Friday, September 5th, 2008

Tuna

See how tuna are tagged. (Credits: Courtesy of Randy Kochevar) See More Videos

It's one of the biggest, fastest, and warmest fish in the sea -- and it's also one of the most sought after, and one of the most threatened. In this segment, Ira and guests talk tuna, from its natural history to its commercial role. Can bluefin tuna stocks around the world be saved, and can people's almost insatiable appetite for bluefin tuna be met? And can science help? Author Richard Ellis, author of the book "Tuna: A Love Story," joins us to talk about the future of tuna around the world. We'll also hear from marine researcher Barbara Block about 'biologging,' the use of electronic sensors, implanted or attached to animals, to track and record their movements, behaviors, physical setting and physiological state in the wild. Can these electronic tracking methods help preserve the tuna?

Guests

Richard Ellis
Author: "Tuna: A Love Story"
Research Associate, Division of Paleontology
American Museum of Natural History
New York, NY

Barbara Block
Charles & Elizabeth Prothro Professor in Marine Sciences
Hopkins Marine Station
Stanford University
Pacific Grove, CA

Related Links

Segment produced by:Christopher Intagliata

$relatedimages[storys].alttext
Image: Bluefin tuna.
$relatedimages[storys].alttext
Image: Bluefin tuna.
Science Jobs
JMP
Tasty Mug
Support for Science Friday provided in part by the Noyce Foundation
and
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
The National Science Foundation
Research Corporation for Science Advancement