Research Interests
Anna is interested in translating good science into effective policy and management interventions. She focuses on manta rays in Thailand, Mozambique, and Myanmar, as well as other threatened elasmobranchs in Mozambique, especially smalleye stingrays, leopard (zebra) sharks, and wedgefish. Working with MMF she has used a variety of methodologies to improve our understanding of focal species, including photo identification, baited remote underwater video (BRUVs), and eDNA. She is especially interested in increasing engagement with science and conservation by utilizing traditional ecological knowledge and citizen science, and works hard to involve local fishing and diving communities.
Education
2014 Master of Environmental Management
Duke University Durham, North Carolina, USA
Thesis title: Ecotourism Sustainability in Thailand: a formative evaluation of Andaman Discoveries
Community-Based Environmental Management Certificate
Nicholas School of the Environment
International Development Policy Certificate
Sanford School of Public Policy
2008 Bachelor of Science cum laude
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
Biography
Anna grew up swimming and sailing in the Northeast United States, which instilled an early love of the ocean. After graduating with a degree in Biology, Anna spent five years working as a dive instructor in Thailand, Australia, and California. Witnessing Thailand’s severe coral bleaching episode in 2010 made her realize how quickly beloved reefs could become rotting dead zones. Seeing the rapid decline of leopard sharks over that same time period inspired her to go back to school. In her new course of study, Anna sought to translate science into effective policy and conservation management solutions that benefit local human and wildlife populations.
After working on a conservation enterprise project in Tanzania, Anna had the opportunity to join MMF Mozambique in 2014. Working her way up from a research assistant at a satellite research station on Bazaruto, Anna now manages the shark and ray research for Mozambique, serves as global coordinator for MantaMatcher.org, and manages the manta research projects in Thailand and Myanmar.
Anna loves that her work with MMF allows her ample time underwater with some of her favorite wildlife, while also working to safeguard their populations. When she’s not underwater, Anna can be found heading inland to practice her wildlife photography on some of Africa’s terrestrial megafauna, or hiking, camping, and yoga-ing. She is also attempting to be a better surfer and birder.
Current MMF projects
Anna is currently based full-time in Mozambique, where her main focus is MMF’s Threatened Species Program. Her work involves time in the field conducting survey dives to collect data on various shark and ray species, deploying tags and collecting tissue samples, as well as time in the office managing and analysing data and writing scientific papers. She is also dedicated to research capacity development and enjoys using her old dive instructor skills to mentor up-and-coming Mozambican scientists in underwater research techniques. Anna also manages the seasonal manta research projects in Thailand and Myanmar.
The Threatened Species Program (Mozambique) includes:
Manta & Devil Ray Project
Bull Shark Project
Wedgefish Project
Leopard Shark Project
Smalleye Stingray Project
Elasmobranch Census Project
Thailand and Myanmar Manta Projects
MantaMatcher, the Wildbook for Mantas and other Rays
Media
Manta rays and whale sharks now protected by new commercial fishing law in Mozambique | Oceanographic Magazine
New Study Reveals Long Distance Migration of Largest Stingray | Dive Magazine
Mission Briefing: Off the Chart in Myanmar | Dive Photo Guide
Featured papers
Global Status and Conservation Potential of Tropical Reef Sharks. 2020. MacNeil MA, Chapman DD, Heupel M, ... Flam AL, … Cinner JE. Nature.
Contrasting patterns in the abundance of fish communities targeted by fishers on two coral reefs in southern Mozambique. 2020. Sancelme T, Goetze J, Jaquemet S, Meekan MG, Flam AL, Watts AM, Speed CW. African Journal of Marine Science.
It's not all black and white: investigating colour polymorphism in manta rays across Indo-Pacific populations. 2019. Venables SK, Marshall AD, Germanov ES, Perryman RJ, Tapilatu RF, Hendrawan IG, Flam AL, van Keulen M, Tompkins JL, Kennington WJ. Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Spotting the “small eyes”: using photo-ID methodology to study a wild population of smalleye stingrays (Megatrygon microps) in southern Mozambique. 2019. Boggio-Pasqua A, Flam AL, Marshall AD. PeerJ.
Steep declines in sightings of manta rays and devilrays (Mobulidae) in southern Mozambique. 2017. Rohner CA, Flam AL, Pierce SJ, Marshall AD. PeerJ Preprints.
Read more
MMF continues to play a key role in supporting the identification of critical marine habitats.