Nova Southeastern University (NSU) was recently awarded two grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
One grant, amounting to $2.7 million over five years, funds a research project led by a researcher from NSU focusing on marine life in the deep-pelagic habitat (open waters deeper than 700 feet) in the Gulf of Mexico.
This habitat is the largest and least-known in the gulf, and the research aims to understand and protect the marine creatures living there.
The project is led by a professor and research scientist at NSU’s Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography.
The research team includes scientists from NSU, NOAA, Florida Atlantic University, the University of South Florida, and Florida International University.
The goal of the project is to assess the abundance of deep-pelagic Gulf of Mexico fauna to support resource managers’ capacity to restore this fauna as part of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill natural resource damage assessment process.
Additionally, the research aims to establish prey fields for marine mammals and apex predators, provide recruitment measurements for managed coastal fishes, and refine computer models of the Gulf.
Another project received $1.6 million from NOAA Sea Grant and involves researchers from NSU, the University of Maine, Mote Marine Laboratory, and Auburn University.
This project will focus on several objectives related to multiple species of highly migratory fish in the Northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, including bycatch reduction, understanding of life history, and post-release mortality.
In other news, the Marine Environmental Education Center at NSU recently celebrated World Oceans Day on June 8 and participated in a March for the Ocean event the same week.
The center aims to raise awareness about ocean conservation and emphasize the importance of individual actions in protecting the oceans.
The education coordinator at the MEEC highlighted the impact of reducing plastic use and picking up trash on the beach. The center also showcased its efforts to educate the community and promote sea turtle conservation.
Overall, the projects and events underscore the critical importance of ocean conservation and highlight the ongoing efforts to protect marine environments.
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