Jens Currie is a PhD student at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, where his research investigates the impacts of commercial fisheries on false killer whales, with a focus on developing recovery strategies for the endangered main Hawaiian Islands insular population. His work integrates bioenergetics, behavioral ecology, and conservation physiology to better understand the ecological consequences of nutritional stress and fisheries interactions.
Jens also serves as the Chief Scientist at Pacific Whale Foundation, where he oversees research operations across Hawai‘i, Australia, Ecuador, and Chile. His research broadly examines the ecological and physiological responses of whales and dolphins to environmental and anthropogenic stressors, with the aim of informing science-based conservation strategies. His recent projects include evaluating the impacts of whale-watching on humpback whales and refining guidelines to reduce disturbance, applying drone-based photogrammetry to assess body condition and growth in small cetaceans, and modeling prey requirements for at-risk populations using bioenergetic approaches.
Jens has a diverse background in marine science, including prior work on Northwest Atlantic fisheries, the ecological impacts of aquaculture, and marine debris along Hawai‘i’s coastlines. He has published over 35 peer-reviewed articles and contributed to two books, advancing understanding in marine mammal ecology, health, and conservation.
Memberships and Affiliations:
Jens currently serves as the primary research chair on the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council and is an invited member of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. He advises on cetacean conservation and anthropogenic impacts to the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. He is also a member of the Society for Marine Mammalogy, a NOAA Marine Mammal Stranding first responder, and a level 3 responder for NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Large Whale Entanglement Response team.