Behind the Science with Research Anthropologist and Curator Dr. Torben Rick

Tuna and billfish are among the world’s most important large ocean predators and an important global food source. Millions of tons are caught every year. Despite significant declines in their populations, we know relatively little about tuna and billfish harvest prior to 20th century industrial exploitation. Smithsonian scientists are conducting archaeological, historical, and ecological research to understand the deep history of the fishery and help plan for the future sustainability of these critical fish.
This month, go behind the science with Research Anthropologist and Curator of Human-Environment Interactions Dr. Torben Rick who is exploring this untold history through archaeology and the restudying archaeological and historical tuna and billfishes in museum collections and in the field.

Registration is encouraged. Space is filled on a first come first served basis.