Hello FishWise readers!

I’m Leslie Howitt, and I am very excited to have joined the FishWise team as the Data Project Assistant. I will be working with the Data Team and assisting the rest of FishWise with all of their data needs.

I grew up on the shores of Lake Ontario, and spent as much time as possible in or on the water. On a trip to Acadia National Park when I was 8, I encountered tide pools for the first time. I was mesmerized by the life in these tiny puddles, and became interested in what else lay beneath the ocean’s surface.

I went to Brown University, where I earned a BS in ecology and evolution biology, and Plymouth University in England, where I earned a Masters in Research in marine biology. At both institutions, my research focused on subtidal invertebrates. It wasn’t until I started working at Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch that I began to apply my marine biology experience to fisheries and the field of sustainable seafood.  I look forward to applying the knowledge I gained from Seafood Watch activities to my new position at FishWise.

In my free time, I like to rock-climb, play ultimate Frisbee, surf, read, hike, scuba dive, and bike.