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New Gift Supports Next Generation of Environmental Stewards
The School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS), Florida Atlantic University’s collaborative hub for programs focused on environmental sustainability, received a significant gift focused on supporting student success from Wayne and Lucretia Weiner. It establishes 22 scholarships, 20 paid internships, 10 research stipends, programmatic support for Florida Atlantic’s Semester by the Sea Program, a Professor-in-Residence program, three faculty mentors and two staff advisor positions. This transformative gift enhances ECOS and creates opportunities for students dedicated to the environment and a more sustainable South Florida.
Read more.
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FAU Harbor Branch Seagrass Nursery
On Nov. 19, the FAU Harbor Branch Seagrass Nursery hosted 32 seagrass partners on campus for a presentation on the nursery expansion, a tour of the expanding facility and some exciting discussions of future restoration activities.
Attendees included staff of the other four Indian River Lagoon Seagrass partner nurseries:
- Marine Discovery Center (New Smyrna Beach)
- Brevard Zoo (Melbourne)
- Sea & Shoreline, LLC (Melbourne)
- Florida Oceanographic Society (Stuart)
Also in attendance were staff members from the Manatee Lagoon seagrass nursery in West Palm Beach, seagrass genetic experts from FAU Harbor Branch and Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota, and staff from the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program.
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Volunteer Opportunity
The FAU Harbor Branch Seagrass Nursery is looking for volunteers for Spring 2025 and beyond. The nursery needs volunteers to help with a variety of tasks including cleaning and monitoring the seagrass tanks, data entry, organization of samples or files, and sample processing.
Learn more.
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FAU Harbor Branch Aquaculture Park
On Dec. 4, visitors from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Division of Seafood Safety and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service visited FAU Harbor Branch to learn about its Aquaculture Park facilities and the Institute's applied research with fish, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, oysters and clams, microalgae, conch, sea vegetables, and aquatic animal health. From FAU Harbor Branch, Robinson Bazurto led the group, and Paul Wills, Ph.D., Richard Baptiste, Amanda Matthews, and Susan Laramore, Ph.D. all participated in showing the group the aquaculture work underway at FAU Harbor Branch.
“The variety of aquaculture research and the history behind each project was very interesting and educational for all," said Stanley Serfling, consumer safety officer at the FDA. "I appreciate the commercial applications for the aquaculture industry you have developed over the years at HBOI.”
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Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Annual Meeting
In November, members of the FAU Harbor Branch Queen Conch Lab attended the 77th annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute meeting in Guadeloupe. The four attending members were also presenters.
- Megan Davis, Ph.D. presented the new eConch online course for growing queen conch.
- Robinson Bazurto presented about how coastal water quality affects microalgae growth and queen conch larval development.
- Becky Holt presented about enhancing the economics and sustainability of queen conch fisheries in Puerto Rico.
- Amanda Matthews shared her work with milk conch captive breeding as a model for queen conch captive breeding.
In addition, Davis, who is a board member of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, was elected Vice Chair of the institute's board of directors.
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Fin of the Month: Coral (CORL)
Meet “CORL”, also known as Coral, who was first identified by the FAU Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment team (MMSPA) in February 2022. Coral has been sighted six times by the MMPSA team between Sebastian Inlet and the Wabasso bridge.
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The image on the right was submitted by a registered Dolphin Spotter, and her land-based photo was successfully matched to the MMSPA team photo-identification catalog (NOAA NMFS LOC No. 23069-01). This Dolphin Spotter has contributed to more than 70 sightings of dolphins! Can you spot the similarities in these photos? The team uses the unique markings on their dorsal fins to identify individual dolphins, much like how we use our fingerprints! These sightings help the MMSPA team understand habitat use and movement patterns of the bottlenose population in the Indian River Lagoon. Registered Spotters can view all 468 sightings on the mobile app WatchSpotter.
Becoming a Dolphin Spotter citizen scientist with FAU Harbor Branch is easy. Capture photos of dolphins while you're standing on the shore, then visit our website to get started.
The photo on the left was taken by the FAU HBOI MMSPA program (NOAA NMFS LOC No. 23069-01). All citizen scientist land-based photos have been submitted through the FAU Harbor Branch Dolphin Spotter project in accordance with the program’s guidelines and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
If you see dolphins while out on the water, please remember to stay 50 yards away. If you see a marine mammal in distress, please call the FWC hotline (888) 404-3922.
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Salvation Army Donations
FAU Harbor Branch has supported the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program for more than 20 years. This year, donations from faculty and staff provided holiday gifts for more than 30 needy children and seniors (known as Angels) living in the local community. According to Cathy Rossmell, who has organized this initiative for the past two decades, this is the strongest show of support for the Angel Tree program to date!
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Applications Open for Summer Intern Program
The application period is now open for FAU Harbor Branch's Summer Intern Program for undergraduate and graduate students interested in marine-related fields. Train on-site at FAU Harbor Branch with eminent research faculty in specialties including aquaculture, biomedical marine research, marine biology, marine mammal research, marine natural product chemistry, marine microbiology, ocean engineering, ocean technology and oceanography.
Applications are due March 1.
Learn more and apply.
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Outreach Success in 2024
This month, the FAU Harbor Branch Outreach and Education team celebrated the close of another impactful year of programs.
- The donor-funded Ocean Discovery Experience inspired 319 students at the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County through hands-on activities, fun and engaging lessons, and thought-provoking games that introduced them to fascinating ocean animals and critical marine habitats.
- The field trips on the Discovery pontoon, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, brought 881 students and teachers from Title I schools and local organizations aboard the Institute's floating field lab to explore the Indian River Lagoon. For 75% of participants, it was their first time on a boat. After the trip, nearly all expressed a desire to return and had a deeper understanding of the Lagoon’s importance to their community and how they could protect it.
Together, these programs have reached thousands of young minds, and with continued public support they can keep creating waves of inspiration!
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Community Collaborations
The FAU Harbor Branch Outreach and Education team hosted St. Lucie County Public Schools and St. Lucie County Education Foundation for a Marine and Oceanographic Academy Partner Retreat. For decades, FAU Harbor Branch has partnered on impactful, hands-on and immersive STEM programming. Opportunities for exciting expansions are in the works!
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Holiday Hours
The Ocean Discovery Visitors Center will be closed Saturday, Dec. 21 through Wednesday, Jan. 1. Normal operations resume on Thursday, Jan. 2.
The final Indian River Lagoon boat tour of the year will be Saturday, Dec. 21. Boat tours resume on Friday, Jan. 3. Morning and afternoon options will be available on Fridays and Saturdays.
Tram Tours resume on Saturday, Jan. 4.
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2025 Ocean Science Lecture Series
Every Wednesday at 4 p.m., Jan. 8 - March 26
Johnson Education Center at FAU Harbor Branch in Fort Pierce
January Topics:
- Jan. 8 - FAU Harbor Branch: Celebrating Our Accomplishments and Looking Ahead, Speaker: Jim Sullivan, Ph.D.
- Jan. 15 - An Update on the FAU Harbor Branch Stranding and Population Assessment Team and Their Work with Marine Mammals in Southeast Florida, Speaker: Steve Burton
- Jan. 22 - Algal Blooms in Southern Florida: Current Trends and Future Directions, Speaker: Malcolm McFarland, Ph.D.
- Jan. 29 - Exploration of Deep-water Habitats off Puerto Rico for Biotechnology Potential, Speaker: Esther Guzman, Ph.D.
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FAU Harbor Branch's outreach team travels to events throughout Florida with hands-on marine science educational exhibits and activities. In addition, FAU Harbor Branch scientists share their expertise through public lectures and workshops. | |
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Coastal Lecture Series
Hosted by Florida Oceanographic Society
FAU Harbor Branch Overview
James M. Sullivan, Ph.D.
Tuesday, Jan. 28, 6:30 p.m.
Blake Library, Stuart
Virtual Available
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Subscribe to Ocean Currents
Florida Atlantic Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute | Website
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