Ginny Eckert

Ginny Eckert is a Professor and Director of Alaska Sea Grant at the University of Alaska Fairbanks' College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Her research focuses on marine invertebrate ecology, aquaculture, and fisheries management, particularly in crab species and ecosystem sustainability. She leads interdisciplinary programs like the NSF-funded Marine Ecosystem Sustainability in the Arctic and Subarctic (MESAS).

Education:

• Ph.D. in Ecology, University of California Santa Barbara (1999)
• M.S. in Zoology, University of Florida (1994)
• B.A. in Biology, Dartmouth College (1990)

Research Interests: Early life history ecology of marine invertebrates, larval dispersal patterns, sustainable fisheries management, and aquaculture innovations. Her work emphasizes the ecological and management implications of marine invertebrate reproduction, larval survival, and habitat use.

Current Projects: Sea otter predation impacts on commercial species in Alaska, Dungeness crab larval dynamics in Glacier Bay, and king crab hatchery enhancement through the AKCRRAB program. She collaborates with NOAA and integrates field studies with lab experiments.

Advising/Grants: Advises Carter Johnson and oversees NSF grants for MESAS and crab research. Her team includes graduate students like Zac Hoyt and Heidi Herter, focusing on population dynamics and habitat restoration.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Alaska king crab research program (AKCRRAB) and collaborates with UAF's School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences on ecosystem sustainability initiatives.