Karina Olivieri
Friday Feature, CIROM - CEBA, Puerto Rico
After obtaining a degree in Marine Biology, I started working at a marine ornamental fish hatchery, in Salinas, PR (C- Quest). I quickly became extremely familiar with the daily overall operations and production of over 22 fish species during my four years of service.
Soon after, I worked and assisted in an array of freshwater Sport Fish Restoration studies, as a Research Technician, and as a Graduate Research Assistant at Mississippi State University, my thesis research focused on developing larval rearing techniques as a tool for a stock enhancement program for the bigmouth sleeper in Puerto Rico.
After obtaining a master's degree in Fisheries and wildlife management with a Major in Aquaculture, I formed part of the Coastal Fisheries Division, stock enhancement program of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and focused on the propagation and distribution of red drum, spotted sea trout and southern flounder fingerlings throughout the Texas Gulf Coast.
I managed several laboratory facilities (Z-Core) that housed zebrafish for medical and genetic studies at the School of Medicine at Duke University, where I established and managed the Cryopreservation Services to preserve fish line genetic material.
Currently, I occupy the role of Operational Manager at CIROM, Center for Research and Restoration of Marine Organisms (CIROM in Spanish) ISER facilities, These facilities are the first land-based nurseries for marine organisms in Puerto Rico. The organisms reared in our systems are used for ecosystem- based coral reef restoration efforts in Puerto Rico. To aid in the recovery coral reef ecosystems through producing ecologically-important marine organisms such as herbivores and corals.
Karina Olivieri
Operations Manager
CIROM-Ceiba
karina.olivieri@isercaribe.org
