended to decline by age 24, these years — critical for education, identity formation and economic independence — were marked by emotional strain. "This study emphasizes how multiple sources of discrimination converge to impact the mental health of sexual minority men of color," Layland said. The research calls for early, culturally responsive mental health interventions that help young sexual minority men of color cope with stigma and build resilience. Layland’s team points to interventions that not only teach coping skills but also foster connection, celebrate cultural identity and create peer networks for support. Layland, who specializes in LGBTQ+ development and affirmative interventions, underscores the importance of systemic change as well.  “We need clinical and community resources that are adapted to address the intersecting discrimination experienced by sexual minority men of color, especially in their late teens in early twenties,” said Layland. Supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Mental Health and UD, this study arrives at a crucial time for researchers, educators and community organizations working to create more inclusive and supportive environments. For journalists covering Pride, mental health, or intersectional equity, Layland’s work offers a powerful, data-driven look at what young LGBTQ+ people of color are facing — and how communities can act to change that story.  Journalists can reach Layland by clicking on his profile. 

2 min

Kyle Davis wins NSF CAREER Award for pioneering research on climate-resilient food systems

University of Delaware assistant professor Kyle Davis has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award—one of the most competitive and prestigious honors for early-career faculty—for his work advancing the climate resilience of global food systems. Davis, who holds joint appointments in the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, leads cutting-edge research at the intersection of agriculture, sustainability and global environmental change. His focus? Making food production more efficient, climate-smart and socially equitable—especially in regions grappling with limited water resources. With a growing global population and increasing pressure on land and water, Davis’s research is helping to answer one of the most critical questions of our time: How can we feed the world without destroying the planet? His lab’s work recently led to the development of MIRCA-OS, a groundbreaking open-source dataset that offers high-resolution global data on irrigated and rain-fed croplands across 23 crop types. The tool, co-created with UD doctoral student Endalkachew Kebede and published in Nature Scientific Data, allows researchers, farmers and policymakers to assess how crop choices, rainfall and irrigation interact with water systems and food security. Some of the thirstiest crops are grown in the most water-stressed areas Davis said. Shifting crop mixes to crops that require less water but still ensure farmer profits is a promising way to reduce the amount of water needed to irrigate crops and to avoid conditions of water scarcity. Davis’s research spans continents, with active projects in the United States, India, China and Nigeria, where his team is exploring solutions to water scarcity, crop nutrition and agricultural sustainability. His work has appeared in Earth.com, Phys.org and major scientific journals. In 2023, he was recognized with the American Geophysical Union’s Global Environmental Change Early Career Award. In addition to research, Davis is a dedicated mentor, guiding graduate students from around the world. “So much of my research is the result of their passion, abilities, drive and creativity,” Davis said. Davis is available for interviews on topics including sustainable agriculture, water use, climate adaptation, food systems and the power of data science in global development. He can be contacted by clicking the "View Profile" button.

View all posts