Roger Williams University Blue Fellow Studies Sharks and Other Ocean Predators Around Block Island

BRISTOL, R.I. – What lives beneath the waters off the Rhode Island coastline and around Block Island? Roger Williams University Marine Biology alumna Grace Baldwin ’26 spent her summer helping researchers find out.

As a Blue Fellow through RWU’s Center for Economic and Environmental Development (CEED), Baldwin worked with Dave Taylor, Professor of Marine Biology, in collaboration with the Atlantic Shark Institute (ASI). Together, they studied elasmobranchs, a group of marine animals that includes sharks, skates and rays. Baldwin deployed baited remote underwater video systems, known as BRUVs, off the Rhode Island coast and analyzed the footage to study where these animals are found and how abundant they are.

Baldwin’s research focused on improving our understanding of elasmobranch populations along the Rhode Island coastline and in waters south of Block Island.

“Tracking and recording the abundance of large ocean predators that are vulnerable from slow life history traits is important,” Baldwin said. “They are top predators, so this conservation effort is important to the overall function of ocean ecosystems.”

Sharks and other elasmobranchs play an important role in marine ecosystems. As top predators, they can influence populations of other marine animals and help maintain healthy ocean food webs. At the same time, many species are vulnerable because they grow slowly, take years to reach maturity and produce relatively few young.

By documenting where these animals occur and how their abundance varies throughout the region, researchers can build a better understanding of local elasmobranch populations. This information can ultimately support management and conservation efforts aimed at protecting these valuable components of ocean ecosystems.

Building Research Skills in the Field

Beyond contributing to the research, the Blue Fellows experience provided Baldwin with opportunities to develop skills that will support her future career in marine science and her plans for graduate school.

One of her goals for the summer was to become more confident with fish identification and statistical analyses. She also gained experience collecting and analyzing data in the field. This included working aboard the University’s research vessel and participating in the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management trawl survey.

“The highlight was spending time with the crew on the boat,” Baldwin said.

The research also gave Baldwin the opportunity to observe shark species that she had not expected to see as often. She noted that less common species, including sand tiger sharks and great white sharks, have been seen more frequently in recent years.

Baldwin also presented her work at the Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (SNEC AFS), gaining experience communicating her research to a professional scientific audience. This experience has helped strengthen her confidence as a researcher and influenced her plans for the future.

Preparing for Graduate School

Baldwin is now attending graduate school at the College of Charleston. She said her Blue Fellowship research has given her valuable experiences to draw on as she works with her advisors, including field research, data analysis and scientific presentations.

She said the fellowship has also influenced her long-term goals. Baldwin is now considering pursuing a Ph.D. after completing her master’s degree.

Baldwin chose RWU because of its location and the reputation of its Marine Biology program. Through the Blue Fellows Program, she has been able to build professional relationships with her advisor, peers and other academics while gaining hands-on experience in marine research.

“I’ve become more confident in my abilities, and it has helped me pursue longer-term research jobs during grad school,” she said.

For Baldwin, studying sharks around Rhode Island has been more than a summer research project. It has provided a foundation for the next stage of her education and a clearer view of where she wants her career in marine science to go.

About the Blue Fellows Program

The Roger Williams University Blue Fellows Program, part of the Blue Solutions Institute at RWU, offers students immersive, hands-on internships with faculty researchers and industry leaders. The program is supported by a generous gift from Elizabeth Moore, a conservationist and environmental philanthropist, and a 2024 RWU honorary degree recipient. Read more about the fellows and their work in the RWU Blue Fellows Spotlight Series.