Ana Marçalo finished her PhD in Fisheries Resource Evaluation in 2010 at the Universidade do Algarve, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia. Published more than 30 articles in peer reviewed journals, supervised more than 15 student thesis (1 PhD, 12 Masters, 5 Licenciatura) and many student internships and experimental activities (more than 30).
Ana has experience as a marine/fisheries biologist, leader, PI and Co-PI of tasks and projects in fisheries biology, fish welfare, marine ecology and conservation of marine PETS (Protected, Endangered, and Threatened Species). Areas of expertise focus on fishing experiments at sea and in the laboratory to monitor discards of small pelagics, with focus on Atlantic sardines, evaluation of survivorship of small pelagic fish after "slipping" (discarding), purse seine fishing operations, fish welfare evaluation in several fishing practices, evaluation of marine megafauna interactions and bycatch in Portuguese fisheries , and mitigation experiments to reduce bycatch of PETS.
Ana also leads studies on the feeding and trophic ecology of small cetacean species. She has been a participant or invited speaker at several ICES working groups such as WGCATCH, WGKMEDS, WGBYC and WGMME since 2010. She developed skills as a marine PETS bycatch expert with invitations to participate in many forums/workshops and meetings worldwide on the subject. She also coordinates the Algarve Regional Cetacean and Marine Turtle Stranding Network (RAAlg- Rede de Arrojamentos do Algarve).