Catching Dungeness Crab in winter, Puget Sound

Ruby Kresge

Undergraduate Researcher, NOAA Hollings Scholar (24-26), Chancellor’s List (F25, S25, F24), Dean’s List (S24, F23)

Project Title: “Preliminary analysis of schoolmaster gonatid squid (Berryteuthis magister) population dynamics in Southeast Alaska”

Frequent trips to Puget Sound and the outer coast during my childhood in Washington gave me a deep appreciation for marine life and the unique ecosystems they inhabit from a young age. My experiences at the beach and participating in local recreational shellfish and finfish fisheries inspired me to pursue a career in fisheries and marine science.

My primary interests are sustainable fisheries, invertebrates, mariculture, and science education. My past research experiences have been primarily focused on the ecological interactions of commercial shellfish production. As a NOAA Ernest F. Hollings scholar, I worked on a project at NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center piloting data collection methods for a bivalve aquaculture nutrient removal calculator in Puget Sound (Click here to check out my NOAA blog post).

I am also deeply passionate about science communication and have had the incredible opportunity to develop education tools and participate in community outreach events as part of an independent research project at NOAA’s Auke Bay Laboratory here in Juneau, Alaska.

My work in the Navarro Lab aims use morphometric data to deepen our understanding of Berryteuthis magister population dynamics in Southeast Alaska and compare these findings to what we know about other populations. Understanding how this population functions is vital information for the potential establishment of a B. magister fishery in the region.

Past and Upcoming Presentations:

NOAA Science and Education Symposium (2025)
URECA (2025, 2026)
Mariculture Conference of Alaska (2026)
Annual National Shellfisheries Association Meeting (2026)