Sharon Hsu

Regulated Marine Species and Habitats

Subsea Cable Telecommunications Project, Honolulu, Hawaii — Prepared an ESA Section 7 consultation Biological Assessment and Essential Fish Habitat for a trans-Pacific subsea fiber optic cable through the Hawaiian Exclusive Economic Zone.

At-Sea Eastern Long Island Sound Site Analysis and Resource Characterization Project, Suffolk County, New York — Prepared a biological evaluation to assess impacts on listed marine species during survey activities assessing the feasibility of harvesting tidal energy within Long Island Sound, New York.

Maui County Habitat Conservation Plan, Maui County, Hawaii — Works on drafting a habitat conservation plan on ESA-listed seabirds and light attraction for the State of Hawaii.

Redwood Heavy Lift Marine Terminal, Eureka, California — Assists with permit applications for port redevelopment in Humboldt Bay to minimize and mitigate risks to marine mammals affected by construction.

Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Design, California Coast — Develops design considerations for reducing the environmental impact of floating offshore wind turbines for leased wind energy areas off the California coast.

Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Aerial Surveys, North Atlantic & Pacific — Atlantic: As an assistant research scientist in a previous role, conducted large whale and marine mammal surveys in wind energy areas of the North Atlantic to document baseline abundance and patterns of habitat usage both before and during construction of offshore wind facilities. Performed photo identification of over 100 individual North Atlantic right whales and assisted with at-sea vessels for real-time documentation of disentanglement efforts. Responsible for data management, technical reporting, and coordination across multiple field teams and partner organizations.

Pacific: Supports aerial survey efforts of leatherback sea turtles and marine mammals at sea, collecting data on species presence and behavior as well as field coordination with at-sea vessels for sea turtle capture and tagging efforts.

Currently logged over 700 hours of flight time.

Marine Mammal Presence Monitoring, Monterey and Alameda Counties, California — Served as a National Marine Fisheries Service-approved protected species observer for a previous role. Monitored marine mammal presence during tidal marsh restoration in Elkhorn Slough and construction of the Alameda Point Ferry Terminal in Alameda County.

At-Sea Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Observations, North Atlantic — Worked on a small team to conduct marine mammal and sea turtle surveys as part of the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species. Data collection and observations are used to develop abundance and distribution models to better understand how protected species such as whales, dolphins, and sea turtles use our waters.

Logged over 30 at-sea days.

Sea Turtle Biological Monitoring, Costa Rica — As a graduate student, coordinated field-based monitoring of nesting sea turtles on a remote beach on the Caribbean coasts of Costa Rica. Responsible for data management, technical reporting, and application of both research permitting as well as CITES permitting for biological sample transport to the U.S.

Marine Species

Subsea Cable Telecommunications Project, Honolulu, Hawaii — Prepared an ESA Section 7 consultation Biological Assessment and Essential Fish Habitat for a trans-Pacific subsea fiber optic cable through the Hawaiian Exclusive Economic Zone.

At-Sea Eastern Long Island Sound Site Analysis and Resource Characterization Project, Suffolk County, New York — Prepared a biological evaluation to assess impacts on listed marine species during survey activities assessing the feasibility of harvesting tidal energy within Long Island Sound, New York.

Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Design, California Coast — Develops design considerations for reducing the environmental impact of floating offshore wind turbines for leased wind energy areas off the California coast.

Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Aerial Surveys, North Atlantic & Pacific — Atlantic: As an assistant research scientist in a previous role, conducted large whale and marine mammal surveys in wind energy areas of the North Atlantic to document baseline abundance and patterns of habitat usage both before and during construction of offshore wind facilities. Performed photo identification of over 100 individual North Atlantic right whales and assisted with at-sea vessels for real-time documentation of disentanglement efforts. Responsible for data management, technical reporting, and coordination across multiple field teams and partner organizations.

Pacific: Supports aerial survey efforts of leatherback sea turtles and marine mammals at sea, collecting data on species presence and behavior as well as field coordination with at-sea vessels for sea turtle capture and tagging efforts.

Currently logged over 700 hours of flight time.

Marine Mammal Presence Monitoring, Monterey and Alameda Counties, California — Served as a National Marine Fisheries Service-approved protected species observer for a previous role. Monitored marine mammal presence during tidal marsh restoration in Elkhorn Slough and construction of the Alameda Point Ferry Terminal in Alameda County.

At-Sea Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Observations, North Atlantic — Worked on a small team to conduct marine mammal and sea turtle surveys as part of the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species. Data collection and observations are used to develop abundance and distribution models to better understand how protected species such as whales, dolphins, and sea turtles use our waters.

Logged over 30 at-sea days.

Sea Turtle Biological Monitoring, Costa Rica — As a graduate student, coordinated field-based monitoring of nesting sea turtles on a remote beach on the Caribbean coasts of Costa Rica. Responsible for data management, technical reporting, and application of both research permitting as well as CITES permitting for biological sample transport to the U.S.

Habitat Conservation Planning

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Long-Term Habitat Conservation Plan, Kauai, Hawaii — Prepared sections of the Environmental Impact Statement for NEPA/HEPA review for Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.

Maui County Habitat Conservation Plan, Maui County, Hawaii — Works on drafting a habitat conservation plan on ESA-listed seabirds and light attraction for the State of Hawaii.

Lopez Dam Habitat Conservation Plan, San Luis Obispo, California — Assists in developing a Habitat Conservation Plan for Lopez Dam in San Luis Obispo County involving steelhead, California red-legged frog, and southwestern pond turtles.

CEQA/NEPA

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Long-Term Habitat Conservation Plan, Kauai, Hawaii — Prepared sections of the Environmental Impact Statement for NEPA/HEPA review for Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.

Estuarine Species

Lopez Dam Habitat Conservation Plan, San Luis Obispo, California — Assists in developing a Habitat Conservation Plan for Lopez Dam in San Luis Obispo County involving steelhead, California red-legged frog, and southwestern pond turtles.

Permitting

Redwood Heavy Lift Marine Terminal, Eureka, California — Assists with permit applications for port redevelopment in Humboldt Bay to minimize and mitigate risks to marine mammals affected by construction.

Bio

Relevant Experience