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Land and Resource Use

Land use and resource use in the ocean can impose stress on valued components of the coastal environment. Among these stresses are changes in freshwater flow, introduction of nutrients, destruction of habitat, and overharvesting of fisheries organisms. Read More ›

Puerto Rico Cruise 2008

This is the third in the series of research cruises aboard the NANCY FOSTER, continuing work since 2004 off of the coast of Puerto Rico. This year’s focus is the comparative distribution of habitat, fishes, and habitat utilization on the insular shelf of Isla Vieques. Read More ›

Puerto Rico Cruise 2007

This 10–day research cruise aboard NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTER represents a continuation of work initiated in 2004 in the nearshore waters off the coast of southeastern Puerto Rico and Isla Vieques. Read More ›

An Optical Water Quality Model for Conservation and Restoration of Seagrasses

Land and resource use is impacting water quality in estuaries by increasing nutrient flux, enhancing suspended sediment loads and modifying freshwater inputs. Read More ›

Habitat Functions and Effects of Restoration Plans on Florida Bay’s Fisheries

Proposed Everglades National Park restoration plans, which include restoring historic freshwater flows, could have a significant influence on the growth, recruitment and survivorship of fishes in Florida Bay. Read More ›

Ecological Role of Intertidal Flats in Kachemak Bay, AK

Soft sediments, and particularly tidal flats, are a vital part of the coastal ecosystem and provide a number of important ecosystem services…Read More ›

Puerto Rico Cruise 2006

This 10-day research cruise aboard NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTER represents a continuation of work initiated in 2004 in the nearshore waters off the coast of southeastern Puerto Rico and Isla Vieques. Read More ›

Navassa Cruise 2006

Navassa Island is a small (5km2) uninhabited island west of Haiti, largely inaccessible except for the small landing at Lulu Bay. Designated as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1999, Navassa Island is under the jurisdiction of USFWS but due to its remote location and inaccessibility, the refuge is largely unregulated and un–enforced. Fairly intense but unquantified artisanal fishing pressure from Haiti (hand lines, traps, nets) may be reducing fish stocks rapidly. Navassa Island has a very energetic system (particularly wave–exposed east coast). Coral reefs of Navassa Island are generally deep with much of deep slopes (> 30 m) unexplored. Read More ›

Marine Aquaculture Initiative

The primary goal of this project is testing an enriched culture environment for the production of juvenile fish behaviorally suitable for the restoration of marine fish stocks. Read More ›