Meet Ellie Casement, a 23-year-old marine biologist, dive professional, and self-proclaimed 'fish geek.' Over the past year, Ellie has been immersing herself in the marine world of Roatan, Honduras, fueled by her passion for marine conservation and a prestigious Fulbright Independent Research Grant.
In Roatan, Ellie's journey entailed collaborating with notable local NGOs, including the Roatan Marine Park, Healthy Reefs, and the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences. Her groundbreaking project? Investigating how fish populations, particularly butterflyfish, adapt behaviorally and demographically to the devastating stony coral tissue loss disease epidemic ravaging Caribbean reefs.
But Ellie's work extends beyond academic research. Her days were filled with diverse, impactful activities: from teaching coral restoration techniques at local dive shops, empowering young locals through SCUBA education, to monitoring grouper spawning events and even tagging sharks.
Ellie’s oceanic journey began at the tender age of 4 during her family's sojourn in St. Lucia. A pivotal SCUBA dive at 12 set her heart on a life intertwined with the sea. Following an academic path in ecology and evolutionary biology at Tulane University, enriched by semesters abroad and numerous SCUBA certifications, the Fulbright grant transformed her island-living dream into reality.
As of July 2023, Ellie's new chapter unfolds in Portugal, where she is part of the EU’s International Master of Science in Marine Biological Resources (IMBRSea) program. Her current pursuits? A fascinating shark DNA barcoding project, preparing her Fulbright research for publication, and devising future projects centered around her beloved butterflyfish.
For insights into Ellie's research, inquiries about Roatan, or simply to connect, reach her at elliecasement@gmail.com.
Delve deeper into the world of Roatan’s reef conservation efforts and learn about Ellie's collaborators: