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Jesse Senko

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School for the Future of Innovation in Society > Core Faculty
Asst Research Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 5603
Sustainability Scientists and Scholars
Asst Research Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 5603
Biography: 

Jesse Senko is an Assistant Research Professor and Senior Sustainability Scientist at Arizona State University. His research links interdisciplinary conservation science with innovation and governance to address dynamic coastal conservation challenges of the 21st century. He is particularly interested in creative, transdisciplinary approaches that protect vulnerable marine megafauna (e.g. sea turtles, sharks, and marine mammals) as well as safeguard the health and wellbeing of coastal fisheries and the billions of people who depend on them. Senko partners with scientists, fishers, engineers, NGOs, and governments to develop, test, and implement scalable and socially responsible conservation solutions that reduce bycatch of protected species (especially sea turtles) while improving coastal livelihoods. He has active research sites in Baja California Sur, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Hutchinson Island, Florida, USA. An avid recreational fisher who grew up in New England, Senko majored in fisheries and wildlife sciences at the University of Connecticut, received his master's in wildlife ecology and conservation from the University of Florida, and earned his Ph.D. in biology from Arizona State University.

Education: 
  • PhD, Biology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
  • MSc, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
  • BSc, Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
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Research Website: 
http://asu.academia.edu/JesseSenko
Research Interests: 

Interdisciplinary conservation science; global change ecology; ecological & social sustainability of fisheries & seafood; conservation technology; marine megafauna ecology & conservation; animal behavior & sensory ecology; community & market-based conservation; human dimensions of conservation; environmental policy; participatory learning

Research Group: 

My research and teaching program trains the next generation of conservation leaders while leading transdisciplinary investigations to develop and test conservation solutions that protect marine megafauna as well as coastal fisheries and the billions of people who depend on them. I have active field research sites/projects in Baja California Sur, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Hutchinson Island, FL, USA, and Hawaii, USA:

  • Baja California Sur, Mexico: I have been partnering with fisher leaders at Baja California, Mexico since 2004 to co-develop responsible fishing solutions to reduce bycatch of sea turtles, sharks, and marine mammals while maintaining fisher livelihoods, including developing and testing buoyless and solar-powered illuminated nets. 
  • Trinidad and Tobago: My research at this field site seeks to develop and test bycatch reduction technologies to reduce leatherback turtle bycatch in coastal net fisheries on the island of Trinidad, which supports among the world’s largest leatherback turtle nesting aggregations. This is a partnership between Trinidad’s Department of Fisheries and NOAA Fisheries, with field trials expected to commence in summer of 2021. 
  • St. Lucie Power Plant, Hutchinson Island, FL, USA: My research at this field site examines behavioral responses of sea turtles to various sensory cues as well as bycatch reduction technologies and fishing gear. Due to the large number of sea turtles captured at the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant and it’s facility with large entrainment canals and tanks, this study site allows us to conduct controlled trials of bycatch solutions quickly and efficiently. These trials aid in our understanding of how sea turtle and other non-target species respond to sensory cues, which allows us to test and optimize various bycatch technologies, such as solar-powered net illumination and shark scarecrows. 
  • Hawaii, USA: My research at this field site is primarily focused on understanding the ecology and social behavior of hawksbill turtles along the Hawaiian archipelago. This is a partnership with NOAA Fisheries and local divers to better conserve this critically endangered population, which is one of the world’s rarest sea turtle populations.
Publications: 

Collaborators: ‡international, #domestic, *undergraduate, +fisher/citizen scientist

  • Senko JF, Nalovic MA (In press, 2021) Addressing sea turtle bycatch in developing countries: A global challenge that requires adaptive solutions for the 21st century. In: Sea Turtle Research and Conservation: Lessons From Working in the Field. Academic Press, Cambridge, MA; 186 p. 
  • Senko JF, Nelms SE, *Reavis JL, #Witherington B, ‡Godley BJ, #Wallace BP (2020) Understanding individual and population-level effects of plastic pollution on marine megafauna. Endangered Species Research 43: 234-252. 
  • Senko JF, ‡Megill WM, Brooks LB, *Templeton RP, ‡Koch V (2019) Developing low-cost tags: Assessing the ecological impacts of tethered tag technology on host species. Endangered Species Research 39: 255-268.
  • Senko J, #Jenkins LD, ‡Peckham SH (2017) At loggerheads over international bycatch: initial effects of a unilaterally imposed bycatch reduction policy. Marine Policy 76: 200-209.
  • ‡Peckham SH, +Lucero-Romero  J, ‡Maldonado-Diaz D, +Rodriguez A, Senko J, Wojakowski M, Gaos A (2016) Buoyless nets reduce sea turtle bycatch in coastal net fisheries. Conservation Letters 9: 114-121.
  • Badingqiuying, Smith AT, Senko J, Siladan M (2016) Plateau pika poisoning campaign reduces carnivore abundance in southern Qinghai, China. Mammal Study 41: 1-8.
  • Senko J, ‡Mancini A, #Seminoff JA, ‡Koch V (2014) Bycatch and directed harvest drive high green turtle mortality at Baja California Sur, Mexico. Biological Conservation 169: 24-30.
  • Senko J, *White ER, Heppell SS, Gerber LR (2014) Comparing bycatch mitigation strategies for vulnerable marine megafauna. Animal Conservation 17: 5-18.
  • Senko J, Schneller AJ, +Solis J, Ollervides F, #Nichols WJ (2011) People helping turtles, turtles helping people: understanding resident attitudes towards sea turtle conservation and opportunities for enhanced community participation in Bahia Magdalena, Mexico. Ocean & Coastal Management 54: 148-157.
  • ‡Mancini A, Senko J, Borquez-Reyes R, Guzman Poo J, #Seminoff JA, ‡Koch V (2011) To poach or not to poach an endangered species: elucidating the economic and social drivers behind illegal sea turtle hunting in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Human Ecology 39: 743-756.
  • Frick MG, Zardus JD, Ross A, Senko J, Montano-Valdez D, Bucio-Pacheco M, Sosa-Conejos I (2011) Novel records and observations of the barnacle Stephanolepas muricata (Cirripedia:Balanomorpha: Coronuloidea); including a case for chemical mediation in turtle and whale barnacles. Journal of Natural History 45: 629-640.
  • Senko J, ‡Koch V, ‡Megill WM, Carthy RR, *Templeton RP, #Nichols WJ (2010) Fine scale daily movements and habitat use of East Pacific green turtles at a shallow coastal lagoon in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 391: 92-100.
  • Senko J, Lopez-Castro M, ‡Koch V, #Nichols WJ (2010) Immature East Pacific green turtles (Chelonia mydas) use multiple foraging areas off the Pacific Coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico: first evidence from mark-recapture data. Pacific Science 64: 125-130. 
  • Senko J, #Nichols WJ, Ross JP, Willcox AS (2010) To eat or not to eat an endangered species: views of local residents and physicians on the safety of sea turtle consumption in northwestern Mexico. EcoHealth 6: 584-595.     
Research Activity: 

Collaborators: ‡international, #domestic, *undergraduate, +fisher/citizen scientist

  • PI: Senko JF; Co-PIs: Wallace BP; Witherington B; NOAA Technical Advisors: #Wang J; Gearhart J; “Developing and testing innovative solutions to reduce leatherback turtle bycatch in Trinidad and Tobago”. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; May 2020 – April 2022; $102,083.50.
  • PI: Senko JF; “Disney Conservation Fund 25th Anniversary ‘Earth Day 50’ at Animal Kingdom Celebration”; gift for excellence in conservation research and outreach; April 2020; $20,000.
  • PI: Senko JF; Collaborator: ‡Mancini A; NOAA Technical Advisor: #Wang J; “Developing renewable-powered illuminated nets to reduce sea turtle, shark, and manta ray bycatch in coastal net fisheries”. Disney Conservation Fund; October 2019 – October 2021; $50,000.
  • PI: Senko JF; “Testing solar-powered net illumination to reduce sea turtle bycatch in net fisheries at Baja California Sur, Mexico”. World Wildlife Fund; August – December 2019; $16,902.
  • PI: Blain Christen J; Co-PIs: Senko J; Ozev S; Collaborators: #Wang J; ‡Mancini A; “Machine learning enabled “Smart Nets” to optimize technology for sustainable fisheries.” National Science Foundation Cyber Physical Systems; September 2018 – September 2021; $1,000,000 (share of budget: $340,000; 34%).
  • PI: Senko J; Co-PI: Bowden S; Collaborator: ‡Mancini A; NOAA Technical Advisor: #Wang J; “Developing renewable-powered fisheries solutions to reduce sea turtle bycatch in gillnet fisheries”. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; September 2018 – October 2019; $75,000.
  • PI: Senko J; Co-PI: Bowden S; Collaborator: ‡Mancini A; NOAA Technical Advisor: #Wang J; “Developing solar-powered illuminated nets to reduce sea turtle and elasmobranch bycatch in gillnet fisheries”. Disney Conservation Fund; October 2017 – October 2019; $50,000.
Fall 2020
Course NumberCourse Title
FIS 194Special Topics
SOS 493Honors Thesis
Spring 2020
Course NumberCourse Title
SOS 492Honors Directed Study
SOS 493Honors Thesis
FSE 494Special Topics
FIS 494Special Topics
Fall 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
FIS 194Special Topics
Spring 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
FSE 494Special Topics
FIS 494Special Topics
Honors / Awards: 

2017 Arizona State University Graduate College Knowledge Mobilization Impact Award; 1st place, postdoctoral category

Expertise Areas: 
Conservation Ecology
Marine and Freshwater Conservation Biology
Biodiversity
Ecology
Marine Ecology
Fisheries Management
Conservation Policy
Governance
Innovation
Emerging Technologies
Animal Studies
Animal Behavior
Human Dimensions of Sustainability
Human Dimensions of Science and Technology
Transdisciplinary Studies
Environmental Social Science
Citizen Participation