Timothy Werner

Timothy Werner serves as an Hourly Research Fellow at the School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, where he integrates marine zoology, fisheries science, and conservation biology to develop practical bycatch solutions that balance wildlife protection with fisher livelihoods. His influential appointments include Fisheries Scientist on the U.S. NMFS Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team, member of the U.S. Atlantic Large Whale Reduction Team, and contributor to the International Whaling Commission’s Bycatch Mitigation Initiative, reflecting his leadership in national and international marine policy.

Dr. Werner's academic foundation includes a PhD in Biology from Boston University (2018), complemented by an MS in Business Management from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business (2001), an MS in Marine Zoology from the University of Maryland (1997), and a BA in History (cum laude) from Boston University (1985). This unique blend of biological expertise and business acumen drives his community-centered approach to fisheries management.

His research program centers on mitigating bycatch of marine megafauna through innovative gear modifications and evidence-based policy. With hundreds of hours of field experience diving across Asia, the South Pacific, and the Atlantic, he has spearheaded biodiversity assessments that directly inform marine protected area designations. His work emphasizes co-creation with fishing communities, resulting in tangible solutions like ropeless fishing systems and reduced-breaking-strength ropes that reduce whale entanglement severity while maintaining fishery viability. The Global Bycatch Exchange (bycatch.org), which he maintains, serves as a critical international hub for sharing mitigation strategies.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory from foundational biodiversity studies (2002-2009) toward applied engineering solutions (2015-2020), with increasing focus on North Atlantic right whale entanglement prevention and small cetacean bycatch reduction in gillnet fisheries. His work bridges computational modeling, field testing, and global policy frameworks to address the urgent crisis of marine wildlife bycatch.

Dr. Werner's exceptional contributions have been recognized with the Katerva Award in Ecosystem Conservation for the Global Bycatch Exchange. His research has secured significant funding from NOAA, the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, supporting field trials of electric decoys for shark bycatch reduction and international assessments of whale entanglement risks.

Through the Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction, he mentors emerging scientists while collaborating with engineers, governments, and fishing communities to implement community-based management systems. His extensive diving-based biodiversity surveys in the Coral Triangle and Abrolhos Bank have directly enabled the creation of marine protected areas and sustainable alternative livelihoods in Latin America and the South Pacific, demonstrating his commitment to translating science into conservation action.